A flash of brilliance

Using a flash enhances weirdness in the children. Midgley #3

I've always hated flash photography. I find that it steals life from the pictures, makes them look unnatural, harsh and messes with the depth of field. In all honesty, it's probably just because I don't know what I'm doing...

But last week I received a brand new SB-600 flash for my Nikon. I immediately took some pics at my birthday dinner and was amazed at the exciting possibilities of bouncing light off the ceiling! Then this afternoon I rushed out to see if the flash would help me with my outside shots. From the far recesses of my memory I remember reading something about fill flash ...

Well, I learned a couple of things: firstly, that I've still got a lot to learn and that I need to delve into the flash's manual (I hate manuals); secondly, that kids love their picture taken with or without a flash; and thirdly, that school can get a bit serious, and that real life is out with the real people ... What fun we had cackling like fools with the kids, chatting to the mechanics on the side of the road and waving to moms and tots in their windows ...

I've included only photographs I took with my flash here, but if you'd like to see others (some of which are better than these, I think) you can visit my Flickr page.

Midgley #1 being himself

Children who found the "vazahah" (foreigner) photographer most amusing

Okay, I don't think the flash did much good here, but I like the pic.

This is one of my walls at home - bouncing the flash straight up off my wooden, termite-infested ceiling.