New to flash photography, need suggestions.

[guitstik]

Look for the book "Light:science and magic" by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua. Tha book alone will give you and understanding of light that may change photography for you forever.

[John Koehrer]

Flash won't help maintain the mood of your pictures. Especially on camera flash.
If the increase in grain has only become apparent with this film/developer recently,
has your agitation, temperature or time changed? Was there an error in dilution of the developer?
Over development can make grain more apparent, temp difference between chemicals may cause reticulation.
Usually you need a drastic change in temp to do this.

[Dan Quan]

flash is a bit like salt, a little can go along way and it's easy to add too much. flash has a relatively short duration and can be very difficult to judge without experience or chimping. have you considered a rechargeable spotlight? they can be diffused easily and the effect is easy to see. they can bounced off white ripstop or punched through for more contrast. many even have 1/4-20 or 3/8 threads for stand mounting and they run the gamut from lightweight to pretty powerful, inexpensive to hundreds of dollars.