Re: In defense of on-camera flash

[P3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> >Shots taken with the side slave are stunningly better. 

I've found that multiple flashes to work quite nicely with
my very limited experimentation.

I'd be particularly interested in experiences as to what
the differences in application of multi-point lighting for
2D (see any photo textbook written this century) and lighting
for 3D.  Most 2D books will talk in terms of 3D "effects" and
control with the lighting, but I'm not certain if that's "good"
or "bad" when applied to "real" 3D.


> I am not convinced.  Can it be that in my Realist the flash is
> right in between the lenses?  (That's not true for the Kodak
> or any flash mounted in a handle...)

It might!  In flat photography, you'd tend to lose depth when
using straight-on lighting, but that may not be a problem  in 
stereo photography where the depth isn't primarily from lighting cues.

However, desires to show surface textures or to further emphasize
depth may be subdued (why I asked about people's experiences above).
Filling the background (where the camera flash brightness is falling
off) may still be useful when not photographing someone against
a wall. 


> In my last wedding, the photographer used a slaved flash in the
> side.  That stupid thing fired during my (flash on top of) 

I used multiple flashes a litttle at the wedding I last photographed
at.  But only for a few shots -- it was crowded and I had my
"assistant" holding the other flash at the other spot.  A bit
of a mess organizationally -- it was *crowded*.  Might not
try that again.  The Pro had two flashes on a *LARGE* contraption
that he walked around with.  One was direct and the other
had a difuser, as I recall.

> Realist shots and ruined my pictures with its side shadows.  
> I was upset!

Bummer.  I assume the "ratios" were completely off -- or perhaps
as you say, combining 2D methods with 3D methods don't always
mix.  Again, anyone with extensive experience?  

Stereo Flash photography sounds like a good subject for
Dalia's magazine (hint hint Dalia).


Mike K.



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