You can try underexposing the picture
using the EV controls on your camera (even better: use the camera??™s flash compensation
control to throttle down the flash effect, if the camera has such a control), or try a lowtech
solution: lay a piece of thin tissue or some photo gel (available at any camera shop)
in front of the flash to diffuse the light.
FIGURE 6-9 This image was taken with a very wide aperture and no flash.
134 How to Do Everything: Digital Camera
?– Blockage Some flash units are positioned so that the lens itself blocks some of the light
when the subject is too close to the camera. In my book (and hey! This is my book!),
this is a camera design deficiency, plain and simple. Nonetheless, if your camera is
affected by this particular glitch, it??™s easy to see for yourself. As in Figure 6-10, there
will be a huge shadow in part of the picture where the lens got in the way of the flash.
Ordinarily, your camera may not suffer from this problem, but it may become prone to
light blockage if you add snap-on lenses (like macro filters, for example).
Secure the Subject
Need a way to keep the subject perfectly still? If you??™re shooting something that??™s not
ambulatory (stamps, coins, flowers, and die-cast models will work, but insects won??™t) then
you need to get one or two plamps (www.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213