Wilson "stunned/shocked" - I was actually thinking of my human opponents, I'm more careful with my birds. For those not in the know an AR15 is an assault rifle. Thanks for the info.
lchunfai - I'm using a Canon 580 EX, which is an old model. The current top of the range is the 600EX. Since in reality I don't use flash very much I don't feel the need for the lastest and greatest. You also need a "Better Beamer" type flash extender, which is basically a fresnel magnifying lens held in front of the flash head. This effectively concentrates the flash output to give you an extra 2-3 stops of light. You can use flash basically in two ways, as fill or main. You use fill, typically with the flash set to 1- to -2 stops to either add a little warmth on an otherwise very dull day, or at closer to 0 for say a side lit subject where you are trying to even out the exposure by "filling" the shadows. You use flash as main primarily for night time (flash here is the "main" source of light). If you use it by day in dark situations, say in forest, you are likely to end up with the underexposed background looking all black, which most people (me included) think doesn't look attractive. I dare say there are plenty of people out there who know more about it than me, but those are the basics. One big disadvantage of mounting a flash head to your camera is that you have to be careful how you carry your gear. If you just put it over your shoulder you will strain the flash mount and likely damage it in time.
OK, all joking aside, be careful when you use flash. Some birds will tolerate it, some won't. In my opinion natural light is often better, even in dull forest interiors, and even if you have to use very low shutter speeds. The use of flash may well not be appropriate for some situations, such as nesting birds and night birds such as owls. Also be aware of the sensitivities of those photographers around you. You WILL be lynched if you use flash at an owl twitch when those around you are not. I've attempted a full throttle defence of the use of flash since I think flash is appropriate in some circumstances, and I've attempted to counter what I think are ill conceived prejudices about flash, since I'd rather have these arguments now than in the field. For those that don't understand my sense of humour all I can say is..... you are not alone.
That's it from me on the subjects of flash and imaginative parking.
[ Last edited by hmartin at 4/03/2013 18:58 ]
