Let There Be Light

My setup for my test.

It took me a long time before finally getting a flash gun for myself. Almost two years in the making, if I'm not mistaken. I have mentioned many times that I want one of these, but I only got one now seeing from my friends how useful these things can be.

I got myself a Canon Speedlite 430EX II from Digital Walker Zoom (thank you Sir Charlie and Sir Dickoy) last Wednesday. Their promo for PiPho members like me was just too tempting to resist. I also got myself two sets of Eneloop batteries from Watson in Hidalgo last Thursday. They say Eneloops (made by Sanyo) are great because of its ability to hold its charge for months.

Maybe one reason it took me a while before purchasing a flash unit is because I originally wanted a 580EX II, the big brother of the 430EX II. It has a stronger flash output, can act as a master device, and has more features than the 430EX II, but it comes at a price.

So why the sudden change of heart? I realized that as a beginner who doesn't make a living from taking pictures, the 580EX II may just be too much for me. If budget wasn't an issue, I would have gotten the 580EX II in a heartbeat. But since I have to manage my cash flow, the price difference can actually get me some much needed accessories: batteries, diffusers, triggers, and maybe a cheap flash for strobist work.

If I could start photography all over again, I think I'll get a flashgun first before upgrading my kit lens. Learning proper lighting can actually make wonders, and I have been to many events wishing I have a strong enough flash to cover them.

I did a little test to show the difference between built-in flash and a dedicated flash gun. Note that this test isn't scientific in any way, and that I still have a lot to learn about flash photography. I tried to use the same settings for all the shots.


In the fisrt picture, no flash was used. Colors turned out dull.


I used the built-in flash for the second picture, at normal power. Notice that there's some shadowing at the bottom of the bear, caused by the big lens I'm using.


I used the built-in flash at full power for this shot. It's overexposed and the shadow at the bottom is much worse.


For this one, I used the 430EX II, and it was pointed straight to the subject, normal power. It's almost the same as shot number two, minus some of the shadow at the bottom.


This time, the flash was pointed upward, also known as bounce flash. This is one of the advantages of having a dedicated flash gun. The beige hue was caused by our ceiling.


For the last one, it's the same as number five, except that I tried to diffuse some of the light by using paper towels. I wonder if it's the same if I buy a real diffuser.

I know, I still have a lot to learn from my shots. I still have to find the right mix, but I know with this purchase I'm headed the right way. I'll do more experimenting in the future, especially when I get my hands on a good flash trigger set. Now I'm on my way to becoming a strobist.