Bounce Flash: A Trick of the Light

Good lighting can mean the difference between a shadowy blur and a sharp, clear image. Learn how to manipulate your environment to shed light on subjects.

Red eyes, pasty skin, a shiny nose—sometimes, a built-in camera flash can do more harm than good for a subject in a low-light environment. One way to eliminate this deer-at-a-cocktail-party look is by using a bounce flash, aiming the flash (which can tilt or swivel on most DSLRs) not at the subject but at a white surface such as a wall, ceiling, or portable reflector. Because white surfaces reflect a great deal of light, this technique will still produce a significantly brighter environment—but one that looks far more natural than a direct flash would. Out on a sunny afternoon, or inside a well-lit room, the light is diffused from above rather than from one concentrated source, casting everything in a gentler glow. Bouncing the flash replicates this effect.

If you don't have a white wall or a portable reflector handy, DIY options are limitless. One could use a white poster board, a passing polar bear, or even a friend wearing a white T-shirt, provided you've told them to close their eyes first.