The case for flash OR "Happy Accidents"

[maclaine]

Like many RF shooters, I don't use a flash. Also like many RF shooters, sometimes I try to shoot candid, hand held photos in light that is way too poor. Such was the case at a friend's wedding a few months ago. The reception hall seemed to be lit with half a dozen 1 watt bulbs. In vain, I attempted to shoot a roll of photos of the bride and groom's first dance, and then subsequent dances with various mothers and fathers. When I initially pulled the roll out of the developing tank, it was clear that almost every single frame was underexposed, with either motion blur due to slow shutter speeds or poor focus due to such low light turning the subject to mush. All except one frame. I did recall a moment during one dance where the groom made a point of slowing down a bit and looking at my camera, but I thought surely I couldn't have nailed just this one photo and missed every other one just because he stopped moving for a split second.

After getting a chance to scan and look at the photo, however, the explanation was clear. Someone off to my left had photographed the dancers at the same time as me, their no doubt auto-everything P&S wisely using its built-in flash. My thanks go out to that anonymous individual.

While I still don't see myself using a flash, I guess the lesson learned is that, if your gut (and your meter) is telling you it's unlikely you'll be able to get the shot you want with natural light alone, it's probably right.

Zeiss Ikon, Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm f/2, Arista Premium 400 at 1600 ISO (I think), developed in D-76 1:1.

 

[DougFord]

IMO your 'lucky accident' works not only because of the amount of light on the subject but the direction of the light as well.
Maybe adopt some sort of Gildenesque flash technique i.e. flash in one hand, RF in the other, and experiment with intensity and direction.

 

[bolohead]

IMO your 'lucky accident' works not only because of the amount of light on the subject but the direction of the light as well.
Maybe adopt some sort of Gildenesque flash technique i.e. flash in one hand, RF in the other, and experiment with intensity and direction.

Totally agree. The lighting is great. That's why some wedding photographers use pocket wizards and strobes strategically placed around the reception or use voice activated light stands (i.e an assistant holding the flash).

 

[maclaine]

IMO your 'lucky accident' works not only because of the amount of light on the subject but the direction of the light as well.
Maybe adopt some sort of Gildenesque flash technique i.e. flash in one hand, RF in the other, and experiment with intensity and direction.

I thought this too, when I first saw it. If the flash was coming from any other direction, I don't think it would have come out quite as nice.

Also, after watching many videos with Mr. Gilden, I've thought of trying to develop a hand held flash technique like his (far less aggressive, however 😉), but I haven't pursued the idea just yet. Certainly there are many times when I'm at a music venue or some other low light situation where it would prove useful.

 

[Thardy]

It's got that "strobist" off camera vibe going on. Too bad that other photographer didn't simultaneously shoot on more of your other exposures.

Ive seen people use off camera flash that way. A long cord or radio control would fit the bill.

 

[Thardy]

Another thought I had was that you needed a higher ISO, but this shows that having light on the subject is what's really needed.

 

[jbf]

flash flash flash use it if you got it or want to experiment. anything can be used for anything so long as you just experiment and find out what works.

gilden, winogrand, and many others make great use of flash. just immerse yourself in art/photography and photograph away. be your worst and harshest critic and never accept praise that anyone gives you. only way to grow and be a better photographer/artist.

 

[maclaine]

By contrast, here's another low light situation with a different approach, although it was no accident this time. This was in an even dimmer dingy rock and roll club. I took this with my recently sold M2, my then recently "Sweeney'd" Jupiter-3, Kodak Tmax 3200 at 1600 ISO and developed at 3200. This was wide open at 1/15 of a second.

Fortunately for me, the band brought their own lighting system, and each member had these incredibly bright strobe lights near them. They were in sync with the music, so timing the shot was easy.

 

[ChrisCummins]

I remember when I was in a club in Portugal with my mates, I'd wait til it looked like someone was going to take a picture, then open my own shutter on bulb, wait for the flash, and close it again. It worked surprisingly effectievely, 'borrowing' someone elses lighting! 🙂

Btw maclaine, your photo of the drummer and the wedding dance are superb!

 

[nikon_sam]

While I still don't see myself using a flash, I guess the lesson learned is that, if your gut (and your meter) is telling you it's unlikely you'll be able to get the shot you want with natural light alone, it's probably right.

There's nothing wrong with learning or using the "Flash"...although you weren't using one in this shot is was a flash that saved it for you...
You're right in listening to your gut about when the light is gone...you can wish all you want while shooting but if the lighting isn't there your wishing is in vain...Nice shot BTW...😎

 

[gavinlg]

Best thing in wedding photography is setting up strobes alongside the edges of the dance floor, connected with receivers and pop a transmitter (pocket wizard or skyport etc) on the camera. When you fire, you fire off 3-4 strobes at the same time, and you're basically making your own good light.

 

[maclaine]

Thanks for the kind words, everybody. The more I think about it, the more I believe I'll be investing in a modest flash setup just so that I don't have to miss shots when they would otherwise be impossible. No sense in missing photos if it can be helped, and I hate that moment where you look at a roll you shot in poor light and realize every shot is garbage.

 

[Vics]

Try this: http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/