116mm, f5.6 @ 400, ISO 250, no flash
It’s a rather gray day around the old camera clubhouse this am which often makes the light right for taking photos of flowers. There’s a large, red flower next to nothing in the front garden which was calling me to take its portrait so I decided to comply.
While you can see the flower, the image doesn’t generate viewer happiness for reasons that aren’t readily apparent. Wouldn’t you like to like it more than you do? I would, so what’s to do, you may be wondering? Why not brighten the scene just a bit? Well that sounds like a fine idea but how should I add light without letting the viewer see that I used flash?
No problem and no matter if you’re using the the built-in camera flash or an external flash, dial down the light output. How much? I always start with -1 1/3 reduced light output and adjust up or down from there. That’s usually the spot-on setting that usually works without adjustment.
105mm, f5.6 @ 160, ISO 250, Flash at -1 1/3 reduction.
Yes, you can try it at home–especially on an extended weekend such as we are currently enjoying. Hope this Labor Day weekend is going well for you, with–and without–your camera.