Reading mode: Light Dark

Bouncing the internal flash, what do you think?

Go to last post
Thanks for the detailed instructions, but after looking at them I still can't figure out what keeps the reflector from falling forward. Can you describe how it is held in place?

This would be an improvement over my current technique, which is to hold it by hand.

Thanks.
 
here is the free body diagram :) Red arows are the forces on the bouncer. The yellow and cyan lines are the supports. The cyan support wants to go up, but the flash prevents it. the yellow one tries to go down, but it can't.. They want to push against the arrows. Even you turn the camera 90 degrees, it stands.


Boardhead said:
Thanks for the detailed instructions, but after looking at them I
still can't figure out what keeps the reflector from falling
forward. Can you describe how it is held in place?

This would be an improvement over my current technique, which is to
hold it by hand.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Awe some idea... Thanks juggler.

That will really help me because right now I don't have the money to buy a flash .. I will try it out ....

I have a question about your cat photo .... Surely the bounced photo looks nicer than the other one but overall I felt that the first cat photo is under exposed. I would have expected the first to be blown up because of the direct flash ...
Juggler said:
Hi,

I know it is not something new, but I want to share some of my
thoughts and pictures with flash bounced.

Here is a macro shot with kit lens internal flash - direct (55 mm,
ISO 100, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is the same shot with kit lens but flash bounced. (55 mm, ISO
400, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is another shot with direct internal flash:



Same scene with bounced flash:



in the last two, i just pointed the cat, and pressed the shutter.

And here is the bouncer.. How do I look? Perhaps I should find a
sponsor and take some banner on the bouncer :)



regards
Click to expand...
 
Well, no, it works like this:
1. I aimed the camera to the cat.
2. Half pressed to focus
3. Press the shutter to take the picture

4. Camera first pre flashed on the cat. I think its flash metering depends on the active focus point too, so it looked at the white cat, and decided the scene was not too dark, lower the flash power in order to expose the cat properly . It is obvious the flash metering has been done relative to the cat.
5. Main flash popped and picture was taken.

If I aimed a dark point and pressed FEL button, then you'd have seen that that dark point was properly exposed and cat was over exposed.
jvkvijay said:
I have a question about your cat photo .... Surely the bounced
photo looks nicer than the other one but overall I felt that the
first cat photo is under exposed. I would have expected the first
to be blown up because of the direct flash ...
Juggler said:
Hi,

I know it is not something new, but I want to share some of my
thoughts and pictures with flash bounced.

Here is a macro shot with kit lens internal flash - direct (55 mm,
ISO 100, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is the same shot with kit lens but flash bounced. (55 mm, ISO
400, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is another shot with direct internal flash:



Same scene with bounced flash:



in the last two, i just pointed the cat, and pressed the shutter.

And here is the bouncer.. How do I look? Perhaps I should find a
sponsor and take some banner on the bouncer :)



regards
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ah, thanks! From the side view I couldn't see that the cyan support was pushing against the bottom of the raised flash.

Smart.
Juggler said:
here is the free body diagram :) Red arows are the forces on the
bouncer. The yellow and cyan lines are the supports. The cyan
support wants to go up, but the flash prevents it. the yellow one
tries to go down, but it can't.. They want to push against the
arrows. Even you turn the camera 90 degrees, it stands.

Click to expand...
 
Juggler

Can you please post a 18mm wide shot.
jvkvijay said:
I have a question about your cat photo .... Surely the bounced
photo looks nicer than the other one but overall I felt that the
first cat photo is under exposed. I would have expected the first
to be blown up because of the direct flash ...
Juggler said:
Hi,

I know it is not something new, but I want to share some of my
thoughts and pictures with flash bounced.

Here is a macro shot with kit lens internal flash - direct (55 mm,
ISO 100, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is the same shot with kit lens but flash bounced. (55 mm, ISO
400, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is another shot with direct internal flash:



Same scene with bounced flash:



in the last two, i just pointed the cat, and pressed the shutter.

And here is the bouncer.. How do I look? Perhaps I should find a
sponsor and take some banner on the bouncer :)



regards
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Here are couple of images. I took them 5 mins ago, I just read your message, took the camera (it was connected to the computer), pointed and shot. Both images at ISO400, later I took ISO100 images with direct flash but they were the same, so I'll post ISO 400 samples. The room was completely dark, only the computer monitor was turned on. By the way, when the bouncer is on, it can still use the strobes to focus the image.. Bounced strobes can help too :)

With direct flash:



with bounced flash



with direct flash (there my juggling balls :))



with bounced flash



Hope these helps.

regards
Jedric said:
Can you please post a 18mm wide shot.
jvkvijay said:
Awe some idea... Thanks juggler.
That will really help me because right now I don't have the money
to buy a flash .. I will try it out ....

