I'd like to talk to the digital compact camera shooters first. Guys and gals, you don't have an awful lot of options but you do have one or two. Compact cameras with very few exceptions provide only a small flash on the front of the camera. The flash is forward facing and very close to the lens, there is no way to change that. However you can get some relief by softening the light output.
I have found that a home remedy is best for compact camera flash. This solution is useful for times when we shoot in living room sized spaces. Simply tape a small piece of white gauze in front of the flash. Be careful that you don't use too many layers of gauze! This will cut down on the effective range of the flash but it will get rid of the spotlight effect and provide a softerillumination. I have also used waxed paper as the diffusing material and it can be just as effective on some cameras.
While these suggestions for the compact camera owner aren't very high-tech they do get the job done. As a side note this kind of flash diffuser is very helpful when taking pictures of babies! Because we tend to get very close to infants when we shoot, the naked flash can be very overwhelming. A little diffusion will always yield a better picture.
On to digital single lens reflex camera owners. As a group dslr photographers have a universe of choice when it comes to flash control. Starting with the basics, let's look at your camera's built-in flash.
I'm going to begin talking about built-in flash by offering my own opinion. One of the most misguidedfeatures added to SLR's back in the 90 's was built-in flash. They are under powered and they provide light that is not one bit better than a compact camera flash. Having said that I also must say that they do exactly what they were intended to do: provide light for taking snapshots indoors or adding fill light outdoors.
Just like the flash on a compact digital camera with dslr's built-in flash cannot be moved or positioned. Even though there is a little more separation between the flash and the lens they still provide very direct, very flat light for people pictures. The good news is that the same diffusion concepts used on compact cameras will also work for DSLR 's. However we aren't likely to get good results from waxed paper scraps or gauze.
For a DSLR's built-in flash it maybe best to look to manufactured solutions. There are diffusers made by companies such as Promaster or Gary Fong that are very effective and safe to use on our cameras. Safe? Yes, these products won't damage the camera's hotshoe with tape residue or rest too close to the flashtube where melting could become a problem. Cleaning melted waxed paper off of a DSLR flash isn't easy or fun! And just as mentioned in the section on compact cameras flash diffuser will reduce the working range of the flash.
There is a better way to immediately improve your people pictures. Add a hotshoe mounted flash to your DSLR. Adding this one accessory can make all the difference between mug shots and great shots.
The very first benefit comes from the increased distance between the camera's lens andthe flash tube. Even these few added inches benefit your images because the lighting isn't aimed like a spotlight at the subjects face. Red eye is all but eliminated and skin care for. Thepackaging or descriptions of the diffusers online will steer you in the right direction. Odds are the photographer will own several different diffusers over time, each with its specific purpose or look.
Camera flash and all of the available accessories provide tremendous creative opportunity and possibility. The immediate improvement to our people pictures by adding a hotshoe mounted camera flash is just the tip of the iceberg. In the future we will explore flash brackets, off-shoe flash cords and much more. For right now though, take the next step and add a camera flash to your outfit. Move from mug shots up to "Nice shot!" in one easy step.
Digital Camera Photo Tip: Mug Shot To " Nice Shot! "
