Something I learned when I got my first SLR camera, was that direct flash really can ruin an otherwise great shot. It can wash out a persons face, or even bring out harsh highlights and at worst give bright reflections that just look awful. You know the ones I’m talking about you see them all over facebook and to the untrained eye, they look normal because its what we are used to seeing from any picture taken in a lower light situation.  I think many people who step up to a Digital SLR camera, are disappointed a bit with their results because when they use the on-camera flash the pictures can look the same as those taken by there point and shoot.
So what is the big secret?
Professional lighting rarely comes from directly in front of the subject in fact it almost never does. When you see professional setups, the lights are usually to the side or up high.  People who do not own that kind of equipment, or simply don’t want to or cannot set-it up, even pros who are on location and don’t have luxury of carrying lights around, use “bounce†flash. “â€Bouncing†your flash off the ceiling, a nearby wall, or even off of a card that is mounted to your flash, can throw the light and make it come back down on the subject as if it was from an off camera light source. This gives a very nice effect and is used by all the pros regularly, some of them master this technique and use it exclusively.
So how do I do it?
It is simple providing you have the right equipment, or are willing to rig something up. The easiest way is if you have a flash that rotates. So basically you can point the flash up into the air or sideways. If you have that, all you have to do is aim the flash towards the ceiling, thinking about how it will bounce back down. Think about playing pool, you want to shoot the flash against the surface and get it to bounce back down on your subject. Not hard to do and when mastered you get very professional looking lighting!
I don’t have a flash that rotates. Now what?
There are a couple of other options:
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- Get or make a diffuser. If you have a pop-up type flash which most SLR’s have, you can purchase (or make from an old clear film canister) a diffuser box that fits over the flash and achieves a similar effect, although its not as dynamic as bounced flash. I actually have both and use them in different situations, but either way it still gets rid of that nasty direct flash.
- If you have a point and shoot camera with a built in flash, fixing a diffuser to that could be tough. What you could do is get some vellum paper (that semi-transparent stuff) and cut a little square of it, then tape it over the flash!
If you are serious about photography at all, and you have an SLR type camera, I would suggest investing in an external flash. I personally LOVE my SB400 and those can be found online as cheap as 100 bucks, maybe less now. The SB400 is for Nikon’s but I am sure there is something similar for any camera out there.
Happy Shooting, post some of your improved results on the flickr group!