I have a question about your cat photo .... Surely the bounced
photo looks nicer than the other one but overall I felt that the
first cat photo is under exposed. I would have expected the first
to be blown up because of the direct flash ...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you. I will try this out.
Juggler said:
Hi,

Here are the instructions:
First, take 3 pieces of thin cardboard (I used the cover of a
little notebook :)) then glue them shown in the figure. I used a
10x10 reflective surface, but it seems when you shoot at 18 mm,
some of the flash exceeds this surface and escape. So make it
bigger.



These are the close up shots of the bouncer, it is not that good
but it does the job..







and with DR







and with me

Click to expand...
 
Is there any way that you could re-post the pictures of your homemade flash bounce device. Also how did you get that digital rebel logo on the front? Thanks

Mike
http://photogallery.juliesellsflorida.com
Juggler said:
Hi,

I know it is not something new, but I want to share some of my
thoughts and pictures with flash bounced.

Here is a macro shot with kit lens internal flash - direct (55 mm,
ISO 100, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is the same shot with kit lens but flash bounced. (55 mm, ISO
400, 1/60, f5.6)



Here is another shot with direct internal flash:



Same scene with bounced flash:



in the last two, i just pointed the cat, and pressed the shutter.

And here is the bouncer.. How do I look? Perhaps I should find a
sponsor and take some banner on the bouncer :)



regards
Click to expand...
 
Especially when you shoot white objects, background comes out undersexposed as DG try to expose the white object properly... Bounced flash helps alot in that case.

Well practical or not, I use it occasionally and people impressed from the results when I use bounced flash. It is as practical as carrying a 'huge' 550 or 500 or other external flashs, and lighter as well. But we can discuss the efficiency and effectiveness :) It is quite enough for rooms and places with low ceiling.
Michael Entin said:
I did the same experiment some time ago. Not practical, but lots of
fun:

Direct build-in flash:



Bounced build-in flash:

Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I was surprised by power of Rebel build-in flash, it is quite
enough for bouncing it in a small room.

And the result is very impressive: I intentionally removed all ambient
light, still the second image looks almost like natural lightning.

My bouncer was not practical mostly because it was not very stable
(would not survive a bag), and tilting it was not a simple operation.

Maybe one time I'll spend more time and create a tilting head for it...
But in reality I'll probably buy 550ex to have FEC.
Juggler said:
Well practical or not, I use it occasionally and people impressed
from the results when I use bounced flash. It is as practical as
carrying a 'huge' 550 or 500 or other external flashs, and lighter
as well. But we can discuss the efficiency and effectiveness :) It
is quite enough for rooms and places with low ceiling.
Michael Entin said:
I did the same experiment some time ago. Not practical, but lots of
fun:

Direct build-in flash:



Bounced build-in flash:

Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Bummer too, cause this looks like a great technique - Is it on a website anywhere?
Juggler said:
Hi,

Here are the instructions:
First, take 3 pieces of thin cardboard (I used the cover of a
little notebook :)) then glue them shown in the figure. I used a
10x10 reflective surface, but it seems when you shoot at 18 mm,
some of the flash exceeds this surface and escape. So make it
bigger.



These are the close up shots of the bouncer, it is not that good
but it does the job..







and with DR







and with me

Click to expand...
 
Unfortunately virtualave closed all free accounts, but you can find all the pictures here:

http://www.dpportfolio.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album75&op=modload&name=photo&file=index&include=view_album.php

Just choose Album: Flash Bouncer.. And if you are interested in home made products, you may find "album: string stabilizer" interesting... It is a tripod mount attached to a string.. An 'inverted monopod'...
mick92627 said:
Juggler said:
Hi,

Here are the instructions:
First, take 3 pieces of thin cardboard (I used the cover of a
little notebook :)) then glue them shown in the figure. I used a
10x10 reflective surface, but it seems when you shoot at 18 mm,
some of the flash exceeds this surface and escape. So make it
bigger.



These are the close up shots of the bouncer, it is not that good
but it does the job..







and with DR







and with me

Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top