Camera Labs

After watching the Canon flash Masterclass the other day, it was mentioned that you should still use lighting outdoors, even during decent sunlight, but is this really needed?

For Photographing outdoor landscapes, or just general objects like trees etc, what type of flash is ideal, is a standard flash gun suitable?

I guess it just depends on what the object(s) happen to be
Any opinons - leave them below

_________________
Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

A photo is worth a thousand words. If this picture is not what you're after, yes, you need fill flash

_________________
I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

That is a studio setting, where the photographer (I'm guessing You) chose not to light the subject.

I would like to know whether fill flash is neccersary in Outdoor applications such as landscapes, and photographing people.

_________________
Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

It's an example, the photo isn't even mine. I like to use a reflector outdoors, flash often can't sync fast enough or isn't powerful enough

_________________
I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

How do you position the reflector, does it get held at the side of your camera?

_________________
Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

It completely depends, just bounce some sunlight back into your models face! I tend to have it below at an angle to fill up the eyesockets and give "raccoon eyes" no chance.

_________________
I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

In answer to your question, no you do not use flash for landscapes. You can not possibly light up a whole scene with a flash no matter how powerful it is. If there is a lot of sky you want to capture then use a grad. filter to make sure the exposure is even and you do not blow out the sky while capturing detail in the foreground.
For people shots/portraits you can either use fill flash to make sure the subject is well lit or a reflector or a combination of both. Also meter from the subject with centre weighted metering or spot metering otherwise your camera will meter from the whole scene with matrix metering and you may get a dark subject because the camera is trying not to blow out highlights.

_________________
Nikon D300 D80 D40 18-55mm 18-70mm 18-135mm 55-200mm 18-200mm 28mm 2.8f 50mm 1.8f 85mm 1.8f
Panasonic DMCFZ28 Slik Pro 700DX

I know a little about a lot, a lot about little and everything about nothing.

The following might help-

http://desmond-downs.blogspot.com/2010/ ... light.html

_________________
Canon 1000D, EF-S 17-85, EF-S 60mm macro f/2.8, EF 50mm f/1.8, Tamron 70-300, 430EX II