Flash photography and birds

[saroj12]

I want to share something I learned a few years ago. At that time I did not have a camera that has an external flash that bounces the light off the ceiling and not directly in the bird's face. I also did not have good lighting. But I was unaware and merrily took pics of my birds at whatever range UNTIL one fine day I accidentally flashed myself in the eyes. it was horrible! I was blinded for a while and then saw spots for the longest time . i felt SO bad I had been subjecting my poor birds to this blinding flash for several weeks after getting my first camera. Sometimes I would even get cute pictures when they closed their eyes at the flash. But after that day my eyes were opened (pun intended ) and though i could not upgrade to a camera that can attach a bounce flash at that time, i improved the lighting in the rooms and tried as much as possible to use natural light.

 

[MollyMouse]

Thanks so much for sharing that, it's good to know!!

 

[Saemma]

Oooh. Could this be why Sachi HATES the camera?

 

[Nikki]

I hate using the flash, I turn up the ISO. In a darker area of the house I put the ISO up to around 800 or 1000.

 

[Artagiel]

Noodle loves my camera, she licks and flies onto it and gets extra excited, I don't think my flash is all that strong though and my SLR is a wee bit broken still.

I should get that fixed >.<

 

[Aleu]

I try not to use flash whenever possible as well. Setting up lighting not only brings out better color, but I'm sure it's less intrusive lol

A little random note....my art school friends and I were in one of their dorms and he said "hey shut off the light" so we did and he put his face next to a flash that attaches to a digital SLR. To my horror, in the darkness and when i closed my eyes, all i could see was his face! lol I wonder what the poor birdies see since they see light differently in some respects.

 

[TITANIS]

Great thread Saroj.

Oooh. Could this be why Sachi HATES the camera?

Hmm, never thought of that.

 

[KimKimWilliamson]

I hate using the flash, I turn up the ISO. In a darker area of the house I put the ISO up to around 800 or 1000.

All my bird photos are taken with high ISO and no flash as my enclosure has Aluminum Screen and if you try to use a flash through it all you get is a white pic! LOL

 

[Thugluvgrl187]

Thanks for the tip

 

[BakeBeanPie]

That's why I don't use flash plus I find it looks unnatural.

Maybe that's why I don't like my photos taken lol. Film cameras.

 

[Gen120]

Thanks for the tip, Saroj!

 

[Rebecca in Israel]

That's why I don't use flash plus I find it looks unnatural.

Maybe that's why I don't like my photos taken lol. Film cameras.

You still using film? A fortune to develop!!!

 

[Rebecca in Israel]

I use a higher ISO and set my camera to Macro so that I can actually take clearer shots with no over exposure. If a shot does come out slighty underexposed there are techniques in the programme which will adjust the lighting just as they do in the photo developping shops. Before shooting I give a half press and the camera refocuses and adjust lighting. It is all in how the camera is set up in the settings.