Flash on digital camera way too bright?

Question

What can I do to fade it a little?

It's so bright I can never get a picture with peoples eyes open haha.

Is a casio exilim z80 and I already have it on the soft flash it still crazy bright!

Answer 1

You are simply too close to your subjects. Stand back and zoom in.

You might also consider using a light diffuser such as the one offered by Gary Fong.

Answer 2

Try standing back a little ways and zoom in on their faces.  I find this works for me.

Answer 3

Can you upload an example for us to see at http://www.flickr.com

I imagine is that you may be too close to the subject.

Flash photography is not my favorite either

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pook...

Answer 4

I hold a piece of paper over the flash, it tends to work. Camera manuals all say there is a risk of fire if you do this though.

Answer 5

It's either the Red Eye Reduction light (a flash feature in your camera)  that is making them blink or they are just blinking when you shoot the camera. If their face are too exposed - or brighter than normal, then it is too strong, if not, then they are just blinking. If it's too bright (your flash), you might get red-eyes from your subject.

Either way, what I usually do was asked the people I'm taking picture with or without the flash, not to blink. I would say don't blink for 3 seconds, but I shoot it in 2.

Answer 6

That's what it is there for. To illuminate your subject. If you make it less bright, your pictures will be dark! Besides flashes usually have just one brightness. It's the length of time they emit the light that determines the "power". And that is measured in terms near 1/5000 of a second or similar. No person can react to that quickly enough to close the eyes during the main flash...

If you put a piece of paper in front of it - it will either flash brighter to get the same amount of light out as without it, or image will be under-exposed (too dark). This is because the camera measures how much light is coming back and adjusts the flash power.

As to people closing their eyes, again, it's not because of the main flash - it's the pre-flash. There are three types of pre-flashes that can happen:

1. Red eye reduction - flash will purposly go off in several quick bursts before taking a shot so that people's irises will close down a bit to avoid red eyes (works sometimes and not for all)

2. Focus assistance - in dim room it will illuminate the subject briefly to allow camera to focus.

3. Metering - measure how much light is coming back before actually shooting, so that the camera knows how much light is needed.

I don't know if your camera has/does 1 or 2, but all digital cameras do #3. 1 and 2 can be turned off somewhere dip in camera menus. Check the manual if not sure.

As to #3, that's your real problem. Many cameras time pre-flash and flash so that the person photographed just has enough time to react and close their eyes (nuts, but they do it)! How you deal with that... tough. There is not much you can do, unfortunately. If your camera supports manual setting for flash (no automatic metering), you can try that - it will eliminate the pre-flash, but it will be very tough for you to adjust the flash intensity every time you shoot! Your shots will be likely over or under exposed.

So the only other way for you to get people with eyes open - use plenty of available light. Or photograph them outside in the sun!

LEM.