why do i get the impression ive seen this before ?
I’d like to point out that I think people are getting caught up in a translation error.
When the Maxwell people started posting images like this, they were trying to mimick the effect of a camera flash, not a flashlight (in British English this is called an electric torch or lantern). I hope this aleviates people’s confusion, because the renders that are showing up now look good, but don’t look like a flashlight or a camera flash.
sorry about my poor english 
Its not your poor English, and I wasn’t directing it specifically at you. I’m just noticing that on all these “flashlight” renders that are popping up right now, they don’t look like a “flashlight” or a “camera flash” and I think its because of the confusion in terms.
Looks like it’s lit by a flash to me.
--Jon
Not really, you would never be able to take a flash picture at this proximity to an object. I think also that the Maxwell flash photos are in fact much more accurate since they have real light intensity and real camera settings. BTW, cheapo flash photos are usually not considered good in the real world of photography.
BTW, cheapo flash photos are usually not considered good in the real world of photography.
geez ya think?
With that intense of light the reflections in the table should be much stronger.
Not really, you would never be able to take a flash picture at this proximity to an object
Of course you can :? Macro works great with zoom Though it wouldn’t falloff that quick in such a small space.
geez ya think?
smartazz 
--Jon
that is what I mean… the photo would be pretty much solid white.
Doesn’t the chap mean ‘flash-drive’ - ie solid state memory?
Oh, sorry, no he doesn’t. I’ve just re-read the post. 
Well, you could of course use a macro ring-flash, though that would give a different (and more esthetically pleasing) look.
wow everyone seems to be so worked up over something or other. Is there thread you guys are referring to that you can link us to so that people such as myself know what the hell you are all on about?
Looks like nice images to me…
is this flash light method supposed to look like a torch light or camera flash? either way I think these are good images and dont know what you all seem so offended about. The only thing that gets me is how dark the shadows are but if we are talking about a bright light source then this is the kind of effect right?
It all got inspired by this thread on cgtalk where a maxwell user posted some spectacular images that recreate the look of ‘ordinary’ photography with a flash. Somehow with various translation errors, people in this forum have come to take it to mean “flashlight” (aka torch). In that regards, I don’t think they have been sucessfull renders, although in other respects, such as the modeling on the images in this thread, they are very good. But in recreating a camera flash, quite a few have missed the mark I think.
Nice looking model, but I don’t get the “Flash” render, I don’t think the harsh light of a direct flash as the main light source is very desirable. It’s usually best to bounce a flash off a ceiling, through a diffuser, or use it as a fill light. Thats just basic photography, why try to mimic a bad technique? 
I think you could get some real good renders of these little guys, just drop the direct flash approach
I agree, the flash look isn’t “good photography”. But a lot of times, when compositing or trying to make a rendering match real photos, you don’t have good photography to work from. Understanding how something like a flash affects a scene, and how to mimick it, only strengthens your ability as a CG artist. Something about the imperfection of the flash camera on the maxwell renderings really makes it stand out and be that much more photorealistic. Many times clients complain about things (like GI colors on white walls, color clapming, indoor/outdoor exposure) because the render is so pristine and perfect. Adding something like the flash effect makes it look so much more like a photo, and believeable as a photo, because it’s something people are used to seeing and they subcounciously notice the difference.
