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01/10/2007 05:23:45 PM · #1 |
So yeah im just getting into this digital photography thing and i have a problem. Sometimes when i take pics i get a shadow following the subject im shooting. I picked a picture that has it i think its a dumb pic but its a good example. I just want to know how i can fix this and how to prevent it. I can eliminate the shadow using photoshop but i want to know how to stop it from happening. Thanks- Matt |
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01/10/2007 05:24:49 PM · #2 |
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01/10/2007 05:33:09 PM · #3 |
The problem is that the on camera flash is near the lens, so, you get a shadow like that. The solution is to get the flash higher than the lens, so the shadow is cast downward and not straight back. That, along with eliminating redeye, is the main reason for using an external flash on a bracket or bouncing it off the ceiling.
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01/10/2007 05:33:21 PM · #4 |
When you use the on-camera flash, the light source is really tiny, and so it makes a sharp shadow. An easy solution is to bounce the flash off the ceiling... but that's not possible with on-board flash. That's why photographers who use flash either use a shoe-mounted flash with a head that can be angled, or use off-camera lighting.
The inexpensive way is a shoe-mounted flash, and bounce it off a "bounce card" or the ceiling. |
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01/10/2007 05:34:59 PM · #5 |
| try to make your own diffuser, if flash is a must. |
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01/10/2007 05:44:24 PM · #6 |
| well the case with this pic is that i changed the shutter speed so alot of motion wouldnt be blury. what happens is if i dont use flash it comes out way to dark. so would changing the apeture do anything to maintain the quick shutter speed while keeping it bright enough. also my camera does not have a hot shoe. the guide recomends getting the wireless flash by canon. I didnt know if it was worth it cause it looks pretty cheesy or if i get a wireless flash that is better would it work with my cameras wireless flash function or does it just work with that one canon flash? im using a canon PowerShot S1 IS ( wich i feel kinda funny about joining this website now cause everyone has either an EOS or a rebel) |
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01/10/2007 05:49:05 PM · #7 |
| Heh, the majority of us started out with non-DSLR cameras. DSLRs dominate here now, but that was not the case even 2 or 3 years ago. Still plenty of folks here doing awesome work with less camera than you have! Have fun & don't worry about "G.A.S." (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)! |
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01/10/2007 05:49:46 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by TheFallofTroy:
my camera does not have a hot shoe. |
so you've got 2 options, basically:
1. get external flash (slave units)
2. diffuse your on-camera flash |
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01/10/2007 05:54:54 PM · #9 |
| Hey! Isn't a Rebel an EOS? Don't feel bad about your P&S. There are plenty of great photos here taken with P&Ss. |
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01/10/2007 06:39:11 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by TheFallofTroy:
well the case with this pic is that i changed the shutter speed so alot of motion wouldnt be blury. what happens is if i dont use flash it comes out way to dark. so would changing the apeture do anything to maintain the quick shutter speed while keeping it bright enough. also my camera does not have a hot shoe. the guide recomends getting the wireless flash by canon. I didnt know if it was worth it cause it looks pretty cheesy or if i get a wireless flash that is better would it work with my cameras wireless flash function or does it just work with that one canon flash? im using a canon PowerShot S1 IS ( wich i feel kinda funny about joining this website now cause everyone has either an EOS or a rebel) |
Normally changing the aperture would have an influence on how "dark" the photo is. Lower f-numbers like f2.5 let in more light than larger numbers lik f8.0. But they also change your depth of field, meaning that a smaller portion of your photo will be captured by the camera's focus (kinda). Lower f-numbers would allow you to use higher shutter speeds, but it sounds really like you're probably just going to need more light.
Sadly, I can't answer your flash questions :-( But I can tell you that that would be one way to add more light to your set-up....and light really tends to make or break photos (at least, that's what I'm learning these days). A wireless flash could be set up wherever you need it, so I could see that being pretty handy. Sounds like you could probably bounce it off the ceiling pretty well too, which would eliminate that harsh shadow. |
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01/10/2007 06:48:04 PM · #11 |
OK, here's something that should help ...
Yes, a ping-pong ball :-)
Cut it to fit over your pop-up flash and it will help diffuse some of that shadow.
BTW, using slower shutter speeds (1/60 - 1/30 second) with flash will allow ambient light to fill some of those shadows too.
Message edited by author 2007-01-10 23:50:15.
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