Nikon SPEEDLIGHT SB-16 - Manual (Page 74)

PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES —continued
The procedure for bounce flash is as follows:
1) Choose the bounce surface.
Select the ceiling or wall you want to bounce the flash off
of; then tilt and/or rotate the main flash head so that it
points in that direction. The position of the flash unit, the
bounce angle, and the setting of the zoom head should
be determined after considering the size and shape of
the subject and the effect desired. With a subject having
great depth, some light should reach the point furthest
away from the camera to create a three-dimensional
effect. For portraits, consider how much brightness you
want for the background.
2) Set the zoom head.
In bounce flash photography, a large amount of light is
required, because the light has to travel a longer distance
than in direct flash photography, and also the bounce
surface absorbs a certain amount of light. Therefore, it is
recommended that the zoom head be set at T. The ratio
of diffused illumination (from the bounce surface) to
direct illumination (from the secondary flash head) is also
an important consideration. If the bounce surface is too
far away or is not very reflective, the level of the diffused
illumination may be almost the same as the direct illumi­
nation, thus effectively cancelling the diffused lighting
effect. In this case, adjust the angle of the main flash
head or shorten the bounce distance so that there is
more difference in illumination levels.
3) Choose an aperture.
Test firing the flash is necessary, because exposure in
bounce flash photography depends on so many condi­
tions, such as reflectivity of the bounce surface and the
bounce distance. Note that, in bounce flash, shooting
distance cannot be read with the exposure calculator dial.
4) Bracket your exposures.
It is recommended that you take additional shots, with
the camera’s exposure compensation dial set in the +
direction for TTL automatic shooting or with the lens
opened up one or two f/stops in the regular (non-TTL)
automatic mode.
Notes:
1) In general, there is a two or three f/stop loss in illumination because
of the absorption of light by the reflective surface.
2) Unless the surface of the reflector you are bouncing the light off of is
white or silver, your color photographs will come out with an unnatural
color cast similar to that of the reflecting surface.
3) W hen the flash head is tilted back 45° or less, some amount of light
from the flash head may reach the subject directly, causing uneveness
of illumination. To avoid this, make sure the head is tilted back 60°
or more. ■
4) In bounce flash, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of re­
flection.
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