Camera flashlight question.

[Bill Douglas]

I'm trying to improve my indoor, real estate type photography.

I've got a Sony a290 camera with a Sigma 10mm to 20mm lens which is quite nice.

Photos tend to be taken on a nice day but with the light streaming in the windows it makes the room a little to dark, relatively. I use the built in flash of course, but it's still a bit too dark.

I was thinking of a speedlite type flash, but know nothing about them, do they have different light strengths etc and how powerful do I need to do my indoor photos. I don't want to spend a whole lot as I have too many hobbies already, I just want good pic's.

Thanks.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I use the built in flash of course, but it's still a bit too dark.

Why use the flash?

[Norm K]

HDR is far and away the best way to go for real estate photography. Remember back in the olden days when a good photographer would bracket the exposure for improved results? Well, with HDR the camera brackets automatically (and not just one or two stops like used to be the norm, but up to and including every stop) then software will combine each exposure, performing a virtual version of the burning and dodging we used to do in the darkroom, but doing so far more quickly and effectively.

I believe HDR triggers are available for most DSLRs. From there you either buy and learn the software or subscribe to an online service.

The marked improvement in overall quality is undeniable.

_

[dan79brooklyn]

Off camera lighting is usually better for your type of needs. Check out the LED light banks on ebay. Chinese brand Yongnuo is popular. You can adjust the light temperature.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F27 3315759237

Many interior photographers do bracket exposures for interior and exterior light and then combine the images.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Why use the flash?

Because the light through the windows looks like a whiteout if I set the lighting for the room to look reasonably bright.


Thanks Norm HDR might be the way to go. But being an old dog there are only so many new tricks I want to learn, and I try to avoid software ones having worked most of my time as a computer tech LOL


Dan, back in the day when the real estate photog brought in light stands and all the gear, those were beautiful pic's. Very full of warm colored light. It made rooms look fantastic.

[dan79brooklyn]

My wife does a lot of interior pictures as a pro photographer. She only uses natural lights and no HDR. Her pictures come out great. She’s very low tech. So it can be done.

Interiors — Yoko Inoue Photography

[Bill Douglas]

Wow, nice stuff. Haha, I'm so far behind her, I haven't even done a night class in photography.

This is the sort of pic I'm getting and I need to get more light into the scene. This is with the Sony a290's inbuilt flash being used.

[GH85Carrera]

With digital photography it is easy today. In the olden day’s we would spend hours, really hours getting one shot just right.
For sure a off camera flash can help you a lot.

[dan79brooklyn]

If you're just shooting interiors all you need is a little day light and then you can use a tripod with long exposure. Skip the flash.

[wdfifteen]

Are you wanting to take better photos or create better images? If it is the former, which is an admirable and challenging endeavor, you need time, patience, a good eye for light - and ultimately some expensive light equipment when you realize you don't have the first two.

If you want to create better images, us an editing app like photoshop. Pshop can make up for a myriad of lighting problems. You can shoot in HDR (High Dynamic Range = records more levels of light) or you can achieve it in Pshop.

Whichever, start by shooting from lower in your photo)





A little bit of amateur exposure manipulation in P-shop.

[Bill Douglas]

WD, that looks fantastic.

[IS300]

point the flash to the ceiling

[dan79brooklyn]

A little work with the skew tool in photoshop will fix the perspective...

[Bill Douglas]

The skew tool works...


The 120 year old floor looks good. I did a mini makeover and are planing to sell the place.