How To Avoid Shadows????

I have a Sony DSC-P10 5MP camera. Almost all of my shots taken with the flash
come out with big shadows. It almost looks like people have two heads. Is
there any way I can avoid this from happening? I have tried taking pictures
from different angles and lowering the flash power. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan

 

Don't have your subjects posed with a wall behind them; keep an open area in
the background whenever possible. The principle of 'bounced flash' also
helps overcome this problem.

 

Two options:
1) add light to the shadow areas (reflectors, bounce your flash, use a flash
to fill in shadows, etc)
2) remove (move or move away from) surface that the shadow is falling on
(i.e., move away from walls, etc.)

 

First opion is to balance the power output of the flash to the ambiant
light. If it is too dark to do this you should then look at the option of
using bounce flash. If this can't be done the only other option is to change
the quality of the flash light. This is best done with off camera flash and
a multi unit set up, which I don't think you would want to do. The easy
quick way is to fit a diffuser onto the flash. I often use a small softbox
12 X 15. This spreads and softens the light a little but results are still
poor. The ultimate answer is to buy a tripod and do a long exposure, all
the above options can be used with a tripod assisted long exposure and flash
used to fill in any unwanted shadows.
This really is a subject that has no quick easy answer. People have written
books on it, so have a look at them and do some test shots.

 

Ahh, so you want to shoot like a pro, eh?

I shoot with my dedicated flash unit connected via a cord to my hot shoe,
and hold the flash unit up high, with an omnibounce diffuser. It's a PITA
to shoot this way, if you are doing weddings like I do, but it really helps
reduce the shadows. If there is a low white cieling, always bounce it off
the cieling at an angle.

The other way is to mount a slave flash unit on a stand, and use it along
with your camera flash.

Never shoot anyone standing close to a wall, which is another good rule.


Patrick

 

Turn the flash off.

 

and hold real still.

 

Of all the evil creature from DownUnderWorld (DUW), the
Shadows are the most dreaded. They are not easy to
avoid. The best you can do is stay out of sunshine
or strong lamp light. An overcast day is to prefere.
Beware if you have a Photo Aparatus (PA) sporting a
Direct Light Lightning Device (DLLD). This device is the
most feared Shadow Maker (SM) of them all. If you are
forced to use such a divice it is better to get a more
powerful one that can be directed to a nearby white
chalked cieling or such. Then the Shadow will be cast
lower and less visible. If that is not possible, then
you are adviced to use a black backround or a backround
far away from the victim you force to cast such an
evil Shadow. This will diminish the power of the Shadow
and save the victim from its Cruel Casting (CC).


/Roland

 

dunno, I heard 'bout this thing on ther intermonet called a "try pod".

 

I just made an album that shows how the various light modifiers that I have
create shadows:

http://www.the-meissners.org/2004-small-albums/2004-flashmod/index.html

The bottom line is the ceiling bounce and shoot into umbrella provided the
softest shadows.

 

I've had some success using an off-camera flash unit fitted with a
remote slave trigger [?] This requires the built-in flash to fire [to
trigger the off-camera flash] and the shadows this would cast can be
eliminated by taping a piece of exposed negative colour film over the
tube [careful to avoid the sensor]. This cuts out most of the visible
light but allows through the infra red which does the triggering.
Quite a versatile and cheap arrangement - you can put the flash - or
flashes - anywhere.

Alan.