Is flash really bad for food photography, or just direct on-camera flash?
Asked 3/26/2012
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I often hear that food photography should use only indirect window light and no flash. But when I compare two setups, I usually prefer the results from window light plus a single flash bounced off a ceiling or white wall over window light alone. Is the usual advice really about avoiding all flash, or just harsh direct flash?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Generally anybody who says "Don't use flash, it won't look natural" about any photography, means don't use direct, on camera, harsh small flash - because it doesn't look natural.
Mixing flash and ambient like you're doing or even doing all flash with sufficient softboxes and such is just fine and can produce some wonderful results.
As usual, rules in photography are more like guidelines - trying to help those who may be starting out and not fully understanding what they're doing. Its easier to tell somebody with a point and shoot or not real flash equipment to just 'not use flash' than it is to explain to them the intricacies of 'real' flash work.
Originally by user1917. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1917
14y ago
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The common advice is usually shorthand for: avoid harsh, direct on-camera flash. That kind of small, frontal light tends to look unnatural and unflattering on food.
Bounced flash, mixed with window light, or fully controlled off-camera flash with soft light modifiers can work very well for food photography. If your bounced-flash setup looks better, you’re not doing it wrong.
This “no flash” rule is more of a beginner-friendly guideline than a hard rule. It’s simpler to tell people to use window light than to teach the nuances of shaping flash well. In practice, what matters is the quality and direction of the light, not whether it comes from the sun or a flash tube.
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