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Bouncing Your Flash
Using flash to directly illuminate a subject often creates harsh, unnatural, and unattractive shadows. To avoid
this, the flash can be tilted or swiveled, allowing you to aim your flash at a large white or neutral-colored
surface, such as a ceiling, a wall, or a reflector. The light will bounce off the larger surface before striking your
subject, providing softer, more natural illumination. In addition, the flash can tilt down by seven degrees in
order to fully illuminate your subject when shooting close-up photography.
When bouncing your flash, you may need to adjust your exposure settings, since there will be less light falling
on your subject. The farther away the bounce surface and your subject are, the less illumination there will be.
Tip:
Bouncing your flash off colored
surfaces can create a color cast in
your images. Bouncing off a white or
neutral-colored surface will not alter
the color of the light, while bouncing
off a gold-toned surface can give
portraits a warmer look. Other
colors, while usually not desirable,
can be used for creative effects.
