Nikon SB-26 Instruction Manual - Page 62

Bounce Flash Photography Bounce flash (above; with ceiling): Soft, natural-looking lighting. Direct flash (below): Harsh, un-flattering lighting 122 • Select a ceiling or wall to bounce the flash from. • The built-in diffuser card can be effective for creating more natural lighting with a catchlight for the eyes. • Tilt the flash head 60° up (first click-stop) or more to avoid uneven illumination. • In color photography, only use bounce with white surfaces. Otherwise, color photographs will come out with an unnatural color cast similar to that of the reflecting surface. • Choose p position (flash mode selector) for TTL Auto Flash operation. Use an aperture a few stops wider than you would use for regular TTL Auto Flash operation. For further instruction, see the TTL Auto Flash Mode H section relating to your camera type. • Although the flash mode A can be used for Non-TTL Auto Flash, perform a test firing. If the ready-light blinks after testing to indicate possible underexposure at the aperture in use, use a wider aperture or reduce the bounce distance. Then, perform test firing again. Using a Diffuser • To diffuse light, place a translucent material, such as one or more sheets of tracing paper between the flash and the subject. Avoid using delicate materials for the diffuser, and ensure a sufficient distance between the flash head and diffuser to avoid burns. For optimum results, experiment with different flash-to-diffuser distances and with more than one diffuser • In TTL Auto Flash operation, the SB-26 will automatically compensate for the diffuser affect (reduced light amount) in TTL Auto Flash mode. For further instructions, see the TTL Auto Flash Mode H section relating to your camera type. Note that the LCD panel cannot be used to compute flash shooting distance in bounce photography. • To protect the diffuser from burning, be sure it does not come in direct contact with the flash head. • Avoid reflection from the translucent material into the lens. Chapter 4 Diffusing Light Bracketing your exposures If possible, take additional shots with different apertures and/or exposure compensation techniques for exposure bracketing. Bounce/diffuser techniques reduce the maximum distance available for a given aperture due to the extra distance required for the flash light to travel, or amount of diffusion, or blockage. Make exposure compensation on your camera (this adjustment is not possible with the F-401x/N5005, F-401/N4004, F-401s/N4004s and FM2) for TTL Auto Flash operation, or with the lens opened up one or two f/stops for Non-TTL Auto Flash operation. 123