Flash -- the unpopular accessory?

[poker]

I've been approached by two separate friends who are slowly getting in to photography. Both have newer DSLRs and 2 lenses each. Their second lenses are large aperture primes with their kit lens. They always ask me for advice and most recently I told both of them to buy external flashes. Neither of them felt like a flash was necessary. Coincidentally, both wanted long zooms but neither could tell me what scenario they would use a telephoto lens. I also advised of a flash because both are always using their camera at indoor parties/gathering.

I personally only use the pop up flash when I have no choice. I also don't like draining my battery with the pop flash. My friends believe it's enough.

Do you find it difficult to sell people on the value of a flash? Anyone see this belief among their friends new to photography?

[n8]

I was the same way for a long time as I just feel natural light looks better, but the more I learn about flash use, diffusion and modification, as well as multiple flashes and wireless triggering, I'm getting a lot more into it.

[zerodog]

They just need to see the benefit of bounced flash and off camera flash for themselves. Yeah, a shot from a DSLR with a fast lens and a pop up is a step up from a point and shoot. But not by much. As they get better they will figure it out.

I go both ways with and without flash. I guess it depends on my mood.

[Axle]

Flash is a fickle and harsh mistress. I to was rather turned off of it when I first got my dSLR in 2007, I had one, but it showed that I wasn't too good at using it, and rarely did.


(SB-800, on camera, bare iTTL)

Aiming the head directly at the subject, harsh shadows. I would more often opt for a fast prime and high ISO. But a year later I had done some reading, and learned some tricks and picked up an accessory, and my flash work drastically improved.


(SB-800, on camera, gary fong lightsphere clear, iTTL)

You just have to watch out, once you've figured out the on camera flash (and yes, I'm still learning with that) you'll want to move onto off camera techniques.


(1 SB-800, M 1/1 shoot thru umbrella, 1 SB-600 M 1/2 Softbox, Elinchrom Skyports as triggers)

[OldClicker]

Flash, and other non-natural lighting techniques, seem to be a whole different area in the craft of photographer that is as alien to some as post processing is to others. As with all areas of the craft, I think we should at least know what it is that we decide not to use. - Terry

[poker]

We are critical with ourselves and we believe the harsh shadow in the the back is well....harsh. Plus this shot is a bit washed out. As we progress we are able to avoid this type of flash shots as you have progressed in your other samples. Love the bridal shot by the way.

On the other hand (when I'm not trying to be fancy/artistic/dramatic), I would rather have this shot instead instead of something poorly lit from a pop up flash. I would't want to go crazy with a high ISO. I appreciate a flash to have nice clear photos when shooting a regular family event. I think a pop up flash makes a DSLR like a P&S.

Should we start a challenge thread "best shots with only pop flash" to see if I'm wrong?

[Jimmy B]

With any photography tool you have to learn how to use it, just like shooting in manual mode. I used to think my buddy was crazy for using off camera flash techniques, he has gone on to get a wireless remote system and does some really nice shots with them.I got a off camera cord for my flash and it has opened up a lot more shooting ideas. As we all know it doesn't cost film and developing with digital so experiment are used for learning what you can do with your gear.Get a good flash and play!
Jimmy B

[jetrim]

Do you find it difficult to sell people on the value of a flash? Anyone see this belief among their friends new to photography?

Yeah, I really do. Mostly because I don't fully believe the value is there myself. When you can buy a midrange monolight for 30% less than a speedlight, it makes it a hard sell for me. Nikon SB's are wonderful outdoors in ttl mode, but not so much in the environments I shoot indoors. My quantum seems to strike a good balance but try convincing a newbie they need to spend more on the flash than they just spent on that brand new body

What's an easy sell? REFLECTORS!!! cheap, cordless, and efficient

[suvra.saha79]

No, I haven't seen this type of difficulty. I am also very fond of photography & I do do it mostly for outdoor purpose..

[freygr]

Indoor a bounce flash softens the light of the flash. I like my daughter's SB unit

[Loupey]

A lens is always more sexy than a flash

Many people new to dSLRs don't realize that a fantastic lens in crappy lighting can be easily out-trumped by a well-placed, well-used flash with an average lens.

So much can be done with one strobe and one trigger - even with just an off-shoe cord.