Built-in Flash

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mattsnoise

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Matthew
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Woke up this morning and found everything covered in ice (outside obviously) and immediately thought great opportunity to get out and take photos.

Now I had read elsewhere that using flash outdoors when it is dull can make things come alive a bit more, particularly when it shines on ice encrusted things... my problem with using a built in flash is that it has (surprise, surprise) left dirty great shadows in the photo.

Without people posting 'buy a flashgun' how do I control and manage the built-in flash on my camera (Canon EOS 1000D), so that I can use it with getting shadows in the wrong places and the associated problems?

Thanks for any advice!
 
Either smear a bit of vaseline over the flash, or damp a bit of tissue paper over it ;)
 
u8myufo said:
Either smear a bit of vaseline over the flash, or damp a bit of tissue paper over it ;)
Click to expand...

That will make no difference at all.

mastertrinity said:
in the menu display there should be a flash exposure, just knock that down to the lowest it can go (-2 on my a300) and your off.
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I think this might just do the trick :thumbs: All you seem to be wanting is a dash of fill to add a little sparkle, while not allowing the flash to take over the whole exposure, which is why the shadows are dominating. Bone up on fill-in flash technique - start by shooting on Av and the camera will have a pretty good go at balancing the flash and ambient light, then use the compensation controls as MT says to alter the ratio.

The only other way is to make the area of the flash light much bigger, which you would normally do with a brolly or softbox. Of course you cannot to that with the built-in flash and the piddly little diffusers that you can get make very little difference (if any).
 
Incidentally, using a layer of tissue paper over the flash fresnel does work. It's a very old trick to cut down the glare from sweaty foreheads etc.
However, I think Hoppy means it won't really work for cutting down the dark shadows. It does, but the reduction is so marginal, it's basically negligable and I'd go with Hoppy on this.
 
Michael Sewell said:
Incidentally, using a layer of tissue paper over the flash fresnel does work. It's a very old trick to cut down the glare from sweaty foreheads etc.
However, I think Hoppy means it won't really work for cutting down the dark shadows. It does, but the reduction is so marginal, it's basically negligable and I'd go with Hoppy on this.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was really referring to the vaseline thing. Hanky over the flash does make a little difference, as it makes the area of the light source bigger, and less harsh.
 
Whatever you do, don't buy a flash gun and go 'OCF' (Off Camera Flash) ... :cuckoo:

... before you know you'll be up to your eyeballs in antique flashguns, bits of homemade softboxes and reading everything David Hobby has every posted.

It's far too addictive!

:D

Starabo
 
:agree: i only went to jessops for a quick look and came out with a flashgun and now i want another one plus some radio triggers, and ive made hundreds of gadgets and gizmo's for them.
 
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