In defense of on-camera flash

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In defense of my on-camera mounted flash:

- Compact configuration.
- "distracting halo shadows" are only seen if there is a wall close behind
  the subject (that usually not the case in my photography).
- I find side shadows (from flash on side) more distracting than
  front shadows.

>   A slaved auto-exposure flash pointing in the side of the subject gives 
>much better results.  I switched to this set up a few weeks ago, using a 
>Vivitar 285.   A cheap old flash on the camera points to the cieling and 
>serves just to trigger the slave adapter on the Vivitar.  A second - $25 
>- auto-slaved flash set a long way away from the subject adds a touch of 
>fill in light from the other side.   The Vivitar flash's light sensor 
>handles the exposure -- where every you are just use f8 and 1/50th. 

The only question is, how are these flashes supported?  Sounds like
something that a professional wedding photographer would use.  I have
shot weddings with a camera-mounted flash and the results were
excellent.

Basically, I am a Realist point-and-shooter like my good friend Bill Davis.
I like to put my Realist in my bag with the flash at top and pull it
out and shoot without hesitation.  I would go to the more elaborate
set ups like the one you described, only if I feel they are needed.
So far, I have not felt that this is needed and I use my flash all the
time, but indoors and outdoors.  (Could it be that with the Realist
hot shoe mounted flash, these shadows are less of a problem because the
flash head is *right* in-between the lenses?)

-- George Themelis


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