Help with Canon Speedlite

[shannonlarae19]

Hi!

I'm VERY new to figuring out how to take NICE pictures.... while I continue to learn how to get out of "AUTO" mode- I need help NOW with that nasty shadow that is in 98% of my indoor pics of my sons! SO- I'm going to purchase a speedlite to help with this- and practice bouncing light off walls,etc.

Please help me choose which Canon flash I should get- Yes- I'd like to stick with a Canon product.

Thank You!
Shannon

[jerryph]

Well, if you are sticking to Canon flashes, you only have 2 choices.

430EX ~ $255
580EX ~ $420

Depending on how serious you are about photography, either will work, but the 580 is the more powerful one. A lot depends on what kind of camera you have. I assume you have a SLR, right?

More importantly, you will find that there is more to getting a well lit picture besides getting a flash on camera. On camera flash does light the scene, but it is usually flat and unimpressive.

One can use a series of cheaper flashes and trigger them off camera for better results. To get to know about this more advanced method, I would suggest that you go to www.strobist.com and read up on lighting 101 and 102.

A single off camera flash gave me this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/2392078965_9ea95610b6.jpg

Normally shooting people that are backlit by a huge 12 foot high window with afternoon light just streaming in are silhouetted. Using a single off camera flash gave me an acceptable pic. Had I taken the time to better place the strobe or used an umbrella, the results would have been even better.