do u prefer flash photography or available light?

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Archive 2009 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

WT21
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p.4 #1 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Navyblue wrote:
The studio guys must be really desperate.

I was just thinking "what about studio settings"

Shouldn't the question be "available vs. flash lighting for" a particular use case? Street photography? Event? Travel? Studio? etc.??

Dec 06, 2009 at 06:52 PM

DavidP
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p.4 #2 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

ChrisDM wrote:
Here are a few examples of my recent work where we were forced to use flash to compensate for the lack of good natural light (or opposing natural light in the case of the dining shot), but attempted to mimic a soft natural sidelight with the use of bounce and off-camera strobes etc. As much as I would have preferred a nice natural light, the reality is that is sometimes (often) just isn't there. And in those cases the final image is much improved with some skilled flash:

All beautifully done, Chris.

The point is to make it look like no flash was used . . and you accomplished that. Except for that last one, really.

Edited on Dec 06, 2009 at 07:03 PM · View previous versions

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:01 PM

dhphoto
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p.4 #3 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

As I said before, I think this is a silly thread, but there a clear consensus, everyone (or almost everyone) would prefer to use natural light, and if they need to use flash it should be used to approximate natural light, so as not to look unnatural, there being just the one sun.

It's not that interesting, but it's the only real solution one could expect

David

Edited on Dec 06, 2009 at 07:03 PM · View previous versions

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:02 PM

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p.4 #4 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

hfillmore wrote:
In general, I find that those who dislike flash the most, are those who least know how to use it.

I would counter by saying that most who use flash are those who least know how to use it.

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:02 PM

skibum5
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p.4 #5 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Dawei Ye wrote:
Available Light or Flash?

2 Test shots, one without flash, one with direct flash - both Straight out of camera:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Obviously I have posted skewed examples to justify my point of view and the results are not generalizable to all situations - but hopefully the point is that flash has its place in certain situations. It's not just about light substitution but light quality.

i actually don't like the look of the flash one for the first image at all, it has that boring flash look, just a tad pulling up of a little bit of a few of the deepest shadows on the first and imo it's way better, this is why i don't like the use of flash unless really, really necessary

now the second one the flash pic is better though

Edited on Dec 06, 2009 at 07:09 PM · View previous versions

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:02 PM

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p.4 #6 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

skibum5 wrote:
i actually don't like the look of the flash one for the first image at all, it has that boring flash look, just a tad pulling up of faces on the first and imo it's way better, this is why i don't like the use of flash unless really, really necessary

now the second one the flash pic is better though

I agree. But I would've simply moved the kids into the sunlight for the second one, honestly.

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:04 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.4 #7 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

M Vers wrote:
Lars Johnsson wrote:
Which one do you prefer.............

The best one, or more appropriate or effective one, for the job/shot at hand.

But that's not an answer when he gave you two choices. So which one do you prefer

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:04 PM

skibum5
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p.4 #8 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:05 PM

dhphoto
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p.4 #9 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

skibum5 wrote:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

i actually don't like the look of the flash one for the first image at all, it has that boring flash look, just a tad pulling up of faces on the first and imo it's way better, this is why i don't like the use of flash unless really, really necessary

now the second one the flash pic is better though

Not sure I agree actually, I think for the most *flattering* I'd be pulling the fill-flash one back a bit rather than have all the cross-face shadows. A back-cross lit shot like that is crying out for fill-flash

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:05 PM

skibum5
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p.4 #10 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

DavidP wrote:
ChrisDM wrote:
Here are a few examples of my recent work where we were forced to use flash to compensate for the lack of good natural light (or opposing natural light in the case of the dining shot), but attempted to mimic a soft natural sidelight with the use of bounce and off-camera strobes etc. As much as I would have preferred a nice natural light, the reality is that is sometimes (often) just isn't there. And in those cases the final image is much improved with some skilled flash:

All beautifully done, Chris.

