Flash photograhy

[azoudis]

Is the flash of a camera specifically damaging to birds eyes by any chance?
You can get a lot better quality picture in general with the proper lighting conditions
eg. http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1...37a9950nf3.jpg

I just wanna make sure its no worse than taking the picture of a human with flash.

[jenseits]

"picture taken with flash" ... bwahahahah.

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, just needed to LOL in type. (I never use flash around my bird because it startles him, and I find it just washes out his pretty colors. I usually adjust fill light during post-processing)

[birdsnreps]

I use flash with my birds and havent seen a problem with it yet. Mine are very used to me taking pics of them so they dont even get startled by it anymore :) I think its just kinda bright for them just like it is for us when we look at the flash.

[Nazir's]

I don't know the answer to your question. However, I keep the flash on my camera on unless turning it off will help the quality of the picture. I have not noticed any adverse effects from taking a picture of my Grey with the flash and it has not ever startled him.

[jenseits]

heheh, my bird startles easily. The other day I went to print something on my desktop printer and he took off. Hid under the couch for 15 minutes until I went to go fetch him. (My telling him "it's okay, it's not scary" didn't appease him at all)

[Kevin]

Well your best bet is to have a couple of things setup if possible...

Best time to take photos are during the golden hours of sun... Usually the last two hours of sunrise and sunset... When the sun isn't the harshest or most intense is ideal for outdoor shots...

For indoor you want to try and bring as much natural light via windows, sliding doors, etc as possible into the location of where you are shooting the photos, if not much of an option try and get as many lights on as possible so the camera can capture a grat shot without much use of the flash component.

[azoudis]

Just wanted to know if it would hurt his little eyes, seems that startling is the only issue then?

[Macaaaw]

A close flash is a no-no. At twenty feet on an adult bird done once or twice will give no lasting damage.

Babies however, human or birds (any pet) should NEVER be subjected to a flash camera. It damages their eyes. As an adult, it is safer. Safe rule, the photo should not look like you used a flash (fill flash) then it is OK on an adult bird (once or twice.)