Nikon SB 900 User Manual - Page 76

Bounce flash operation You can tilt or rotate the SB-900's flash head to bounce the light off the ceiling or walls, providing more natural-looking pictures of people with softer shadows. Also, you can soften the shadows even more by using the Nikon Diffusion Dome. • For more details and comparative example photos, see the separate booklet, "A collection of example photos" Pp. 4-9. Setting the flash head Tilt or rotate the SB-900's flash head by holding down the flash head tilting/rotating lock release button. • The SB-900's flash head tilts up 90° and down -7°, and rotates horizontally 180° D to the left and right. • Set the flash head at a click stop at the angles shown. 90° 75° 60° 45° 0° 7° 30° 0° 30° 60° 90° 120° 150 120 90 60 30 Flash modes and functions 120° 90° 60° 150° 180° 150° t Setting flash head tilting/rotating angles, and choosing the reflecting surface • Good results are generally obtained White ceiling most simply when the flash head is tilted up and you use the ceiling as a 1-2m reflecting surface. • Rotate the flash head horizontally to 90º get the same effect when you hold the camera in the vertical position. • Take care not to let light from the flash unit illuminate the subject directly. • The effective distance between the flash head and the reflecting surface is approx. 1 m (3.3 ft.) to 2 m (6.6 ft.) depending on the shooting conditions. • In color photography, select white or highly reflective surfaces to bounce the light off of. Otherwise, your pictures will come out with an unnatural color cast similar to that of the reflecting surface. D-26