PSA: Look Behind You

Before my Lightscoop arrived this week, I was using a budget lightscoop to shoot in the evenings - a white side plate. Actually very useful! I managed to catch some great candids when I would otherwise not be able to, and avoid the dreaded deer in headlights flash look. Including this little ditty.

I was so excited because her eyes looked so crisp. And I managed catchlights! (pleasing light reflection in the eyes which makes them look bigger and luminscent) Bonus. But then I was like, "WTF is that red speck in her eyes. It can't be red-eye."  So I zoomed in to 100% and cropped, to discover the culprit:

That would be the red pillow on the couch behind me. Dang flash bounce picked it up and reflected the colour back into her eyes. Doh!

So your PSA for the day: When using a flash bounce, remember not only what is in front of the lens, but what is behind it too.

Lightscoop, round 2

So I FINALLY re-ordered my Lightscoop to replace the one that was stolen with my old camera. Here is a comparison shot if you are considering buying one. Well worth the $20 price tag, IMO:

no flash:

pop up flash:

flash + lightscoop:

(note: $20 is if you order through Adorama. It is $30ish directly from the LS website)

Day 025

My lightscoop arrived today. Woohoo! This is a nifty gadget that fits a scoop with a reflective mirror over your onboard flash and diffuses the light up. For only $20 (through the website adorama if anyone is interested) it is a great starter investment if you can't afford an external flash yet.
So I present the Lightscoop Test:

No Flash

Onboard Flash

Lightscoop and Flash

These are all SOOC, taken at night with only an overhead light fixture

Lightscoop recommends you set your flash to +2. Since I don't know what this means on my camera, I wasn't sure how to change that setting. Hopefully once I figure it out, the difference will be even more dramatic.

No more discarding the camera once the sun goes down and lamenting missing key snapshots at family events. I cannot wait to really test drive this baby!