Fill flash help

[dan_yorkshire]

Hi everyone,

Looking to utilisie my SB600 flashgun on a more regular basis to enhance pics, rather than just situations that need it.

I'm at a mates wedding in a few weeks and it would be good to have the skill to do fill flash where needed on portraits during the day outside.

Anyone suggest a foolproof method?

Do I meter for the background in manual mode (spot metering mode??) and then stop down the flash exposure compensation until I have the desired lighting?

I have given it a go a few times before without putting any real thought into it and all I got was peoples faces completey blown by the flash.

Any help appreciated.

Dan

 

[Hyster]

Have a read of this.

From what you have said, I think you just need to dial in a bit of negative flash compensation.

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Have a read of this.

From what you have said, I think you just need to dial in a bit of negative flash compensation.

Cheers, will give that site a read.

Already browsed loads of sites and taking information on board, sometimes you just read the right things and it clicks.... practice makes perfect I suppose.

 

[FlyTVR]

Can only really talk for Canon here - it's fill system works very well. Most of the time (when shooting outdoors) I find the best approach is to leave the flash in auto, camera in AV mode and let the flash / camera sort the flash power out for you. If it's bright conditions I'd also think about setting high speed sync.

When shooting more complex stuff e.g. face against bright sky, then simply expose in manual for background, use flash exposure lock on the subject's face, recompose the shot and bingo, job done.

Of course, all this is applicable to Canon kit - I'm sure a 'Nykon' user will be along in a moment to translate.

Good luck.

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Can only really talk for Canon here - it's fill system works very well. Most of the time (when shooting outdoors) I find the best approach is to leave the flash in auto, camera in AV mode and let the flash / camera sort the flash power out for you. If it's bright conditions I'd also think about setting high speed sync.

When shooting more complex stuff e.g. face against bright sky, then simply expose in manual for background, use flash exposure lock on the subject's face, recompose the shot and bingo, job done.

Of course, all this is applicable to Canon kit - I'm sure a 'Nykon' user will be along in a moment to translate.

Good luck.

Cheers for that.

It's when I use AV mode that I massively overexposed the faces of those I'm shooting, maybe I have the wrong metering mode selected.

 

[AliB]

Try this at home first and see how it works for you.

M mode.
ISO 800
1/60sec
f4

Flash in ETTL

You can cut the ISO to 400 if it's a little light, I use these for winter weddings mainly.

Then simply adjust the flash comp to taste.

Used mainly with fairly static people (hence the 1/60 sec) if they are moving you'd need more shutter speed, as you raise the shutter speed, raise the ISO with it.

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Try this at home first and see how it works for you.

M mode.
ISO 800
1/60sec
f4

Flash in ETTL

You can cut the ISO to 400 if it's a little light, I use these for winter weddings mainly.

Then simply adjust the flash comp to taste.

Used mainly with fairly static people (hence the 1/60 sec) if they are moving you'd need more shutter speed, as you raise the shutter speed, raise the ISO with it.

Thankyou Alison, which metering do you tend to use?

I'm confusing myself with all these different methods and should maybe just find one and stick to it.