What Is Bounce Flash?
Bounce flash is light from a flash that has been bounced off another surface before it gets to the subject. Â Most commonly, this refers to light that is bounced off a wall or ceiling from a hotshoe mounted flash, but it could be light from any kind of flash or strobe, bounced from any surface.
On-camera flash, whether is is from a built-in flash or a hotshoe flash, is not great for photography. Â It fills in the shadows on the same axis as the camera lens and this creates a flat looking image that can be very unflattering when used with people. Â Off-camera flash, where the flash is positioned away from the camera but still pointing at the subject, gives a much better light but it can be complex and expensive. Â Bounce flash can be used to create the same effect as an off-camera flash, but by using one that is on camera! Â Instead of aiming the flash at the subject, you aim it at the ceiling or wall, or some other reflective surface. Â The flash bounces off that surface and onto the subject as if the flash was positioned where the surface is, rather than on the camera.
Not only can this create a nice off-axis directional light, but it can also soften the harshness of a hotshoe flash or bare bulb strobe by spreading the light out and wrapping it around your subject. Â It’s a powerful and simple tool to use when you are working in a relatively enclosed space with plenty of surfaces to bounce the light from.
As I mentioned, you can also bounce off other subjects, like reflectors. Â This helps to soften the light or tint the light with the colour of the reflector (gold, for example).
Additional Reading
- What Is A Reflector?
- What Is A Diffuser?
- What Is Fill Flash?
The light on this pocket tripod is nice and soft and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a complex setup with softboxes and all kinds of accessories. Â In fact it was simply a hotshoe mounted flash that was bounced off the ceiling in a relatively small room. Â This created a nice even lighting that produced only minimal, very soft-edged shadows on the table from the tripod and ballhead.