Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

[Cyberman]

At camera club last night we talked about flash photography and did a few practical exercises to try out the various options.
The two shots below are an example of direct flash and the flash bounced of the wall to give different light.
It was bounced of the wall partly due to the type of hall we use, and partly as that was the effect I wanted to try.
I did not look at composition much so you'll have to bear with me as far as that goes, but hopefully they give others an idea of how different flash usage can affect the image.


Flash photography - Direct Flash by cyberdavis, on Flickr


Flash photography - Bounce Flash by cyberdavis, on Flickr

[AndyA]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

I've watched quite a number of flashgun related videos lately, while waiting for my speedlight to arrive (come on HDEW ... WHERE THE HECK IS MY 600!). It's plain to see, that the shadows add so much more depth depth and feeling to an image.

[Stan]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

A good illustration although i would have expected the direct flash to be a bit more harsh - did you use a diffuser at all

BTW - he looks a bit miserable

Stan

[AndyA]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

Pffffftt .... don't hold back Stan

[Cyberman]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

A good illustration although i would have expected the direct flash to be a bit more harsh - did you use a diffuser at all

BTW - he looks a bit miserable

Stan

I think I had my Stoffen on the flash.
I prefer to think of his look as serious, thoughtful or dour!

[Stan]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

I think I had my Stoffen on the flash.

thought so

I prefer to think of his look as serious, thoughtful or dour!

no miserable

Stan

[DeeGee]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

Bounce flash works really well.

[Paulstw]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

I bounce my flash off everything and anything I can find. Even if I need to fire it on full power. A wee tip I heard from someone was that if the person can see the flash tube then it's direct and will flatten them. It's we rules like these that keep me afloat lol. Whether it's true I don't know, I tend to just act on the day.

[S_J_P]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

Someone somewhere said something about photography being about sculpting the shadows (and not the light), and nowhere is this truer than with flash. Think of flash as a mechanism to produce shadow rather than as a producer of light and you're closer to achieving great flash-lit photographs

[AlexR!]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

One thing I think I've learned is that bounce flash is a somewhat misleading term as it gives the impression that the main aim is to 'bounce' the flash off the wall simply to light from the side. In fact, although you are partly doing this, a better way to view it is that you are lighting a large patch of the wall (or ceiling or whatever) which in turn becomes a new, larger, light source. The fact that it is larger, and not simply a reflection of the flash (think if you were bouncing it off a mirror), means that the shadows are softened too.
Does that make sense to anyone apart from me?

[Cyberman]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

One thing I think I've learned is that bounce flash is a somewhat misleading term as it gives the impression that the main aim is to 'bounce' the flash off the wall simply to light from the side. In fact, although you are partly doing this, a better way to view it is that you are lighting a large patch of the wall (or ceiling or whatever) which in turn becomes a new, larger, light source. The fact that it is larger, and not simply a reflection of the flash (think if you were bouncing it off a mirror), means that the shadows are softened too.
Does that make sense to anyone apart from me?

Makes sense to me.

[DeeGee]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

Me too.

[Bill53]

Re: Direct & Bounce Flash Comparison

One thing I think I've learned is that bounce flash is a somewhat misleading term as it gives the impression that the main aim is to 'bounce' the flash off the wall simply to light from the side. In fact, although you are partly doing this, a better way to view it is that you are lighting a large patch of the wall (or ceiling or whatever) which in turn becomes a new, larger, light source. The fact that it is larger, and not simply a reflection of the flash (think if you were bouncing it off a mirror), means that the shadows are softened too.
Does that make sense to anyone apart from me?

That is a perfect explanation and the most clear version I have seen.

Bill.