Noob question.

[ed.]

I took some photo's at a party and the bottom 1/2 of the photo's are darkened.

I was told my shutter speed was too fast?

I thought it was because it was outdoors at night, my flash (430ex) was angled @ 45 degrees with nothing to bounce off.

I'll check the EXIF tonight for the shutter speed.

[FlashZebra]

I took some photo's at a party and the bottom 1/2 of the photo's are darkened.

I was told my shutter speed was too fast?

I thought it was because it was outdoors at night, my flash (480ex) was angled @ 45 degrees with nothing to bounce off.

I'll check the EXIF tonight for the shutter speed.
You have been given good advice.

Your shutter speed was too fast.

If ypu cite your camera, the humans on this list will give you more specific help.

Enjoy! Lon

[Curtis N]

There is no Canon Speedlite model 480EX.

However, any EX series Speedlite would have been recognized by the camera and a compatible shutter speed would have been used automatically.

Lacking a sample image or better information, I'm going with the theory that the 45 degree angle is the cause of the problem.

[ed.]

Sorry guys, big typo there. It was the 430EX...

I'll post up the EXIF tonight.

[350D_Noob]

That. Plus did you have the lens hood on?

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think your camera will let you shoot past wat the flash can do regardless what mode you're in.

EDIT: I jsut checked, you can still put it past the max shutter speed of the flash in TV mode.

[ed.]

Shot @ 1/160th.
ISO-200
f/2.8

[Curtis N]

EXIF is good.
A sample image is always much more revealing.
1/160 shutter speed should work fine for outdoor nighttime flash pictures.

[Curtis N]

I jsut checked, you can still put it past the max shutter speed of the flash in TV mode.Check again.

With the flash on, no HSS, in Tv mode, select a shutter speed faster than 1/250, then half-press the shutter button and see what happens.

[italypa99]

yes with the canon 430EX even if it shows that your shutter speed is over 1/250th right before you fire the shot it will put it back to 1/250 that is the max sync speed for that flash the only way you could go higher then that is with an off camera strobe if your shutter speed was really at 1/160th then you might have a problem with your shutter i would try and take a shot in normal daylight without the flash and see if it does the same thing just to be sure

[350D_Noob]

Oh, just checked it again.