Shooting in M,AV,TV,P, ADEP, EXTERNAL FLASH??

[Vacation]

Describe in full detail how you would set up for a shot..

Pick one or all the modes.

I would prefer to know how you would set up in low light...However it's a free for all.

I think we could all learn from each other.

Here is how I would set up for a low light in manual.

1st start my ISO around 800.

2nd I would set my aperature.

3rd I would set my white balance on the little flash symbol.

4th I would pop the flash.

5th Then I would look for a shutter speed that would make the exposure meter in the camera get as close to the middle as possible.

6th I would set my focus point.

7th I would press the shutter half way down.

8th take picture and pray its good.

I don't always get the needle to the middle...and I dont always get a proper exposure.

I understand what metering does but still don't know how to properly use..Getting close though.


What do you do and what would you change in my steps or do differently?

[auroraskye]

You would pop your flash? You use the on board flash? 0_o

[johndevane]

Okay Vacation,

Not to be harsh here, but you've taken your first venture into the "Photo Sharing" section instead of the "Sharing Knowhow" section, but you've still not posted a picture. Get brave and post something for us to critique. :) You'll learn a lot more!

As far as "Describe in full detail how you would set up for a shot.." You first describe in full detail: Where I am, what's the ambient light, what am I trying to achieve, what am I making a picture of, etc...

You're signature says you have some great gear, show us what it does! We want pictures! - Not just impossible talk.

Regards,

John.

[ishida]

Describe in full detail how you would set up for a shot..

Pick one or all the modes.

I would prefer to know how you would set up in low light...However it's a free for all.

I think we could all learn from each other.

Here is how I would set up for a low light in manual.

1st start my ISO around 800.

2nd I would set my aperature.

3rd I would set my white balance on the little flash symbol.
Shoot in RAW, then you don't have to worry about white balance

4th I would pop the flash.
If you're going to use flash you may want to use the P mode. Things at a wedding move fast and you don't want to be worrying about the correct flash settings. Invest in a Stofen Omnibounce/Better Bounce Card/etc. if you will be close to your subjects and the ceilings are relatively low. If you have the time to setup a shot and know your on-camera/off-camera flash good then dial the settings in, however this is an entirely different beast to discuss...

5th Then I would look for a shutter speed that would make the exposure meter in the camera get as close to the middle as possible.
You'll want to set the shutter speed first before dialing in your flash settings.

6th I would set my focus point.

7th I would press the shutter half way down.

8th take picture and pray its good.

I don't always get the needle to the middle...and I dont always get a proper exposure.

I understand what metering does but still don't know how to properly use..Getting close though.


What do you do and what would you change in my steps or do differently?

Best thing to do is practice...

[azpix]

8th take picture and pray its good.






hmm that made me chuckle.

it might me hard to learn everything you're trying to learn in 1 thread.

[DStanic]

Using an external flash I think you will get far superior results (onboard flash is only good for 10ft or so, and it's just ugly). In M mode I really don't worry about where the needle is, cause the flash set to auto will usually get a good exposure (autofocus assist beam). I like to get a fast shutter speed such as 1/160 or 1/200. The more important thing that I worry about is which way to aim the flash. Nothing wrong with shooting at ISO800 with a flash in M, but I often set mine down to ISO400.
I leave my WB to auto, cause it doesn't matter in RAW.

[PhotosGuy]

Without the flash: Try manual in those tough conditions. First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO.
Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

This shows how the subject can affect the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free:
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)

[René Damkot]

Without flash: ISO 1600, Av or M, full open if needed, a bit stopped down if possible / wanted for DoF. WB: Tungsten or so.
With flash: The same, WB: tungsten, CTO gel over the flash.

[egordon99]

Indoors when I plan on having the flash provide most of the illumination......
1)I check out the ceiling and get a feel for how white it is and how high it is......
2)Based on (1) I set my ISO accordingly (lower/whiter ceiling->lower the ISO I choose)
3)Again, based on (1) and (2) I pick an aperture which will allow the flash to provide enough reach AND give me my desired DOF....The ISO/f-stop tends to be a balancing act with flash
4)I usually just keep the shutter speed at 1/250s, sometimes lower it a bit if I want some more ambient
5)Set my 580EXII into E-TTL with FEC set to +2/3
6)Make sure I'm in RAW (I always am, so this isn't a problem :) )
7)Point and shoot! (of course I need to pick my autofocus point like I would for any other shot)

Now if the flash can't output enough power for the shot (based on the ceiling), I'll either increase the ISO or open up the aperture more (or both)

Remember, with flash, there are really TWO exposures - The ambient exposure is determined by ISO/f-stop/shutter speed (as it always is) and the flash exposure is determined by the ISO/f-stop/flash power (flash power is solely HOW long the flash actually fires)....ETTL uses the camera's meter to determine WHAT power to fire at (calculated with the ISO/f-stop set).

The built-in flash sucks (I'll be honest, it sucks) because (1)You can't bounce it so you get that awful direct-flash look and (2)It really isn't very powerful so even if you could bounce it wouldn't work very well.

Basically, just go to LOTs of events that are indoors and practice practice practice.....You should be able to set up the shot and not have to PRAY that it comes out.

[egordon99]

Indoors NO flash is a little easier, I just open up the aperture as wide as it can go (in Av), up the ISO to 800, and see what my shutter speeds are. If they're fast enough, I'm good to go and I can think about lowering the ISO and closing down the aperture. If it isn't fast enough, I have to up the ISO. I've been at ISO3200, f/1.4 and still could only get 1/30s. Fun times!

Again, the more you shoot, the more you'll get a feel for all of this and it will be pretty intuitive.

Generally speaking though, you really need to keep an eye on your shutter speed in terms of "is it fast enough to prevent motion blur and/or camera shake"

[egordon99]

There can be ALOT of tricky situations that present themselves at weddings (or other events) so the best advice is to understand the basic concepts of photography/light, flash vs. ambient exposure, etc....so you can easily deal with new situations that arise.

For example, HUGE windows in a house of worship with bright light streaming in....What do you do? (or just a window in your house during the daytime)

The trick is to set the ambient exposure so as to NOT blow out the light from the window, and then set the flash exposure to properly expose the subject.

[PhotosGuy]

The trick is to set the ambient exposure so as to NOT blow out the light from the window, and then set the flash exposure to properly expose the subject. See post #3
Tips for Xmas Ball Please (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=419399)

[egordon99]

Hey OP - Did these suggestions help?