Force fill flash sunny day

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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Without reading a book :)


If its a bright sunny day and the sun is high (1pm) Whats the best way to force fill flash on faces to get rid of the facial shadows..

Using canon 1dx and 580ex II - Other than ETTL I have little flash knowledge and find it hard to learn.. Books are a bit of a nono for one reason and another I am afraid so this is my best bet :)

TA :)
 
You might want to 'reduce' the facial shadows rather than remove them completely. Which might look unnatural. But you might have meant that anyway.

I don't have the same gear as you, but you could set the flash to auto, or TTL, but underexpose by a half stop, 1 or 2 stops. Depending on the conditions. I can control this with a minus value on the flash or on my camera. Naturally you can use manual settings too.
 
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ianp5a said:
You might want to 'reduce' the facial shadows rather than remove them completely. Which might look unnatural. But you might have meant that anyway.

You could set the flash to auto but underexpose by a half stop, 1 or 2 stops. Depending on the conditions. I can control this with a minus value on the flash or on the camera. And it works with TTL or auto flash. Naturally you can use manual settings too.
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Yeagh I may have worded it wrong but I think we know what i mean..

So put flash on ETTL but under expose the scene in camera?
 
Don't underexpose the main shot for daylight exposure. But set the flash to - 1 for example. If in doubt, use manual exposure on the camera and set Auto and - 1 on the flash unit.
 
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KIPAX said:
Yeagh I may have worded it wrong but I think we know what i mean..

So put flash on ETTL but under expose the scene in camera?
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No, underexpose the flash by a stop, I usually have mine set to -2/3, but it's easy enough to adjust to taste. Just set HSS, and you're good to go at any shutter speed.
 
Phil V said:
No, underexpose the flash by a stop, I usually have mine set to -2/3, but it's easy enough to adjust to taste. Just set HSS, and you're good to go at any shutter speed.
Click to expand...

HSS ?

So keep camera exposure correct but set (in camera) the flash exposure to under expose to force fill flash?
 
So lets say I am shooting a football team picture and its a bright sunny day.. setup camera as per normal.. but flash as ETTL and in camera under expose the flash by 2/3 to a stop or whatever to get best results?

I normally dont use flash and would instead shoot into the sun and over expose.. however on this occasion the team have to be in a certain position so I cant move them ..
 
KIPAX said:
HSS ?

So keep camera exposure correct but set (in camera) the flash exposure to under expose to force fill flash?
Click to expand...
HSS High Speed Sync, so the flash will fire no matter how high the shutter speed.

If you switch on your flash it will fire, you can set FEC on either the camera or flash, some flashes are easier than others, I have no idea how easy on the 1dx or 580, but on my 'cheap' cameras and flash guns, I always set it on camera.
 
Manual settings all the way.

Set the camera on manual. Low ISO. Set the shutter speed to the camera's highest flash sync speed (1/250?). Meter the surroundings (backgound). Adjust the aperture the correctly expose the background. Set the power output to 1/4. Take a test shot. Chimp. Adjust the flash power if required. Rinse and repeat.

It's surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it. :rolleyes:

There's a bit of guesswork involved. Sunny day... ISO 100, 1/250, f/11. Flash guide number 42m at 100% (assuming 50mm focal length), so about 21 at 25%. Subject distance... say, 2m which gives f/10.5. This is probably all wrong (and I stand to be corrected if it is). But what's the worse that can happen?

Slightly underexposing the background can also yield quite nice results.
 
KIPAX said:
So lets say I am shooting a football team picture and its a bright sunny day.. setup camera as per normal.. but flash as ETTL and in camera under expose the flash by 2/3 to a stop or whatever to get best results?

I normally dont use flash and would instead shoot into the sun and over expose.. however on this occasion the team have to be in a certain position so I cant move them ..
Click to expand...
It's a starting point. But generally I do what you do.
 
Phil V said:
HSS High Speed Sync, so the flash will fire no matter how high the shutter speed.
Click to expand...

of course ..:)

Phil V said:
If you switch on your flash it will fire, you can set FEC on either the camera or flash, some flashes are easier than others, I have no idea how easy on the 1dx or 580, but on my 'cheap' cameras and flash guns, I always set it on camera.
Click to expand...

Its very easy on the 1dx to set the flash FEC

OK between yourself and ianp5a ..I think i ahve got it.. I had a trial and expermiment yesterday but nothing like having it explained properly.. thank you both :)
 
adrianday said:
Manual settings all the way.
Click to expand...

thats what the camera will be in.


adrianday said:
Flash guide number 42m at 100% (assuming 50mm focal length), so about 21 at 25%. Subject distance... say, 2m which gives f/10.5. T.
Click to expand...

You know in the first post where I say no flash knowledge... well eeerm :)

Cheers though :)
 
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