flip-it question

[tampaphotogal]

This is a pure beginners question, but here goes...do I add compensation for the 580ex when I shoot straight up with the big Flip-it attached? Does anyone have good examlpes of using the flip-it at events or wedding receptions? I have a dark country club reception in my future and I don't want to screw it up. I need to learn the secret of avoiding harsh flash shadows and blowing out the dress and cake during the requisite cake-cutting part of the reception. Thanks in advance for your help.

[burchy]

There was another thread somewhere that discussed the use of bounced flash using a flip-it.
I use a big flip-it on my 550EX/300D, with the flash pointing straight up. Try this for a starter:

Flip-it vertical, camera in manual mode between 60-125th second (I like 100th), aperture at f5.6, iso between 200-400 and FEC between +2/3 to +1. Stand a reasonable distance from your subject and give it a try.

Those settings should give you a reasonable result and give you some basis from which to tweak and get right to suit your set-up. Try it out indoors at home first.

There was some advice in the other thread that if you're getting shadows on the subjects faces to try tilting the flash backwards slightly. However, I can't confirm whether this will work or not.

[Curtis N]

Opinions and experiences vary with regard to the need to adjust FEC depending on your flash technique. Check out this thread.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=210309&highlight=ettl+querry

The "secret" to avoiding harsh shadows is to use a big light source. When you bounce flash off the ceiling, the ceiling becomes a big light source. The flip-it allows you to redirect some of that light directly to your subject. Finding the right angle for the flip-it which gives the most pleasing balance will require some practice.

The "secret" to avoiding blown-out whites is to meter properly. Entire books have been written about this. One advantage to Canon's E-TTL system is that it will usually avoid this problem as long as you don't go overboard with the +FEC.

Hopefully you will have time for lots of practice in similar environments. A wedding reception is a poor place for on-the-job training.

[burchy]

Curtis is spot-on regarding FEC, it seems to be a very personal thing that some people swear by and others don't find a need for, often depending on the set-up. With my set-up I couldn't do without it and find when bouncing I'm usually using +1FEC. To give you an idea, the following shot was taken without much thought using my standard "indoor settings" of:

Manual mode, 1/100th sec, f5.6, ISO 200, Flip-it/flash vertical, +1 FEC
using: 300D, 550ex, flip-it, 50mm f1.8mkII

As you can see, even with +1 FEC I've achieved a reasonable exposure. I get pretty consistent results using this approach. You may find, however, that you don't need as much FEC. I'm afraid there is quite a bit of trial and error involved.


http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3212/img3381zv5.jpg

[pparker]

I generally use my Big Flip-it with the white card turned back towards me approximately 30 degrees. This seems to work well for me, but for yourself, I would try to get into the Country Club reception area and do some testing on a subject prior to your scheduled shoot.
This will tell you what will work in that setting (ceiling height, ambient light, and other factors that might affect your photos) and will allow you to be more confident prior to your shoot.
Good luck. Let us know how it turned out.

Pete Parker

[Curtis N]

I generally use my Big Flip-it with the white card turned back towards me approximately 30 degrees.It's worth noting that with this technique, the amount of light that hits the flip-it will vary greatly, depending on the zoom setting of the flash head.

The Sigma units will default to 50mm zoom when angled up (I have no idea why). I believe the Canon units default to their widest setting (24mm?). Of course either one can be manually zoomed to whatever you like.

In general, I get better results with wider flash zoom settings when bouncing. Usually I pull out the wide panel. Lighting a larger area of the ceiling does seem to make a difference.

[pparker]

According to the manufacturer in the instructions for the Flip-it, you move the panel (reflector panel) on the hinge to change the softness of the light, depth of shadow, and the ratio of light between bounce off a ceiling and bounce off the reflector panel.

I recommended to the orginal poster to make a series of test shots on a subject prior to doing the shoot. Shooting conditons vary greatly, so its always better to make a quick test to see what will work best.

Unless you have a very powerful flash, I wouldn't recommend shooting with the flash at the 24 mm setting. If you need to, manually change your flash telephoto setting to 50 mm.

