Using Flash to Freeze Subject's Movement - Low Light Setting

[Cujo_34]

Hey there, I generally shoot band photography in small bars/clubs. Up until this point I've never used a flash as I hated the affect it left on the picture (overblown -- but that was with my built-in flash). I just recently purchased the 580EX and was told that when using this I would be able to freeze the subject (such as a drummer which usually appears as a blur) and still not lose the ambient lighting of the bar/stage.

Basically I'd like the affect of the flash freezing my subject so I can capture a crisp shot but would like to keep the lighting provided by the stage. Depending where I am shooting this could be real stage lights or simple spot lighting on the band (smaller venues).

I'm currently running through Important Links: EOS Flash (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907) in the forum but was hoping someone would be able to clear it up a little bit quicker for me here.

I'm still newish to the realm of photography and a lot of the terminology I still mixup at times.

The lenses I usually shoot with are:
Canon 20mm f/2.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-70mm f/2.8
and usually in Av mode.

Thanks for any help.

[coreypolis]

first off don't shoot in AV if you want to control the lighting with flash, it works as basically fill flash. shoot in M.

[Cujo_34]

Thanks Corey

Any suggestions on settings on the Flash / Camera or just experiment?

[KevC]

Shoot wide open, high-ish ISO... (say 640 or 800 or even 1000) and drag the shutter to suck in ambient light. Wide aperture and high ISO also preserves flash battery life, giving you longer range, faster refresh times and more shots per battery.

Meter the background and shoot maybe -2 or -3 stop, and let the flash expose your subjects.

[Cujo_34]

Hmm (letting my newish to photography come out now) what do you mean by dragging the shutter?

When I shoot non-flash I'm usually shooting with the lens as wide open as possible with the lens I'm using (f/1.8 or f/2.8) and because of the lower lighting I'm usually shooting on ISO 800 or 1600. About half to 1/3 the time I'll get okay shots but a lot of motion blur happens because of the quick movements. This is why I'm brining in the Flash.

Unfortunately I don't own a light meter yet to test the background at all (if that's what you're getting to with your last line there).

[KevC]

With digital, just chimp the histogram! Don't worry about the light/flash meter!

Dragging the shutter usually means a slower shutter speed. I'd say anything slower than 1/20th is considering dragging.

Shoot M, f/2.8, ISO800, and play with shutter speeds. In a dark club I shot f/4 (i didn't have an f/2.8 lens), ISO800 and around 1/8th shutter speed to capture ambient light. Motion blur happens but flash freezes the subject (most of the time).

Try shooting M, f/2.8, ISO800, and 1/10th shutter.... in a nightclub that should be fine. If it's lighter then use a faster shutter speed, maybe 1/20th, 1/30th. The 1/focal length rule doesn't apply anymore since the flash freezes the subject.

[yenoram]

I'd also suggest using second-curtain sync so that any motion blur appears natural.

[woffles]

Expose for the ambient and as yenoram said, shoot rear curtain sync to stop action.

[rabidcow]

shooting wide open will save battery power, but it will also allow too much ambient light in, and your images will also suffer from softness. ISO400, f/8, 1/2 sec is a good starting place, adjust shutter speed according to the effect that you want.

Image posted is at f/10, ISO400, and 1/4. The subjects, lit directionally with my flash (by hand holding the flash with an off camera cord) are frozen, but the background is not.

[Cujo_34]

So it's been awhile since I was able to make it back here. Thanks everyone for your comments. I actually have a mini shoot tonight (mini because I can't stay for long) where I'll try experimenting with some of the settings. I've only shot at the place 2 times before so it'll take a little bit before I can figure out what to do. The lighting there is usually pretty good.

I'll probably post more questions when I get back from my mini absense (maybe on Tuesday).