Have you ever stopped to think what the flash on your camera is really doing? Yes, it's providing extra light to help your camera record an image. But really, flashes are very similar to holding up a flashlight and shining it directly on your subject's face. Redirecting the flash to "bounce" off a ceiling or white walls can produce much more natural results. Here are some examples of how a bounced flash can improve image quality. These images were taken in a rather dim room where shooting without a flash would not have given good results. You can tell how the bounced flash creates a more natural lighting on the subject. If you don't have a flash that is able to be redirected, get creative with white index cards or foil to create your own Lightscoop, avoiding a direct flash on your subject. A great big thank you to Annie's doll for posing for these shots. My usual models were either at school or too busy watching TV to cooperate!
Taken with a bounced flash. Taken with a direct flash.
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| The top image was taken with direct flash. The bottom image was taken by bouncing the flash. |
