To get the flash to not blow out all the details, use a flash defuser. You can use colours or just something white and semi-transparent. Experiment with different things to get the desired effects.
Try this. Find a plastic card that you don't want anymore. I chose a library card which was white. Place the camera flash from your camera right on the card so there are no ways for light to leak (over the bar code if there is one). Fire the flash and luckily you'll hear a loud snap sound and the card will be visibly damaged. Maybe this is a good way to destroy credit cards that you don't want anymore? I just thought it was very interesting when me and my sis tried different light filters on her camera flash, the library card obviously backfired. A filled coke bottle made a nice effect though.
When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion.
Well that's great. Now there is a ghost account out there with my name on it, some material copied from my website and my picture showing up. Wonderful.