📸 Photography Discussion Roundtable
   Monday nights, 7:00 PM ET on BrandMeister TG 31266
Step into the world of 35mm photography with the Photography Discussion Roundtable, held every Monday evening at 7:00 PM ET on BrandMeister DMR Talkgroup 31266 — the MichiganOne Nets channel. This engaging net is your chance to explore the art and science of photography, ask questions, and sharpen your skills in a welcoming, knowledge-rich environment.
Hosted by James N8TMP, Bob KB8DQQ, and Rick AD8KN, each brings a wealth of experience to the mic. Bob and James are seasoned wedding photographers, while Rick adds deep technical insight and practical know-how. Together, they guide discussions on camera features, techniques, terminology, and everything from aperture to artistic vision.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, tune in and join the conversation. Your next great shot starts here.
Your Photography Discussion Roundtable team members are:
Bob KB8DQQÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â James N8TMP Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rick AD8KN
         
            
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https://michiganonedmrtech.net/photography/
https://thediabeticham.com/photography/
📸 On-Camera vs. Off-Camera Flash: The Differences
The core difference lies in the position of the light source relative to the camera’s lens, which drastically affects the quality and direction of the light.
On-Camera Flash
- The flash unit is mounted directly onto the camera’s hot shoe (or is the built-in pop-up flash).
- The light source is always very close to the lens axis.
Off-Camera Flash
- The flash unit is separated from the camera, typically placed on a light stand or held by an assistant.
- The flash is triggered remotely via a wireless transmitter (radio or optical) or a sync cable.
🎯 Who, What, Why, Where, and When
| Factor | On-Camera Flash | Off-Camera Flash |
| Who | Beginners, enthusiasts, photojournalists, event photographers. Anyone prioritizing speed and portability. | Advanced enthusiasts, professional portrait, wedding, and commercial photographers. Anyone prioritizing creative light control. |
| What | A highly portable, convenient, and fast light source. Best for quickly adding light or filling in shadows. | A versatile tool for shaping light and creating dimension. It’s about light placement and quality. |
| Why | Convenience, speed, and portability. Quickly freeze action, balance bright ambient light (fill flash), or provide a light source in dim conditions. | Artistic control and quality of light. Move the light for dramatic shadows, soft light, backlighting, or separation from the background. |
| Where | Crowded events, fast-moving situations, travel, and candid photography. Any scenario where setting up a light stand is impractical or too slow. | Portraits, studio work, events with time for setup, and location shoots where precise control over light is needed. |
| When | As a fill light outdoors, in large rooms where bouncing is necessary, or when you need a snapshot-style photo fast. | When the light needs to be off the axis of the lens to create shadows and depth (e.g., side-lighting a portrait) or when using large modifiers. |
✅ Best Practices and Situational Use
On-Camera Flash Best Practices
- Bounce the Light: Never point the flash directly at your subject unless you are intentionally going for a harsh, dramatic look (like crime scene photography). Point the flash head at a nearby neutral-colored ceiling or wall. This creates a larger, softer light source, eliminating harsh shadows and red-eye.
- Use a Modifier: When bouncing isn’t possible (e.g., outdoors or a black ceiling), use a simple diffuser like a dome or a small softbox attached to the flash head to slightly soften the light.
- Use as Fill: In bright sunlight, set the flash to low power to subtly fill in harsh shadows on your subject’s face, creating a more balanced exposure.
Off-Camera Flash Best Practices
- Use Modifiers: Off-camera flash truly shines when used with a light modifier (softbox, umbrella, beauty dish) to increase the light source’s size and soften its quality.
- Control the Falloff: Control the light’s falloff (how quickly the light fades) by adjusting the distance between the flash and the subject (closer = faster falloff).
- Utilize the Inverse Square Law: Move the flash away from the camera’s axis (side, back, high) to introduce shadows. Shadows are what create dimension, texture, and mood.
- Balance Flash and Ambient: Set your camera’s shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to correctly expose the background (ambient light). Then, use the flash power to correctly expose the subject (flash exposure).
💡 Which Situations They Work Best
| Situation | On-Camera Flash Works Best | Off-Camera Flash Works Best |
| Indoor Event/Wedding Reception | Bouncing the flash off the ceiling/wall for wide coverage. | Separating the subject from a busy background with a kicker light or creating dramatic main light. |
| Outdoor Midday Portrait | Using it as a fill light to open up deep shadows on the face cast by the sun. | Using a modifier (like a softbox) on a stand to completely overpower the sun and create a studio-quality look. |
| Photojournalism/Street | Quick, portable light to capture a fleeting moment in low light. | Generally too slow and cumbersome; not a good fit. |
| Creative Portraiture | Using a bounce card for simple, soft fill light. | Everything—side lighting, backlighting, creating a light setup with multiple lights for dramatic effect. |
Here are four examples showing off-camera flash setups and the results they produce, illustrating how light is moved off the camera to create more dramatic and controlled lighting:
 These images demonstrate different applications of off-camera flash:
- Subject Separation: Shows a light placed to the side of a subject, creating a directional light that adds depth and separates the subject from the background.
- Using a Modifier: Often shows a speedlight mounted on a light stand, firing through a modifier (like an umbrella or softbox) to soften the light source.
- Dramatic Lighting: Examples of OCF used outdoors or in dark environments to overpower ambient light, making the subject the brightest element in the scene.
- Two-Light Setup: May show a more complex setup with a key light and a fill light or a background light to add more dimension.
📚 Where to Learn More
To dive deeper into the world of flash photography, here are some excellent starting points:
- Strobist.com (Blog/Tutorials): A classic and highly respected resource for learning off-camera flash techniques, often focusing on affordable speedlights (portable flash units).
- YouTube Tutorials: Search for “On-Camera Bounce Flash Tutorial” and “Off-Camera Flash for Beginners.” Channels like Adorama TV and Profoto often have great practical breakdowns.
- The Inverse Square Law: Understanding this simple principle—which governs how light intensity changes with distance—is the key to mastering any type of flash.
