Convince me as to why I need a flash please

[-DeaDLocK-]

Ok ok, I'll admit it - I'm a flash snob. To me dead-on flash always ruins a photo (even if it's diffused or low-powered) and unless you are extremely skillful with it I find that it's very hard to take nice shots. Acceptable shots, yes, but great shots? And as I'm sure we all agree, great shots are the ones we chase. I can tell when I see a flash shot - the catchlight in the eyes is artificial-looking and there is hardly any texture due to lack of shadows.

Convince me - is a flash really worth it? Everyone seems to think so and I feel like I may be missing out.

I don't do snappy party and family gathering shots, so that's out the window. I shoot creative photography, and almost always without people. When I do involve people, I try and use daylight or a high ISO - if ISO 1600 still doesn't allow me enough speed, I don't take the photo.

So please englighten me - why do I need a flash unit, and in what circumstances have you used yours to success?

Cheers,
D

[beano500]

You need a flash to fill in for portrait and general people work. Simple as that! What? You say you want horrible shadows and badly exposed people and things???


Unless you're going to use reflectors all the time, you're headed for a flash.


Having said that I parted with my old SB-26 to get my new body. And I freely admit I hate messin' about with the things. Have usually ducked out and decided that I liked "ambient light" much better and that I'm really a flash-snob. "Flash-coward" more like! Sound familiar?

Have tried a few test shots with the built in jobbie on this new-fangled box brownie and must say it's very "controllable".

What you object to (I suspect) is the fact that you've never mastered getting the result right. Well, things are different now with instant histogram and feedback. So I've definitely got a new SB on my wants list. Plus they're capable of wireless operation too!

[simpo two]

Why do you need convincing if you're happy as you are?

[-DeaDLocK-]

simpo two said:

Why do you need convincing if you're happy as you are?

Hehe - I wasn't convinced by an f/2.8 telephoto until someone told me that it was good. Nor was I convinced by having a macro lens, but I just bought one and it's giving me immense fun.

So I need tt know if I'm really missing out on the Flash front. I guess I could get one and if I don't like/use it I could just flog it.

[beano500]

-DeaDLocK- said:

I guess I could get one and if I don't like/use it I could just flog it.

Great! Make sure it's a SB800, I'll offer you tuppence ha'penny for it

[Mad Dave]

Yes, get an SB800. Ill up the offer for it too - I could do with a second one

As a tip, if you were to get the SB800, you can use it remotely, from an angle or wherever you want - thereby avoiding the whole 'straight on' problem.

Dave

[beano500]

And it comes with a diffuser, so you don't have to shell out for a Stofen.....

[simpo two]

-DeaDLocK- said:

So I need tt know if I'm really missing out on the Flash front. I guess I could get one and if I don't like/use it I could just flog it.

Well, there are times - indoors mostly of course - when you simply need more light. The built-in flash is not powerful and its proximity to the lens means you get redeye easily, esp at longer focal lengths.

So for me in reportage mode the obvious answer was to get a more powerful gun that went on top: I have the SB800 and for long distance work put it on a Manfrotto flash bracket so it's well above the lens.

However, there's a second, more subtle use for flash and that's fill-in:

It just gives a lift to the foreground - especially useful for filling in shadows, eg in portraiture. You don't need much but the effect is clear. Or you can use it to freeze motion, and/or get a higher shutter speed. For close stuff like the thistle, the in-built one is fine.

And then you can start getting clever with rear-curtain synch, or juggling flash exposure with camera exposure, or setting the SB800 to 'strobe'...

[-DeaDLocK-]

simpo two said:

or setting the SB800 to 'strobe'...

Somehow that's sold it to me already!!

Thanks for that. It helped.

I think I've been convinced I need one.