Critique playing with my flash gun

[dazzlers82]

Hi guys id like some feed back on what people think of this an where i could do better, it was taken with a 70d with 430ex flash gun on camera as thats the only lighting i have, taken against a black wall.

Family by dazzlers82, on Flickr

 

[UaeExile]

You need to get it off camera - all you need is a cable, cheap stand and shoot through umbrella and the quality of this photo goes up x10.

 

[juggler]

You need to get it off camera - all you need is a cable, cheap stand and shoot through umbrella and the quality of this photo goes up x10.

Even cheaper but less controllable - bounce it off a white wall or large piece of card.

 

[dazzlers82]

cheers guys, lighting is something ive not really done a lot of.

 

[cargo]

These two "models" have a great look to me ;-) Hope you can do as the above two posters suggest as it would be great to see the results.

Gaz

 

[GuinBondEyes]

There's a limit of what you can do without OCF. Simon's advice to use bounce is good advice.

Technical stuff aside, a nice capture

 

[dazzlers82]

Thanks for the replys i will have to have a look for an umbrella an stand, and try again

 

[rusticblonde]

You need to get it off camera - all you need is a cable, cheap stand and shoot through umbrella and the quality of this photo goes up x10.

Best thing i ever did. I brought a setup for a backdrop, i use that stand, it holds the speedlite well, its really helped in low light. Now to learn where light hits XD... Great shots btw

 

[Geoff Moore]

As I know next to nothing regarding the flash, ill just +1 the comments about it above
Regarding the composition, I would say, removing any distracting elements from the composition, such as the cropped watch which is fighting for attention and also double checking the edge of the frame when shooting, ala the boys ear.

Perhaps being a little less zoomed in and giving a little more background would allow the subjects room to breath within the frame. I hope this helps?

Regards
Geoff

 

[Mark Johnson]

Like it for what it is, a moooooody shot.....

Mj

 

[huffy]

I would suggest looking at Strobist: Lighting 101

http://strobist.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/lighting-101.html

It will give you some more details about using a flash off camera.

 

[Sir SR]

Direct on camera flash is rarely a good look. Try to get it off camera or to bounce the light off a larger surface to soften the light a bit. Was just looking back through my phone to find examples of on camera flash



This was taken with a large white wall behind me. The flash was on camera but pointing to the wall behind me, creating a much larger light source with softer light



This was taken with on camera flash and the flash angled to camera right to create a larger softer light source, bounced off a wall



This was taken with on camera flash with the flash angled off a side wall to create a larger softer light source.

Have a read around the websites and keep posting - folk on here are always willing to help!

Shaheed

 

[bovey9]

As others have said get the flash of the camera or bounce it. Many only think of bouncing of the ceiling but off a wall can be very effective and you already have the equipment to do this.