Flash and movement - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/30/2006 09:19:26 AM · #1

I tried all kinds of combination, even using the omnibounce.
When I tried the camera in P mode, and the flash in automatic (E-TTL), I got varied results, mostly like this:

Which means, slow shutter speed. This might sound stupid, but I thought when everything was automatic, the camera would know I had flash on, and would use a faster shutter speed. Why did it use such a slow one?
I thought maybe my flash wasn't firing, but it was.. i tried looking at it..

What am i doing wrooooong? Getting frustrated here. :(
Thanks

Message edited by author 2006-05-30 09:39:03.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/30/2006 09:57:26 AM · #2

If you're shooting in Av mode, the camera will set the shutter speed based on the ambient light, hence the looooooooooooong shutter speeds. In the menus, you should be able to set the default sync speed in Av mode to 1/200. Do that.

With direct flash and such dark surroundings, I'm not surprised that the flash blew out your subjects. Keep in mind that the camera and flash are trying to make everything an average tone, so, to balance the black areas, the flash overexposes the subjects to compensate. The best way to deal with this is to dial down the flash with FEC until the results are acceptable.

If the ceiling is really high or very dark, you will not get good results by trying to bounce the flash, since not enough light will be reflected.

For stuff like what you're doing, you'll get the best results with some diffusion like a Lightsphere.

Jaded_Housewife

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/30/2006 10:00:44 AM · #3

I second the lightsphere suggestion. we just got it a few days ago and its amazing. would probably really help you in situations like you mentioned.

edited for spelling

Message edited by author 2006-05-30 10:01:12.

05/30/2006 10:06:32 AM · #4

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into the lightsphere.
However, the long shutter speeds happened even when I was in P mode, which doesn't make sense in my mind. :(

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

05/30/2006 10:09:26 AM · #5

A couple of things worth trying (particularly in very dark surroundings): manual mode, 1/60 second or thereabouts and a fairly wide aperture, set the ISO to 400. Perhaps try FEL directly over the subject just prior to firing the shutter. If, after bouncing off the ceiling, the flash takes a little longer to recycle, then it's most likely that even full output cannot illuminate the subject. This is not a defect in the flash, rather a limitation. In this case, raising the ISO setting can help. With black ceilings and walls, no amount of diffusion is going to help, as the flash remains effectively a point source, so, unless you get a super-fast lens or use a high ISO, you will remain stuck with the 'rabbit-in-the-headlights' look. That's a limitation imposed by the surroundings and is not the fault of the equipment or the photographer.

Good luck with the practicing.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/30/2006 10:17:57 AM · #6

Thank you AJAger. I will try that :)

kenskid

Nikon D700

05/30/2006 10:25:01 AM · #7

Not that this is what you're looking for but:

On your 2nd shot it looks like your flash fired and then the shutter closed. That is why you have the "blur" in front of the people. Find the "rear sync" on your flash and try that. When you snap...the shutter opens and your subject move..this gives the blur...then before the shutter closes...the flash fires, freezing the action "in front of the blur"....Try it next time.

Originally posted by mecfcosta:

Ok, my flash and I do not get along at all. I gotta say I'm fairlynew at flash photography (purchased my Speedlite 430EX less than a month ago, and haven't used much), but I already know we were not made for each other :)

Here's the deal..yesterday I shot a party. VERY DARK PLACE..A cave, almost. Little to no light whatsoever. And people dancing like crazy.

I tried the flash in all different ways with no acceptable result.
- Direct flash : overexposed picture with hot white faces
- Bouncing to the black ceiling: Underexposed pictures (example:

I tried all kinds of combination, even using the omnibounce.
When I tried the camera in P mode, and the flash in automatic (E-TTL), I got varied results, mostly like this:

Which means, slow shutter speed. This might sound stupid, but I thought when everything was automatic, the camera would know I had flash on, and would use a faster shutter speed. Why did it use such a slow one?
I thought maybe my flash wasn't firing, but it was.. i tried looking at it..

What am i doing wrooooong? Getting frustrated here. :(
Thanks

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

05/30/2006 10:44:54 AM · #8

Originally posted by kenskid:

That's a good idea. It's something that I keep meaning to do, but keep forgetting. It gives a much nicer effect than first curtain synch.

cresus

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

05/30/2006 11:39:32 AM · #9

As someone else mentioned, shoot in manual mode. Av will only be a fill flash (and who knows what's going on in P) so it'll only expose the foreground to the background. If you shoot manual, just use the flash exposure compensation to dial it down some if you're overexposing (or vice-versa). Have fun.

nomad469

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

05/30/2006 11:53:19 AM · #10

This shot was done durning a performance

1/20 sec f4.5
iso 400
manual and hand held

with a sb800 and a lightsphere bounced off of a 25ft ceiling

I dragged the shutter (slow shutter speed so as not to wash out the candles

Notice that we even got the smoke from the candle and the action is pretty sharp.

The flash exposed the action (note the shadow) but there was not enough ambient light to record any major additional movement except the candles.

Message edited by author 2006-05-30 11:56:02.

nomad469

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

05/30/2006 11:54:43 AM · #11

[ooops]

Message edited by author 2006-05-30 11:55:18.