FLASHES

When searching online for flash diffusers, you’ll likely laugh at the variety and simplicity of the devices for sale, ranging from something that seems like a disposable drink cup to a white piece of paper. That’s because diffusers are indeed very simple! You can certainly make one at home, but should you decide to purchase one, you’ll be pleased to see that their simple form is matched by their simple price. Most flash diffusers are between 10 and 25 dollars. What you’re paying for is ease – they attach easily and stay put. But, if you’re feeling creative, make one on your own and enjoy.

Like all things commercial, there is the ability to go high end with flash diffusers as well, with moldable versions, different colors, and interchangeable sizes. If the topic of flash diffusion is new to you, start with something basic like the one below, simply slipping on top of your flash and creating nice soft effects.

Or, if you have a pop-up flash, carry around a small piece of white plastic or a film canister like the one below and experiment with the results.

The general idea is they spread the light out more evenly so you don’t have one single point of bright white light. Much like clouds help diffuse the sun and lessen harsh shadows, so do flash diffusers. They are not a panacea and won’t allow you to use flash with impunity for every shot you ever take. But, they are a great item for your “tool kit” in photography in your quest for the perfect shot.

Another technique, which you can employ with or without a diffuser, is known as flash bouncing. It sounds like fun – and that’s because it is! The idea is that you are using the flash to illuminate something NOT in the photo but instead using its reflectivity to illuminate your subject more softly. For example, perhaps there is a white building wall behind you when photographing a bird at the entrance of a nature park. Angle your flash behind you to illuminate the wall and essentially turn it into one large, diffuse and less intense flash. If you’ve ever had portraits done of you or your family, you’ll remember large white boxes that would flash when the photo was taken. It’s the same principle – a larger surface will lessen harsh shadows and other undesirables associated with flashes.

However, large white walls are not the only thing to look out for. What about the leaves of a bright spring green tree, or a snow bank? The same thing applies here – aim your flash (obviously needs to be one that you can move, not the ones that pop up on top of your camera) at leaves or snow and have it give you some nice soft lighting, or even incorporate a little green color or side angle to the light!

Flash With Macro Photography

Macro photography is an entirely different genre of photography, living by different rules in all ways, shapes and forms. The use of flash is no exception. With macro photography, a flash is almost a necessity, as you’ll need to set your camera to a wide depth of field (big f-stop number – read the Aperture and F-stop section if you have time) to get all the detail and texture that makes macro photography so beautiful.

The above photo of a saturniid moth in Papua New Guinea is a great example of how a seemingly “unphotogenic” little brown moth can turn into something quite fascinating when employing macro photography techniques. This also goes to show you that a macro lens is not necessary to take evocative macro photos. The lens used here was with a kit 18-55mm.

We’ll go into more macro photo techniques in the Macro photography section, along with more detail on the types of flashes and accessories one can use.

Recap

• Anticipate issues with using flash in nature, both from the wildlife fleeing as well as fellow photographers becoming a bit grumpy with you. Be sure to ask permission from your guide and fellow travelers before using a bright flash.

• Spend some time getting to know your flash, how to increase and decrease the intensity, and the results by doing different things (i.e., angling it to the side or behind you, bouncing it off different surfaces, or using a flash diffuser)

• Moderation is the key to happiness when using flash. If you are using one, always try to take photos with and without flash so that you can compare the results on your computer afterward.