Flash query

[rheinhessen]

Does a flash gun - if bounced away from the subject, such as off the ceiling - create an artificial 'catch light' that you'd get if the subject was facing a large open window during the day?

 

[The Matt]

Simply put- yes. It's a recognised technique for diffusing harsh flash light.

 

[nikonuser]

some good info. on flash use here.
http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/
Hope it helps
Dave

 

[HoppyUK]

Does a flash gun - if bounced away from the subject, such as off the ceiling - create an artificial 'catch light' that you'd get if the subject was facing a large open window during the day?

You mean a specular highlight, a bright reflection of the light source in the eye?

Only really if the subject is facing the light, or close to that position. Bouncing off the ceiling means that the light is generally too high to create much of a high-light in the eye - you need a dash of fill-in flash from the front to do that, or a suitably placed reflector.

Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection - light bounces off a surface at the same angle that it strikes it, like a snooker ball off the cushion. That's the way to work out where reflections will be, where to position the light, how to angle the subject and the camera to capture them.