When To Use a Flash And When Not to Use a Flash...

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/24/2006 02:12:14 PM · #1

Well....I have had a really nice person on here comment on some of my band pics. The ones titled "My Best Fried" were shot on a cloudy day and i used my SB-600, And The ones titled " J E B" were shot on a really sunny day and i used a flash for some but most. Well i have another shoot coomming up im shooting a guy and his chopper at the lake at sun set...and was wondering about the flash issue in this type of setting?? So i was just needing some comments and ideas, and mybe examples.... =) Thanks!

Chris

fotomann_forever

04/24/2006 02:17:09 PM · #2

I'd use flash, but maintain a longish shutter speed to retain some of the ambience of the sunset lit scene. Use a tripod and have the guy be real still and tell him not to move after the flash fires. If the D70 supports it, I'd use rear curtain flash sync (not sure it does).

Message edited by author 2006-04-24 14:18:04.

GoodEnd

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/24/2006 02:38:28 PM · #3

Flash is the most useful tool to a photopher. Since photography is about light flash is the tool you have to correct or make the actual light useful to picture taken.
Many people assume that flash is only to low light. But this is a non sense speach, since balanced fill flash is used 99% of outdoor professional picture. Look at some advertisements (mainly fashion reviews) and you would undestand what I talk about.
In your case, you must use flash otherwise you will not be albe to catch one of those: sunset or person.
Due to the very quick sunset time, you dont have many time to trial and error. Then start your setup early. A bit before desired time measure the light in P camera mode, with camera avoindng to use matrix metering, remenber to activate the flash uinit before it.
Set the camera to M, manual mode, and start with the settings youÂ´we read in P mode. ItÂ´s a Good guess.

This time you must remember: Shutter Speed will control the background light. Slow it donw 1/2 to 1 stop of P mode reading to start. Every minute the Sun goes down less light youÂ´ll get, and more slow must be the shutter speed.
Apperture Values will control the foreground subject light. This could remain the same as read. In flash exposure it will give you less control over DOF.
Flash exposure Conpensation, use it to give more or less light to your subject/person.

Finally, set your flash to FILL Flash Mode, set the sync to 2nd Curtain, to avoid subject movements to blur images. To prevent loose your shot use RAW, almost you will be able to get corrections on it.

Shot during sunset, with sun almost aligned to horizon, and wait a bit more, after it goes down to shot a bit more. Often when there are clouds the sunsets are more beautiful.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/24/2006 03:30:17 PM · #4

Google "Dragging the shutter"

04/24/2006 04:01:04 PM · #5

i Need to Print this and play with this set up..... and see what i get... nice info

04/24/2006 05:02:30 PM · #6

Ok so what would be the best having the Flash on my camera...or having it Sitting some where else.....and when using this type of Flash i need to be back a "X" amount of feet from the object right? Also if im to far away then that will cause some different exposes right??

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/24/2006 06:22:33 PM · #7

**Bump** for the evening thanks =)

GoodEnd

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/24/2006 07:58:12 PM · #8

You can use either! The two sets will give you good results.
Using out of camera gives you the ability to balance flash light to one or other side, to bounce in a surface at dificult angle while in camera or simple to direct precise light. Other issue you set is the distance.

You can get proper framing at some distance, but your flash canÂ´t give you good light at it, then... put it out of camera in th correct position and go farther away to get your frame. Remenber to set your aperture to the distance you leave the flash more a twaek to your distance.

How to relate your distance x subject distance and F values? Your flash must have a table of distances, if TTL based, it will be calculated automaticly by camera/flash processor. Only remember... F (apperture values gives you the control of foreground/subject light).

More one tip... Try to use an umbrela (or other difuser reflective surface to pump up the light source size. It will give you a lot of consice and soft light very interesting to this type of use. You will get good results without it, but if you had a chance try it!

Show us your results!

04/25/2006 11:25:31 AM · #9

well i did some... Experimenting last night and i had it on a 1 sec expo. and i had my camera on a timer( I came to realize that i need a remote or something) and when the shutter would release i had the flash in my hand and would trigger it manual and i had some cool results, but not the best... the lighting it what i was going for. I'm going to try some more this eving at sun set =)

dacrazyrn

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/25/2006 01:22:52 PM · #10

Your D70 and SB600 work very well together on the TTL setting off camera or on. You can definitely go faster than 1 second though. Could get alot of motion blur from the subject you don't want. I would think easily you could shoot 1/100th, I shot in a pitch black room last night (your same set up) at 1/160th at f3.5, messing around and only had to boost in ACR by .60 of a stop to be acceptable.
I shoot alot with it on Commander mode holding the flash up to the left. Or if I remember to bring it, an old crappy (CHEAP) $10-15) Walmart tripod to attach it to, using the foot pad that came with your SB600. That works much better, since you are able to move it and be consistent, AND look and see what you are shooting. The infrared remote is a great little thing to have also. Other than that, the timer is your best friend and can adjust that all the way down to 2 seconds.

