Flash technique

canindya · Oct 1, 2014

I have a query regarding flash technique - hope this is the right forum for that.
I have seen many images where flash (in camera/external) capture either dust, rain drops or snow flakes and creates a quite beautiful and mysterious environment. Is there a way to effectively reproduce this using flash because I have seen few photographers do that quite often with accuracy.

The examples I am talking about (I am sure there are numerous more examples)
http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24PV7C0X4S
pictures: 21, 31 and 35

Apologies if this is not the correct forum.

wildbill · Oct 1, 2014

The rain or dust needs to be back-lit just like the way it's always done in the movies.

Michael W · Oct 1, 2014

The drops are very close to the lens and way out of focus. I've seen the effect where people have photographed at night in snow storms with flash.

canindya · Oct 1, 2014

well in that case it seems to be more of a bigger setup rather that just an on/off camera flash isn't it? I would need atleast another light source to back-lit the rain/dust I presume.

Michael W · Oct 1, 2014

This is a newspaper photo from the 1950s - the effect is visible top right corner. Click image for larger view.

canindya · Oct 1, 2014

Michael W said:
View attachment 95400
This is a newspaper photo from the 1950s - the effect is visible top right corner. Click image for larger view.

interesting! I need to try my luck in rain/snow with my contax t2

billbretz · Oct 1, 2014

Nothing fancy. Just direct on-camera flash. Add snow/dust with a dark background so they stand out. Nice set of images in your OP.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Oct 1, 2014

Like Bill said, it's just on camera flash. The Chicago image is caused by water drops on the lens, as with Sohrab's images through a windshield.

One of my neighbors puts a Christmas tree at the end of her driveway every year and I've been so taken with it that for years I've tried to photograph it, with little success. One day she walked out to talk to me and she pulled out a crude snapshot of the tree in a snow storm, with flash popped, illuminated snow flakes and glowing colored bulbs.

I said "That's it!" and never took another photo of her tree.

Flash technique

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