Press Photographers And Flash

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Anthony wrote:
> Why do press photographers always use flash?
>
> I have thought this for a while, but just now there was a press conference
> on the news and there was continuous lighting setup for the video cameras.
> There were no harsh shadows, and there was catchlight in the eyes. Why did
> they need to use flash? Wouldn't is be better is they just uses a big
> aperture lens if they were worried about light (although a normal aperture
> lens would have been suffice)? Or am I missing something?

Not being a pro photographer, I'm just guessing. A large aperature
means a narrow depth of field and often a slow shutter speed to help.
Harder to get the subject in focus and not blurred, and they probably
want the people in back to show up in focus. All that's much easier
with flash.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Using flash freezes motion, balances contrast and helps with color when
shooting under fluorescents or mixed lighting. It also really helps
when the quantity of light's adequate but the quality is lackluster and
improves contrast and speculatry.

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 18:43:18 +0100, "Anthony" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

>Why do press photographers always use flash?

When you absolutely positively have to have the shot: you supply your own light
and don't count on other sources.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

"Another thing I have noticed is that they quite often have a Sto-fen
diffuser, but use it on the flash in the straight ahead position.
Surely,
this just kills the battery recycle time?

BTW, I am amateur, and am not an expert. Hence the questions."


As Weegee said, f/8 and be there. BUT....it's important to remember
f/8 was almost wide open on those lenses!!

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

flash never (well...almost) messes up a press shot....but deep shadows will.
Newsprint is unforgiving.

--
Thanks,
Gene Palmiter
(visit my photo gallery at http://palmiter.dotphoto.com)
freebridge design group
www.route611.com & Route 611 Magazine
"Anthony" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:wPKdnWDRu9NfhJveRVnyrw@pipex.net...
> Why do press photographers always use flash?
>
> I have thought this for a while, but just now there was a press conference
> on the news and there was continuous lighting setup for the video cameras.
> There were no harsh shadows, and there was catchlight in the eyes. Why
> did
> they need to use flash? Wouldn't is be better is they just uses a big
> aperture lens if they were worried about light (although a normal aperture
> lens would have been suffice)? Or am I missing something?
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Agreed, but the background was a blank blue background. If the people being
interviewed were the focus of the shot, then the out of focus background
shouldn't be a problem.


"salgud" <davegb@safebrowse.com> wrote in message
news:1124474122.718574.22510@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>
> Not being a pro photographer, I'm just guessing. A large aperature
> means a narrow depth of field and often a slow shutter speed to help.
> Harder to get the subject in focus and not blurred, and they probably
> want the people in back to show up in focus. All that's much easier
> with flash.
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

I agree that flash freezes motion, but these are people moving very little,
so motion blur should not be a problem if you can get a decent shutter speed
without flash.

I agree with what you say about color, white balance, contrast, etc, but
they were shooting digital. Very easily adjusted post process.



"henryp" <henryp@bhphotovideo.com> wrote in message
news:1124474096.928122.196130@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Using flash freezes motion, balances contrast and helps with color when
> shooting under fluorescents or mixed lighting. It also really helps
> when the quantity of light's adequate but the quality is lackluster and
> improves contrast and speculatry.
>
> Henry Posner
> B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Anthony wrote:

> I agree that flash freezes motion, but these are people moving very little,
> so motion blur should not be a problem if you can get a decent shutter speed
> without flash.
>
> I agree with what you say about color, white balance, contrast, etc, but
> they were shooting digital. Very easily adjusted post process.

But post-process adjustment is another cost. Newspaper's want ready to
print photos right from the camera.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Another thing I have noticed is that they quite often have a Sto-fen
diffuser, but use it on the flash in the straight ahead position. Surely,
this just kills the battery recycle time?

BTW, I am amateur, and am not an expert. Hence the questions.


"Anthony" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:wPKdnWDRu9NfhJveRVnyrw@pipex.net...
> Why do press photographers always use flash?
>
> I have thought this for a while, but just now there was a press conference
> on the news and there was continuous lighting setup for the video cameras.
> There were no harsh shadows, and there was catchlight in the eyes. Why
did
> they need to use flash? Wouldn't is be better is they just uses a big
> aperture lens if they were worried about light (although a normal aperture
> lens would have been suffice)? Or am I missing something?
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

"Anthony" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ycqdnYYoBdOotZveRVnyvg@pipex.net...
> Another thing I have noticed is that they quite often have a Sto-fen
> diffuser, but use it on the flash in the straight ahead position. Surely,
> this just kills the battery recycle time?
>
> BTW, I am amateur, and am not an expert. Hence the questions.

My guess, (if we are guessing) is that they don't have a lot of time to
change/adjust their set-up, so they run with a general set-up that will
suffice for most all situations. Flash just in case there isn't enough
light, and it don't hurt anything if there is. Diffuser to cut down on the
harshness in some situations, and it don't hurt anything by being there if
they don't need it. These guys are "campers", so they tend to fly with their
Swiss Army knives deployed.......

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

> I agree that flash freezes motion, but these are people moving very little,
> so motion blur should not be a problem if you can get a decent shutter speed
> without flash.


Getting a good shutter speed without a flash can be quite a challenge
when you are zoomed. In my experience, f/2.8 is my only choice when
indoors (even in my brightly lit house). Even if there is enough light
at f/2.8, that makes the depth of field lousy for getting a good shot of
a human in that scenario. F/8 or so, is my guess as to their desired
aperture.



> I agree with what you say about color, white balance, contrast, etc, but
> they were shooting digital. Very easily adjusted post process.


How easy? I've never been to the white house, but I assume their lights
are primarily fluorescent. Do they all of the fixtures in that room
match color temperature? Is there a mix of tubes and incandescent
spots? Now the problem of differing colors of light enters the mix.
This can pose a hassle for skin tones to match backgrounds, etc. By
using a flash, you control white balance because the primary source of
illumination stems from a known color of light from the flash bulb.

Easy or not, better to nail it the first time. Editing a photo takes a
lot longer than taking one.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

"Anthony" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:TKKdncMLrdKFvpveRVnysQ@pipex.net...
> I agree that flash freezes motion, but these are people
> moving very little, so motion blur should not be a problem
> if you can get a decent shutter speed without flash.

It's not so much the subject movement but rather the camera shake from
being body-checked by "colleagues" that don't like anyone but
themselves getting a decent picture ...

> I agree with what you say about color, white balance,
> contrast, etc, but they were shooting digital. Very easily
> adjusted post process.

GIGO (Garbage-in-Garbage-out) rules. Any additional postprocessing
puts deadlines at risk.

Bart

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

<I agree with what you say about color, white balance, contrast, etc,
but
they were shooting digital. Very easily adjusted post process>

First, anything you can get right in the camera is one less thing you
have to stress over later. Second, getting it right in the camera gives
you a better image than one you've fixed in the computer later.
Finally, people are under the misconception that digital = unlimited
exposure latitude. In fact, exposure accuracy for digital is like
shooting slide film, not neg film. Latitude is VERY limited.

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.equipment.35mm (More info?)

Good points.


"henryp" <henryp@bhphotovideo.com> wrote in message
news:1124749532.440594.180790@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> <I agree with what you say about color, white balance, contrast, etc,
> but
> they were shooting digital. Very easily adjusted post process>
>
> First, anything you can get right in the camera is one less thing you
> have to stress over later. Second, getting it right in the camera gives
> you a better image than one you've fixed in the computer later.
> Finally, people are under the misconception that digital = unlimited
> exposure latitude. In fact, exposure accuracy for digital is like
> shooting slide film, not neg film. Latitude is VERY limited.
>
> Henry Posner
> B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
>