Message edited by author 2006-04-25 13:27:18.

04/25/2006 01:36:06 PM · #11

Originally posted by GoodEnd:

This time you must remember: Shutter Speed will control the background light. Slow it donw 1/2 to 1 stop of P mode reading to start. Every minute the Sun goes down less light youÂ´ll get, and more slow must be the shutter speed.
Apperture Values will control the foreground subject light. This could remain the same as read. In flash exposure it will give you less control over DOF.
Flash exposure Conpensation, use it to give more or less light to your subject/person.

I was shooting 1 sec Expo for this reason i was testing this out......

04/25/2006 01:37:13 PM · #12

It Seems i have lots of work to do and some more learning... Im really Nervous some times when i thik about it... but i am also shooting a wedding for a friend on May 21st and i'm hopping that goes well as well......

Changed Weeding to Wedding....LMAO =)

Message edited by author 2006-04-25 13:53:11.

dacrazyrn

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/25/2006 01:49:09 PM · #13

I get that nervous thing also....keep going over, I am going to check this and adjust that...then I get caught up in it and forget...till later, then make a correction. but it is all good.
Didn't know Weeding was getting so popular!?!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/25/2006 01:54:14 PM · #14

Funny Funny! lol =) Well you know they are getting married while they are weeding

cryan

Nikon D700

04/25/2006 01:55:29 PM · #15

I have shot well over twenty weddings with the D70 and an SB-800. Trust the camera and flash, they won't let you down, just be sure to set your WB to the flash setting when indoors and set it to Auto when outdoors. You can use the flash off camera and just use the pop-up flash as your commander. This is one of the best features of the D70. You can also set the D70 to fire as low as 1/15th of sec through the extended menu. This will allow more ambient light to expose on the sensor.

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/25/2006 01:58:14 PM · #16

Another great little gadget is a flash bracket. It puts the flash well above the lens and you can move the flash to keep it in a horizontal position when shooting verticals. It really works well and softens the flash. You will need an SC-28 or 29. I use the SC-29 cause it has the IR focus aid and keeps that on the camera so not as to confuse the camera and throw you area of focus out of whack.

Message edited by author 2006-04-25 13:59:37.

04/25/2006 02:03:29 PM · #17

Originally posted by cryan:

Yes i have been meening to get one of these.... do they also stay on while on a pod as well?

ShorterThanJesus

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/25/2006 02:22:14 PM · #18

Is it possible to buy *ignorant face* "tripod mounting screws" generically?

What I'm thinking is that I could very easily build my own flash bracket with some simple metal working and a couple of the aforementioned "tripod mounting screws. One to attach the bracket to the bottom of the camera, and one to attach the flash-end of the SC-28 to the bracket. The basic point being to get that flash "out and up" without hearing my wallet scream.

04/25/2006 02:27:28 PM · #19

Originally posted by ShorterThanJesus:

Amen to that!! If lint was worth money i would be rich!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

04/25/2006 03:14:01 PM · #20

Im re taking some of the "JEB" pics in my portfolio this week end... ill keep ya posted on what turns out... i thik it will be an afternoon shoot. maybe an evening shoot i duno...

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

04/25/2006 03:50:44 PM · #21

Originally posted by ShorterThanJesus:

They are just standard 1/4 inch screws or bolts. (I forget if they're coarse or fine thread) You can buy them in any hardware store in the USA.

ShorterThanJesus

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/25/2006 04:03:26 PM · #22

Originally posted by hankk:

They are just standard 1/4 inch screws or bolts. (I forget if they're coarse or fine thread) You can buy them in any hardware store in the USA.

Excellent! Thank you very much.

GoodEnd

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/25/2006 04:17:48 PM · #23

Turning to pictures...
You can get your shot a 1 second with no troubles. But I guess you get a bit of motion blur on this. Then try to keep in mind this simple rule: Exposure to the meter, use spot to get reading of sunÂ´s light, then turn down your shutter 1-3 stops, then set your flash to thedistance you set your aperture.
It sounds complex? Read that info on flash LCD, put it in auto mode! Control the amount of light with FEC or flash distance. A good difuser wil add a lot too.

DjFenzl

04/25/2006 05:00:34 PM · #24

You can use the D70 onboard flash as a commander to control the SB-600 but keep in mind the onboard flash does not contribute to the exposure then.

The AS-19 will hold any flash (with a standard mount) and has a built in tripod mount. You can pick them up for $8 from BH - might be just cheap and easy enough to make building one not worth it.
Flash Mount

You can also get a set of flash color filters for indoor light etc for $20 (for the SB600). That way the wb is consistent indoors.
Nikon Flash Filter Set

And of course for the wedding you might want to strongly consider pickig up a
Lightsphere

And last but certainly not least you may want to check out Planet Neil for some great tips on using Nikon flash:

Planet Neil

Message edited by author 2006-04-25 17:01:15.