Manual or semi-auto fill-in flash

[Bertram2]

Dear all,

fill-in flash: risking to get (verbally) first burned at the stake and later shot by some RF no-flash purist I'd nevertheless like to ask, if some of you are experienced in such swinish practises ? 😀

I own two semi -auto flashes , each with 3 auto aperture settings for semi-auto use or a full blow manual setting where I have to adjust the camera aperture only depending from the distance, like we did it with he flash bulbs.

I know the rules for fill-in flash with auto stops but I would be interested to see some examples shot by fellow members and of course i am interested in learning what their experiences are, if they still use it ot if they gave it up and why they did so.

At the time I got it simply fed up to fiddle around with Ps for hours to make an super-contrast shot work anyway and throw it away at the end because i could not save it despite of all efforts.

So if some of you can point out some of their demo shots and know tricks and tips I still don't know, please do IT ! 😉

Best regards,
Bertram

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The subject came up in a prior thread, which had some examples and links for fill flash.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7871&page=2&pp=30&highlight=fill-flash

Here is my example in that thread, link to the "attachment".
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9098

I prefer the Nikon SB15 (small size) for fill flash work, but also use a Vivitar 283 and the nice Vivitar 285 that Joe gave me.

 

[rover]

I have often "cheated" I guess. If you get a bounce attachment for the flash by Lumiquest or Omni Bounce that will cut the output by a stop or two. More importantly it will diffuse the light from the flash and soften it eliminating some of the harsh effects of a bare flash head.

 

[Bertram2]

Brian, thanks for remebering me, I had forgotten that there were examples shown already !
Rover: I agree, you can do a lot with flash, but the secret is how to get the light diffuse enuff but keep it still under control.
In times of Graflex in US and Rolleiflex in Europe the pros were quite good with flash photos.
Saw recently a pic of Capa shooting at a party, with a Rolleiflex and a bulb flash , which he holds over the left side of his head, the common Paparazzo style in those days 🙂)