11. Back flash
Pitfall explanation
Here's your typical night party scene with a typical night party problem. No, that's not an energy-based life form come to observe how humans make merry; that's the reflection of the flash in the dark window, hovering there like a fourth head. It's amazing -- though not surprising -- how often these flash reflections pop up in indoor shots, bouncing off windows, eyeglasses, and, around the holidays, ornaments and menorahs. Mostly it occurs because you don't really think about it until you see the photos, and by then, the moment has passed.
Can this photo be saved?
Maybe. But I suspect it would take some seriously tedious selection and cloning work.
How can I avoid this problem?
Tip 1: Pay attention. The only foolproof way to avoid reflections is to refrain from shooting facing any reflective surfaces, which means you've got to be watching out for them.
Tip 2: Dial back the flash intensity. This won't avoid the problem, but it might make it a little less overpowering and a little more susceptible to retouching later.
Tip 3: Use a diffuser or bounce flash. For a snapshot camera, you can fashion a diffuser by affixing some translucent paper over the flash. Or, if your camera supports it, get an add-on flash unit that tilts upward so that the light bounces off nearby surfaces before hitting the subject. Even if there are no other good reflective surfaces to bounce the flash off, tilting it only slightly would move that big hot spot higher in the frame so that you could possibly crop it out of the photo.
Which cameras handle these scenes best?
What it takes: Those with a tiltable flash or that support add-on flashes that can tilt.
Suggested models:
Pitfall explanation
Here's your typical night party scene with a typical night party problem. No, that's not an energy-based life form come to observe how humans make merry; that's the reflection of the flash in the dark window, hovering there like a fourth head. It's amazing -- though not surprising -- how often these flash reflections pop up in indoor shots, bouncing off windows, eyeglasses, and, around the holidays, ornaments and menorahs. Mostly it occurs because you don't really think about it until you see the photos, and by then, the moment has passed.
Can this photo be saved?
Maybe. But I suspect it would take some seriously tedious selection and cloning work.
How can I avoid this problem?
Tip 1: Pay attention. The only foolproof way to avoid reflections is to refrain from shooting facing any reflective surfaces, which means you've got to be watching out for them.
Tip 2: Dial back the flash intensity. This won't avoid the problem, but it might make it a little less overpowering and a little more susceptible to retouching later.
Tip 3: Use a diffuser or bounce flash. For a snapshot camera, you can fashion a diffuser by affixing some translucent paper over the flash. Or, if your camera supports it, get an add-on flash unit that tilts upward so that the light bounces off nearby surfaces before hitting the subject. Even if there are no other good reflective surfaces to bounce the flash off, tilting it only slightly would move that big hot spot higher in the frame so that you could possibly crop it out of the photo.
Which cameras handle these scenes best?
What it takes: Those with a tiltable flash or that support add-on flashes that can tilt.
Suggested models:
 Leica Digilux 2 Read review |
 Canon EOS 350D Read review |
< Back to intro
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Sergei Plishka
11/02/2006 01:21 PM
If you do notice a reflective surface in the background, simply take the shot at an angle to the surface so that flash reflects away from the camera instead of right back at it.
Report offensive content