Re: Use of flash outside
[Re: lucy]
#23747
06/24/09 06:04 PM
06/24/09 06:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie
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Addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
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Lucy, I use my Canon 580 EX as a fill light outdoors a lot -- especially when shooting show formals outdoors. It softens the shadows and makes it easier to bring them up later in PhotoShop. I set up the flash to balance with the available light rather than overpower it. Canons have a Custom Function that allows you to choose which way you want to use your flash unit. I also use my AB400s with a Vagabond II outdoors when I want to control the light completely. I meter the highlights and shadow areas and then set up my lights to fill in the shadows while I set up the camera to underexpose the highlights slightly. Camera settings are manual. That's pretty tricky stuff and it takes some trial and error (mostly error ) but with digital, the viewing time is immediate so you can tell what's working when you make your changes. For me, the trick to using flash outdoors is not to make the images look as if you have. Lots of folks use flash to properly expose the subject(s) but then underexpose the rest of the frame so much that it's obvious that they've used flash. Personally, I prefer to balance the lighting so it looks as natural as possible. Jim
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Re: Use of flash outside
[Re: lucy]
#23749
06/25/09 05:10 PM
06/25/09 05:10 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
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Lucy, the easiest way to learn how to use the flash outdoors is to use the flash outdoors. Today's camera/flash combos have so much computer power behind them it's almost impossible to make a mistake. Once you're comfortable shooting with everything on automatic, then start experimenting with manual exposures of the camera and, eventually, couple that with manual exposure of the flash unit varying the power so you can open up your lenses for shallower depth of field.
The great thing about digital is that when you experiment, you aren't burning up rolls of film which you then need to send out to be processed, wait and then review the prints/slides. With digital, you're only wasting your own time and talent in an effort to get better. Besides, experimentation is fun.
So, try some stuff and see what you get. If you like it, you're doing fine. If you don't, figure out what you don't like and make some adjustments. Or share it with the troops here and we'll tell you what we think the problem is.
But most of all, have fun. After all the business of being a photographer, if you aren't having fun when you shoot then you need a new hobby.
Jim
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Re: Use of flash outside
[Re: psmith]
#23751
06/27/09 04:13 PM
06/27/09 04:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
James Morrissey
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
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Hey Lucy,
I definitely use flash outdoors at times - though usually for shooting humans as we get shadows over our eyes when the light from above hits our foreheads. This is particularly true when it is very bright outside and I am trying to take in both the subject and a background scene (such as a landscape).
While this is not a hard and fast rule, I find that I often use the flash at or near it's highest power to help knock out the shadows (as you are competing with the sun to get the midtones). This makes metering a bit hard - and sometimes the light a little less flattering than you might want, and you may sometimes lose some highlight detail, but that is the way it goes.
Common sense dictates to attempt to photograph when it is not so harshly lit, but, LOL, I guess we cannot always control when our clients want to shoot. :P
James
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Re: Use of flash outside
[Re: James Morrissey]
#23752
06/28/09 06:53 PM
06/28/09 06:53 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Massachusetts
Loueen
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Massachusetts
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Hi, I'm new to this forum and wanted to ask a question regarding this topic. I take photos for a rescue group and usually end up with less than great conditions. In this photo I used an external flash because it was so dark and my camera is not good in low light or high iso settings. We were between T storms and didn't have the luxury of rescheduling. I'm not sure what caused such a high contrast with the dog. It really doesn't look too natural. Could you tell me what causes this?
Loueen
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