Flash or not to Flash

[Scotttyd]

If I am taking large landscape type pictures, ie. pictures of a ship wreck where much of the subject is 10-20 feet away, is there any advantage in using the camera's flash (with the diffuser)? or am I just risking getting backscatter? If I remember right the flash is only good for 5 or so feet (and the stobe for even closer up??)

 

[jpx8diver]

Yes, the effective range os your strobe is approximately 3-10 ft depending on the type of strobe you're using. As for lighting a shipwreck, if its in shallow clear water (30'-50') in daylight, you wont need a strobe. However, if its deep murky water, similar to what you'll find in the great lakes, or at night dives, there's no cost effective way to use a strobe. Unless, you can provide massive amounts of lights similar to what the big budget film makers use.

 

[ce4jesus]

What some folks do is haul down a tripod of sorts then clip a weight to it. This will allow for a longer exposure. Any strobe would be pretty much useless unless you're just going to light up the bow, very close up with a good WA lens. Otherwise, you're just lighting up particles in front of the lens.

 

[DivePhotoGuide]

Try a set of magic filters (or any filters actually), they will help add detail using the ambient light. Strobes are pretty useless beyond 5-10 feet.