Flash newbie help

[fadetoblack22]

Hey, I just made my first photo exposed for the natural background with flash to fill in the foreground. My dog against a sunset.

I would like some help so I can make my photos better :)

I just have on camera flash and I want to know how I can use the flash on manual to get better results. The auto flash does its thing, but I don't know how to work out how much power I need with Manual flash.

Can anyone help + give me any other advice.

thanks :)

[PacAce]

The built-in flash cannot be set to manual mode, unfortunately. All you get with it is full ETTL automation.

[fadetoblack22]

I didn't want to say, but its a Nikon camera ;)

This forum is way better than the Nikon one. Just assume that I can control my flash manually.

[Dermit]

Well, eventually it will be second nature but it will always be a guess without a lightmeter, etc to calculate it. The simple part is, if you are getting over exposure with the flash, dial it down (duh), underexposed dial it up. Everyone gets that. But there are other ways to control exposure... like smaller aperture will cut the amount of light, so will lower ISO, or further away from the subject.... and then the opposite is true for adding more light.

[PacAce]

I didn't want to say, but its a Nikon camera ;)

This forum is way better than the Nikon one. Just assume that I can control my flash manually.
Well, heck! That's makes a world of a difference then. If you want to adjust the power level of the builti-in flash, go into the menu and look for the ones for the flash. Unfortunately, you didn't say which camera you have so I can't tell you which menu to go to but it'll probably be in the "Customs Settings" folder under "Bracketing/Flash". The option you want is something like "Flash Cntl for Builti-in Flash". Set it to Manual and then set the power level there. Set it to, say, 1/4 or 1/8 to start and then play with it! :)

[fadetoblack22]

Well, heck! That's makes a world of a difference then. If you want to adjust the power level of the builti-in flash, go into the menu and look for the ones for the flash. Unfortunately, you didn't say which camera you have so I can't tell you which menu to go to but it'll probably be in the "Customs Settings" folder under "Bracketing/Flash". The option you want is something like "Flash Cntl for Builti-in Flash". Set it to Manual and then set the power level there. Set it to, say, 1/4 or 1/8 to start and the play with it! :)

I don't have any problem setting the flash manually. I am just unsure of what power to use. e.g. if I take a photo with auto, but decide to use manual, I don't know what level the auto was on, so I don't know where to start.

thanks for the other replies.

[Dermit]

I don't have any problem setting the flash manually. I am just unsure of what power to use. e.g. if I take a photo with auto, but decide to use manual, I don't know what level the auto was on, so I don't know where to start.

thanks for the other replies.

Just start anywhere. Shoot. Evaluate. Adjust if needed. Shoot. Evaluate. Shampoo. Rinse. Repeat.

No one will be able to tell you what power as there are a lot of variables. Full power on your flash is not equal to full power on my flash. Aperture effects the flash. ISO effects the flash. Distance from flash to subject effects the flash. Trial and error is your best teacher here.

[Dermit]

If you have FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) sometimes the best place to start is in ETTL mode and then dial your exposure compensation up or down on the flash.

[PacAce]

I don't have any problem setting the flash manually. I am just unsure of what power to use. e.g. if I take a photo with auto, but decide to use manual, I don't know what level the auto was on, so I don't know where to start.

thanks for the other replies.

I guess you missed the sentence of my previous reply. Start at 1/4 or 1/8 and then play it by ear from there. Or, as Dermit also suggested, just start anywhere and take it from there. ;)

[mattograph]

Strobist.com.

He is in the midst of an on-board flash epiphany, with several articles in the past few weeks about using on camera fill, including the little pop up bugger.

[fadetoblack22]

I guess you missed the sentence of my previous reply. Start at 1/4 or 1/8 and then play it by ear from there. Or, as Dermit also suggested, just start anywhere and take it from there. ;)

sorry yeh, somehow I missed the last sentence :S