Images for Comment, some with flash

[Andrew Shepherd]

I've moved this post from Theos "to flash or not to flash" posting so it doesn't detract from his thread (I couldn't decide which posting to add my comments), but I've just had a dabble with flash and I'm gutted I missed Phil's presentation last week.

On Sunday, I did a pre-wedding shoot for a wedding I'm doing in May - photos here - http://www.redshank.net/galleries/jayne-0309/

After the photos walking along the crocus, I used fill-in flash (the photos amongst the daffodils towards the end of the reel). Av priority, ISO 200 – the sunlight was coming down on them – so I used fill-in flash to remove the harsh shadow, but I found when I got back home these images were slightly over exposed and I had to bring them back a stop in Photoshop – perhaps I should have metered better.

Incidentally, my favourite is the one using fill in flash – amongst the daffodils – the letterbox style with them off centre to the right (I will add the file names when I get home – I’ve just noticed they are missing). The foreground and daffodils are lit up nicely - IMHO!

As usual, any feedback on the photos appreciated.

Cheers

Andrew

[oakeycoke]

Andy,
I like them a lot, so much better being outside in natural surroundings rather than trying to get different poses etc in a studio. I'm sure they will be delighted with them and it bodes well for the wedding.

With regard to the over exposure, I take it you were using ettl with the flash and were in aperture or shutter priority mode. In those modes the camera is giving two exposures, one for the ambient light and then the flash, knowing that you have one of those modes set the flash acts as a fill light for objects nearest to the camera. Then it gets a little complicated, built into Canon's algorithms when the light gets to a certain value (think its about EV 13 which is roughly cloudy bright light) then the flash power is reduced automatically by up to 2 stops. Below EV 10 there is no compensation/reduction so the flash can and often does dominate the photo.

It also depends on what you are focusing on and how bright the subject is, in the talk last week there were photos on the wall behind Sarah who I was photographing (meaning snapshot) and the glossy paper was throwing a lot of light back leading to under exposure of the subject with flash. I've found that generally if you have a bright subject occupying the central focusing points then the subject will be under exposed by the flash and conversely when its a dark subject the opposite applies. You can get around this by fec (flash exposure compensation) which you can set on the flash or on the camera (your 5dMk11, 40D onwards, 400D onwards and 1 series). Or you can use manual flash which is more consistent but a little difficult if your camera to subject distance is continually altering.

The easiest way is camera in aperture, shutter or manual mode and flash in ettl, but use the histogram to check the levels. Its quite well known that Canon cameras require flash compensation in ettl mode and this actually varies with the camera model, a bit of trial and error. I also demonstrated that 1 stop of FEC can make one heck of a difference to the exposure and often 1/3rd is enough. Unfortunately its a bit of trial and error, but the histogram is a good pointer. It maybe that the 5DMk11 requires 1/3rd stop minus FEC.

Anyway Andrew you've captured them well, they look natural and not over posed,

Phil

PS when you are bored this part of the Canon flash bible may assist http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index2.html

[Lee Bold]

Hi Andy
I always carry a large reflector when i'm doing outside shoots so i can bounce light from either sun or flash it can sometimes give a more flattering light especially on portraits although sometimes you do need assistance in holding it( thats were my kids come in handy as portable stands), Love the set that you have done and i'm sure they will be more than happy with them.
And Phil i've read through the bible' i've slept through the bible and i still don't understand the bible LOL
Lee

[Andrew Shepherd]

Many thanks Phil - yes they were shot in aperture priority mode with ETTL - I just wanted to take the edge off the sunshine, so was in Av mode with fill-in flash. I guess the dark background (albeit in the distance) was making the flash work harder and I should have spot metered say on the faces to get this more accurate?

This is the original of my favourite (as shot) and you can see the chest is over exposed:

[oakeycoke]

Andrew,

Its a good image, it all looks slightly overexposed/flat in contrast but easy enough to alter with a levels adjustment (the time of year/day wont have helped here). Spot metering would only have worked for the ambient light, your aperture priority setting. The flash has its own set-up and usually it works best in evaluative metering mode, the pre-flash goes off and the camera algorithms go to work with the ambient settings and the pre-flash to determine the main flash output. Then the main flash fires all in less than 1/1000th second. It doesn't always get it right.

You are also a few metres away, the flash will have automatically zoomed in, in landscape mode to give out more light for the distance involved.

One way to prevent highlights blowing out is to have the highlight tone priority enabled on your camera, which is reasonably efficient in preventing blown highlights, but really the histogram is the way to go.

I'm sure the clients haven't noticed and the processing adjustments you've made to the contrast etc have produced an excellent result. I bet they will want the image displayed at the wedding reception venue.

Phil

[Andrew Shepherd]

cheers - it's amazing what the flash does in 1/1000th of a second!

[Theo Dibbits]

I like the 5th one in. they look really comfortable with each other

Theo

[Mike]

I liked the third in on the first page with them looking into the distance, the second to last on the second page with husband to be looking guilt and bride to be looking amused and the last one on the final page with them walking and holding hands through a meadow.

Nice shooting.