Flower shots-To flash or not to flash?

[Speedy136]

Kept walking past these in my neighbours garden and after a downpour this morning they looked even more photogenic.
Is it acceptable to use flash on flowers or is natural more accepted?

Without flash.

DSC_0002 by Speedy349, on Flickr

With Flash.

DSC_0004 by Speedy349, on Flickr

 

[Chriswallace1]

To flash !! Brings out the colours more.

 

[Speedy136]

To flash !! Brings out the colours more.

Think you are right Chris. Shame the rain wasn't followed by sunshine they would have looked nice with some sunny backlight.

 

[cardiff_gareth]

I'd say with flash also but TBH you could of got the top image to look the same as the bottom one if you had done either a curve or levels adjustment!

 

[chphotos]

The problem with flash, as in your second photo, is shadows.

 

[Speedy136]

Totally agree about fixing with curves but I quite like the catchlights in the water droplets.
Good point about the shadows Cliff, after comparing them the shadows are quite noticeable.

Thanks for replying

 

[Dave in Wales]

Not to flash.

The 'no flash' image could to have been made to look more vibrant, as does the 'flash image' with a little PP......IMVHO.

 

[specialman]

I prefer the no-flash shot, simply because the fall off in the shadows is much softer. However, if you are low on light then the flash is a massive help - try buoncing it off a piece of card above the flower and back down into the slower, effectively creating a larger effective light source. You'll then create much softer shadows.