Question about the flash angle at night

[wildebeast]

I took this picture with my game camera using a Sony S600 and noticed the reflection in the water shows a better coloring of the hen Wooduck because of the flash reflection off the duck above water.

My question is what would be the best distance from the side for a remote flash to get the angle to loose the flash reflection? I have a Nikon D100 I made into a game camera and use a speedflash for a remote. I don't want to get too far away because of the limited space in some locations. Also would it work better overhead or off to the side?

cliff

 

[Lan-Lord]

Hi Cliff,
I'm a big fan of the "bounced flash" look when shooting photos. Basically when indoors, point the flash at the ceiling. When it fires, it will bounce off of the ceiling and flash down on your subject. The lighting looks more natural, avoids heavy shadows being cast behind the subject (on walls for example), and it prevents the harsh light effect, which is what your photo shows.

Obviously, you dont have a ceiling to bounce off of, but if you could fire the flash from above (simulate a bounced flash), you could achieve the same effect. Although, if you fire the flash above water, it may have a high amount of glare. Shooting the flash from the side may improve the lighting also. I'm not sure on what distance to place the flash though. That might be a trial and error measurement.

A couple of other options are to use a diffuser or a pocket bouncer. Either one will "soften" the light and provide more of a glow, rather than a blast of light. Also, you wouldnt have to mount the flash elsewhere. You may loose some of the distance that it can reach though.
Here are just a couple of products. There are a lot of different technologies that basically achieve the same "softened" light effect.
pocket bouncer
diffuser

 

[wildebeast]

Thanks Lan-Lord, I like the pocket diffuser with the trail cam and the speed light has a fold down diffuser.

I can control the distance of the ducks by where I set the camera so I think distance will work and by knocking down the bright flash I can get some good night pictures. Daytime is not much of a problem.

Great help and can't wait to test one out.

cliff