[Nick_C]

Curtis is spot-on regarding FEC, it seems to be a very personal thing that some people swear by and others don't find a need for, often depending on the set-up. With my set-up I couldn't do without it and find when bouncing I'm usually using +1FEC. To give you an idea, the following shot was taken without much thought using my standard "indoor settings" of:

Manual mode, 1/100th sec, f5.6, ISO 200, Flip-it/flash vertical, +1 FEC
using: 300D, 550ex, flip-it, 50mm f1.8mkII

As you can see, even with +1 FEC I've achieved a reasonable exposure. I get pretty consistent results using this approach. You may find, however, that you don't need as much FEC. I'm afraid there is quite a bit of trial and error involved.


http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3212/img3381zv5.jpg

Just look at her!! isnt she a little angel, already managed to master CS2 I see!

:)

[tampaphotogal]

I am going to the rehearsal friday night to shoot anyone who will stand still in the exact lighting conditions that I will face on saturday. I plan to take many photos outdoors before the reception. The bride plans to be tipsy for the reception. I will analyze the best that I can and bring a backup 580ex and a light stand to tuck into a corner. Thanks for all of your advice. I am also practicing on my daughter and the dog for now. I plan to shoot raw and keep checking the histogram. I will let you know how it turns out. I have definitely matured from the blast the flash in their face days, but there is much to learn.

[Curtis N]

Unless you have a very powerful flash, I wouldn't recommend shooting with the flash at the 24 mm setting.Just because it has a lower guide number at 24mm doesn't mean it's less powerful. It just means the distance range is lower because the light is spread out over a wider area.

This becomes a moot point when you're bouncing. Zooming the flash will either create a small, very bright spot on the ceiling, or a large, not-so-bright spot on the ceiling. When you're bouncing, the flash zoom won't affect your maximum range the same way as with direct flash. And if you throw an attachment like the flip-it or a bounce card into the equation, using a wider flash zoom setting can sometimes help illuminate your subject more by throwing more light on the card.

[Nick_C]

I am going to the rehearsal friday night to shoot anyone who will stand still in the exact lighting conditions that I will face on saturday. I plan to take many photos outdoors before the reception. The bride plans to be tipsy for the reception. I will analyze the best that I can and bring a backup 580ex and a light stand to tuck into a corner. Thanks for all of your advice. I am also practicing on my daughter and the dog for now. I plan to shoot raw and keep checking the histogram. I will let you know how it turns out. I have definitely matured from the blast the flash in their face days, but there is much to learn.

Yeah there is nothing worse than blinding the bride & groom with a burst of flash, only to watch them stumbling around like headless chickens for a few seconds (watch out for the cake somebody shouts!") too late!! LOL..

[pparker]

[quote=Curtis N]Just because it has a lower guide number at 24mm doesn't mean it's less powerful. It just means the distance range is lower because the light is spread out over a wider area.

Curtis, you are incorrect. There is a full stop difference in light output between the 24 mm and the 50 mm setting shooting the same distance and full power. If you don't believe me do a test with a flash meter with the camera set on manual.

When using the flash in the TTL mode, there may not be enough power to provide the proper exposure/lighting effect desired by the user while the flash is selected to the 24 mm setting.

[twinsrus]

This is a pure beginners question, but here goes...do I add compensation for the 580ex when I shoot straight up with the big Flip-it attached? Does anyone have good examlpes of using the flip-it at events or wedding receptions? I have a dark country club reception in my future and I don't want to screw it up. I need to learn the secret of avoiding harsh flash shadows and blowing out the dress and cake during the requisite cake-cutting part of the reception. Thanks in advance for your help.

If you go to the Flip-It site, it gives examples and also settings for maximum effectiveness. I stuck those on the back for fast referral. As you can see from the couple pics on the site, it works pretty good. Also, the flash will compensate and make sure you have what you need.

[Curtis N]

If you don't believe me do a test with a flash meter with the camera set on manual.Well Pete, I don't have a flash meter but I did a test you might be interested in.

Take a look at this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1952214#post1952214).