Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-12
CAMERA ANGLES
Voriotions
In Flash
Pictures
BY A. J. WEDDERBURN
Curator Of Photography.
The Smithsonian Institution

Like any other technique.
fash photography has its vari+
atoms. Today we win discuss
briefly four Of the basic meth
DDS Of using flash, and throw
in some general flash informa-
ton in the bargain.
Perhaps the most common
method finds the reflector at
tached to the camera. with the
light beamed directly at the
subject. Those Of US who lack
imagination or proper instruc-
ton very likely have used this
method ever since adding q
fash gun to our equipment.
Well, it is attached to the
camera, so why consider using
It any other way2 Actually
there are a number of other
ways, all improvements over
the fiash-on-camera method.
Presently we shall see why, but
first let's see what happens
when we try it the easy way.
Flatness Often Results !
With the gun on the camera
we are almost always assured
of q disable picture provided
the camera is in focus. But
when a flash shot is made this
way the even distribution of
light makes the picture fiat,
with little modelling or detail
in the skin or other subject
matter. and a harsh black shad-
cw behind the subject. This
fiatness Is especially undesir-
able when fash is used on the
camera to photograph a baby
or a round faced person. 1t
tends to emphasize obesity.
Considerable improvement
may be noted when the: flash
gun is removed from the camera
and held away from the lens
position. The shadow is now on
one side, the picture begins to
show an Illusion Of depth. and
there is a distinct improve
ment in the modelling effect.
With family group shots, how
ever, the off camera lighting
must be used with discretion
or the shadow cast by one of
the group will fall across the
face of one of the others.
Bounced" Light
Another technique which has
become popular is called wall
bounce. BY this we mean that
the fash reflector is aimed at
a nearby light-colored wall
rather than directly at the sub
ject. The flash will bounce of
the wall and illuminate the
subject with, a soft, well
rounded light. Another distinct
advantage Of using wall bounce
light is that 1t does not startle
the subject or temporarily blind
him when the fash goes of.
Another type of bounce is
achieved when the fash is
aimed at the ceiling. OF the
two, ceiling bounce light is the
best for it provides an overall
illumination without the shad-
ows that Inevitably appear
when the light Is held to one
side.
There is no ilard and fast
rule for estimating exposures
when using bounce light. AS we
know, guide numbers are
furnished on the flash bulb car
ton. but these are only for
use when using the flash on
camera or of camera for a
direct lighting Of the subject.
Factors governing exposure
with bounce fash include dis
lance from wall or ceiling to
the subject, and the reflective
power of the wall or ceiling.
The best answer may be arrived
at by making a few test shots
under certain conditions and
then basing future exposures
on these factors.
Some Technical Suggestions
If your flash gun fits directly
into the body Of the camera
you may wonder how 1t can be
used for off camera or bounce
light shots. Here's how it's
done: Fit a bayonet-screw base
adapter into the reflector and,
with an ordinary screw plug.
attach an extension flash to
the rig. Then use the extern
sion unit In any position you
desire. The flash unit on the
camera is simply used to pass
the current on to the extern
sion reflector which can now
be used for of camera direct
shots or for bounce illumina-
ton.
Here are a few dos and