The point is to make it look like no flash was used . . and you accomplished that. Except for that last one, really.

i might have slightly toned down the flash for all but the first as you can still definitely tell they were flashed and lighting doesn't quite look entirely right, although im sure lots better than taken without any flash at all

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:08 PM

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p.4 #11 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

DavidP wrote:
skibum5 wrote:
i actually don't like the look of the flash one for the first image at all, it has that boring flash look, just a tad pulling up of faces on the first and imo it's way better, this is why i don't like the use of flash unless really, really necessary

now the second one the flash pic is better though

I agree. But I would've simply moved the kids into the sunlight for the second one, honestly.

good point

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:09 PM

skibum5
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p.4 #12 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

dhphoto wrote:

Not sure I agree actually, I think for the most *flattering* I'd be pulling the fill-flash one back a bit rather than have all the cross-face shadows. A back-cross lit shot like that is crying out for fill-flash

i kind of like the depth the mild shadows provide

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:10 PM

M Vers
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p.4 #13 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Lars Johnsson wrote:
M Vers wrote:
Lars Johnsson wrote:
Which one do you prefer.............

The best one, or more appropriate or effective one, for the job/shot at hand.

But that's not an answer when he gave you two choices. So which one do you prefer

Otherwise we could answer nearly every question in the forum with "the best one"
What macro lens do you prefer Sigma 180, Canon 180 or Tamron 180?
What tripod do you prefer Manfrotto, Gitzo or Velbon?
What body for landscape 7D, 5D or 1Ds

My answer to all would then be, the best one.............

My point is the poll is flawed because there is no 'both' option. It's like having two children and someone giving you a choice of which you would save if they were both drowning in a pool--would you feel compelled to say 'both' or be forced to pick one? I prefer the best light source for the shot and or situation. Sometimes I prefer natural light, sometimes I prefer flash...there is no one or the other about it. As for your analogies the one that best relates to this question is the body example. Each body has their strengths and weaknesses, just as each light source has theirs...sometimes you will choose one over the other based on the task at hand.

Edited on Dec 06, 2009 at 07:25 PM · View previous versions

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:13 PM

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p.4 #14 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

"""It's like having two children and someone giving you a choice of which you would save if they were both drowning in a pool""

If you think that is the same as the choice of using available light or flash

there is something wrong with you

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:24 PM

M Vers
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p.4 #15 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Lars Johnsson wrote:
"""It's like having two children and someone giving you a choice of which you would save if they were both drowning in a pool""

If you think that is the same as the choice of using available light or flash

there is something wrong with you

I think you get the point. Just because someone offers you two choices doesn't mean you need to pick one if you don't agree with either. Wouldn't you agree?

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:27 PM

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p.4 #16 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

M Vers wrote:
It's like having two children and someone giving you a choice of which you would save if they were both drowning in a pool--would you feel compelled to say 'both' or be forced to pick one?

Life may force you to choose which one to save FIRST . . which could then easily turn into which ONE you'd save, too.

While you'd never feel compelled to save only one, you would have to choose how you were going to go about saving them.

Dec 06, 2009 at 07:42 PM

Sven Jeppesen
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p.4 #17 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

DavidP wrote:
M Vers wrote:
It's like having two children and someone giving you a choice of which you would save if they were both drowning in a pool--would you feel compelled to say 'both' or be forced to pick one?

Life may force you to choose which one to save FIRST . . which could then easily turn into which ONE you'd save, too.

While you'd never feel compelled to save only one, you would have to choose how you were going to go about saving them.

Yes he have to choose which one first. But the comparison is also very stupid

Dec 06, 2009 at 08:00 PM

M Vers
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p.4 #18 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Sven Jeppesen wrote:
But the comparison is also very stupid

It was supposed to reflect my view of the poll.

Dec 06, 2009 at 08:03 PM

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p.4 #19 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

deepbluejh wrote:
stanj wrote:
Flash is for the desperate. That's the main reason why I have all the fast primes...

Wow, gotta say I'm surprised at this comment coming from you. Ever tried studio photography? Wonder how well that would work out with natural light?

Yes I have tried studio photography. I even have a tiny makeshift mini-studio should I need it. However, I don't enjoy it. Remember: the OP's question was about what one prefers, not what one can do when between a rock and a hard place.

There have been a number of really good examples of fill flash in this thread, both outside and indoors. I can use it, too, but again, it's not my preference, and I would always consider it being desperate for creating a lighting which I somehow can't get naturally. My opinion - my way of answering the OP

Dec 06, 2009 at 08:15 PM

DavidP
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p.4 #20 · do u prefer flash photography or available light?

Sven Jeppesen wrote:
But the comparison is also very stupid

I think the comparison was made simply to illustrate that sometimes you do have to make choices you'd rather not make.

Dec 06, 2009 at 08:27 PM

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