The One Simple Technique That Will Make You Love Your Flash Again

And... The Fujifilm X100V - Is it worth it?

Olympus OM-1 with a clip-on flash that’s included in the kit.

I think it was amazing high ISO performance that lured us away from our clip-on flashes. Jacking sensor sensitivity up to 3200 and higher was so much easier than fooling around with that funny looking accessory collecting dust on the shelf.

Plus nobody wants to be subjected to an overexposing burst of light that’s quite possibly the most unflattering look in photography.

Blech! This is why people hate flashes. Direct light from the strobe.

But the truth is, knowing what situations can benefit from a bit of flash and how to execute it can really enhance your photography. And if there’s one time-tested technique that’s sure to please, it’s bounce flash.

Same camera, same flash - it’s just pointed upward and not directly at the subject. Bounce flash!

This technique is so easy. Here are the steps:

1. Point the flash head upward toward a light-colored ceiling (not directly at your subject).

2. Eyeball the angle of the light so it falls on the subject. It’s sort of like a billiards shot.

3. Increase the ISO to 400 or 800.

4. Take the picture. (Your camera will do the rest.)

That’s all there is to it. A variation on this technique is to rubber band a business card to the back of the flash head to make a little reflector. Some of the light will be kicked forward toward your subject, and some will bounce off the ceiling.

I have more easy flash techniques I will share up the road. But give this one a try first. I think you may just like it.

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FUJIFILM X100F / X100V — is it worth it?

There’s been crazy demand for both the Fujifilm X100F and the X100V, and I thought it would be worth turning to level-headed Joe Allam for his take on these cameras. He’s been an X100F shooter since its release in 2017, and still enjoys using it.

If you’d like a little more signal and a little less noise regarding both these models, I think you’ll enjoy this 14-minute video.

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Podcast: 7 Photography Sins to Avoid

If you haven’t tuned in to this week’s TDS Podcast, 7 Photography Sins to Avoid, I think you’ll get a kick out of it. (And how many of these are you guilty of?)

BTW: The Digital Story Photography Podcast is available everywhere!