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powerful flash

My new Nikon D50 digital camera's flash is too powerful and is washing out the detail in the faces of my subjects. This is a new "state of the art" piece of eqipment, why is this a problem?

The combination of a digital camera and powerful electronic flash is often a problem for photographers. Chances are you are too close to your subject. At about eight feet, the D50's flash begins to be too powerful for its own good. Try stepping back from your subject or use a doubled up coffee filter and a rubber band over the flash to soften the light. Portraitsecrets has been checking and found that Lumiquest offers an attachment available at most camera retailers that helps with this flash problem on Nikon D50, D70 and even Canon models.  Another online tip source suggests a rectangular notch in a ping pong ball can turn you flash into a diffused light dome. This may seem to be a problem that could have been avoided by the manufacturer, but the truth is that there are always little tricks that have to be employed by creative photographers to get the most from their equipment.

 
Tip of the Day

Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Q & A

Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon



Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.

Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS






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Michael KeatingMichael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
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