Nikon SPEEDLIGHT SB-16 - Manual (Page 71)

PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES-
Diffusing the Light
Light is what gives form to solid objects. If the flash is
poinfed directly at the subject and located near the lens,
the subject will look flat because of the lack of shadows.
However, if the flash is moved off-axis, shadows start to
appear on the side opposite the light source, thus giving
the impression of roundness. But because the light still
comes directly from the flash, the shadows are harsh
and unattractive. By diffusing the light, you can eliminate
the harsh shadows, making snapshots and portraits
much more attractive.
There are two ways to diffuse light: you can either
bounce the light off a broad reflective surface, such as
the ceiling or walls, or use a diffuser between flash
and subject.
Bounce flash photography
With the SB-16’s main flash head tilted back and/or
rotated, the light travels directly to the ceiling or wall and
then bounces back to the subject. Acting as a broad re­
flector, the ceiling or wall scrambles the direction of the
light rays, making the lighting diffused and much more
natural looking. Because the SB-16’s secondary flash
head faces straight ahead, it provides a small amount of
direct illumination to fill in unflattering shadows around
the eyes and creates a catchlight for the eyes.
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