Newbie on fill flash

[sweetypie925]

Since buying my camera and flash I've been experimenting with bounce flash, but really like the look of fill flash but not sure how to do it. I have a 430ex. Where do I start? I'm kindof dumb to alot of the flash termnology even though I've been ready tons on this site.

[René Damkot]

Set camera at Av, Attach flash, set aperture for desired DoF. Use a high enough ISO to prevent motion blur. Take picture. Adjust EC and FEC to taste.
Read the stickies ;)

[Just Be]

I just got the 430 ex flash myself.
I found that P and full auto is a good place to start. Sometines Av and Tv tells the flash to produce less power.

It's a great flash. Have fun!

[Mike R]

There is a learning curve for Canon Flash. Here is a great place to start.
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

[gcobb]

The exposure of the 430 on what you're shooting is great...if that came out right. I can do flash at night with little ambient lighting and not wash away the world with the flash.

[Curtis N]

Think about every shot twice. Every flash photograph is two exposures in one - an ambient light exposure and a flash exposure. Through practice and experimentation, you can learn to properly balance both to get the results you want.

[franklinn]

i've got that "Flash Photography 101" bookmarked on my browser now Curtis ;)
thanks for that!

[René Damkot]

I found that P and full auto is a good place to start. Sometines Av and Tv tells the flash to produce less power.

Yup, that's cause on Tv and Av the flash is used as *fill*. On P it's main light ;)

[Curtis N]

Yup, that's cause on Tv and Av the flash is used as *fill*. On P it's main light ;)I have read statements such as this often, but have yet to find any official documentation to verify it. I also haven't been able to demonstrate it through experimentation.

Av, Tv and P mode will all attempt to expose for the ambient light. Using any of these modes in daylight conditions will, as far as I can tell, give you the same ambient exposure. Regardless of exposure mode, E-TTL will account for the ambient exposure of the subject when it determines the required flash power. NEVEC seems to affect all of the auto exposure modes the same way.

When light level is low, P mode will underexpose the ambient because it limits the shutter speed to 1/60. But using Tv mode at 1/60 can also underexpose the ambient if you reach maximum aperture. When the ambient is underexposed, flash becomes the "main" light source by default.

I'll gladly evaluate any evidence to the contrary, but my contention at this point is that Canon's E-TTL system acts no differently in one exposure mode or another. It attempts to expose the subject properly after accounting for the ambient contribution. Whether flash is "main" or "fill" depends on the level of ambient exposure, not on what mode is used to achieve that exposure.

[René Damkot]

I have read statements such as this often, but have yet to find any official documentation to verify it.

Might be true, it's something I've heard as well, and in most situations where I use flash, light levels are low. So P mode underexposes the ambient rather drastically.
If I have some time, I'll give it a try in daylight though...