over exposed flash

[enginyr]

It seem when I over expose a picture using my 580exII. It seems as if people are amazed at how hi of quality a picture it is. Does anyone get similar experiences?

[rammy]

Show us an example. I try and balance ambient and flash.

[RacEcaR]

yes example PLEASE! i wanna see what you mean.

[enginyr]

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs018.snc1/2640_58382185605_508835605_1469708_5425509_n.jpg

[Aaagogo]

google "dragging the shutter"

[RacEcaR]

^^thats the trick for sure, master it and youll be the cahmp.
your exaple is not TOO hot. but try to bounce flash to avoid wall shadows caused by direct flash.

remember shutter speed wont effect flash exposure. also if your flash is set to be real powerfull, you will have to "drag the shutter" to shutter speeds which are to slow for hand held.

if you set your flash to a medium power and set your apurture so that the exposure is good at around 8 ft from subject,(or whatever distance you want) you can use a a shutter speed say around 1/60sec to burn in the backround ambient light, and still hand hold the camera. also try to bounce the flash when ever possible.

point is the less power you give the flash the more you will have to open up the apurture, but the good thing is you will have to drag the shutter less to balance out the ambient light with the flash.

if you dont get what im saying, google it like suggested above.

[RacEcaR]

also a lot of event photogrphers will figgure out propper flash exposure at a given distance at a fixed apurture.
like at f/8 (shutter speed not relivent for this test, only f-stop,flas power and distance matter so set shutter around 1/90sec)
at 4ft 1/16 power
at 6 ft 1/8 power
at 8 ft 1/2 power
at 10 ft 3/4 power. (dont use those numbers, you have to do the testing ahead of time)

when you get to the event location figgure out what the correct shutter speed for the same apurture you did the test with for the AMBIENT LIGHT ONLY.

then always leave your apurture the same, and use the shutter speed that you determined to be correct for the given room with the apurture you tested earlier.

then all you have to do is estimate the distance of your subject and use a cheat sheet to know what power to set your flash for the apurture. so the flash power and the distance of subject will expose the subject perfectly and your predetermined shutter speed will always produce a balnced and proporly exposed backround.

right?
at first tape the flash powers and subject distance cheat sheet to your flash, after a while ditch the cheat sheet.

[ZGMF-X20A]

what's the best way to determine the range v.s. power ratio?

[tim]

what's the best way to determine the range v.s. power ratio?

Your question doesn't make sense, I don't even know what you're asking. What are you trying to achieve?

[Tiger_993]

what's the best way to determine the range v.s. power ratio?

You just experiment by shooting a subject at distance "x" and flash output "y" with a fixed aperture. You choose the "x" and "y". Then chimp the shot to see how it turned out. Make adjustments to your flash output until you nail the correct output/exposure for distance "x". Make a note of the values, and then repeat the process for another distance. At the end of the experiment, you'll have a cheat sheet list of distances and the correct flash output.

[enginyr]

Dragging the shutter just means using a longer exposure time which I think sucks since you can always add blur to the image. My goal is to get the sharpest picture possible and go back and add what ever effects possible. This photographer got "lucky" with a shot like this and I can create this shot 100% of the time in Photoshop. http://www.wedpix.com/articles/013/graphics/george_weir_pennsylvania.jpg

My question was..... If people want over exposure...Do we give it to them at the risk of peers saying it's over exposed.

[bigtruck1369]

If people want over exposure...Do we give it to them at the risk of peers saying it's over exposed.


Why would anyone want over exposure? Why would anyone want a photo that looks like the flash-washed out shot above? I think that if you show them an over exposed shot, and one that is lit well, that preserves the details and has a nice feel to it they'll go with the good image every time.



Furthermore, why would you want to get all of the "creamy goodness" in your photos from photoshop? I mean, does that really make you a photographer, or just an editor?

[enginyr]

I think that if you show them an over exposed shot, and one that is lit well, that preserves the details and has a nice feel to it they'll go with the good image every time

I would like to think that as well...

Yes I would like to use photoshop at a minimum but I rather "get the shot" and worry about perfecting the dragged out shutter on my 20th wedding.

[ZGMF-X20A]

Your question doesn't make sense, I don't even know what you're asking. What are you trying to achieve?
I was asking what Tiger answered.

You just experiment by shooting a subject at distance "x" and flash output "y" with a fixed aperture. You choose the "x" and "y". Then chimp the shot to see how it turned out. Make adjustments to your flash output until you nail the correct output/exposure for distance "x". Make a note of the values, and then repeat the process for another distance. At the end of the experiment, you'll have a cheat sheet list of distances and the correct flash output.
Thanks Tiger.

[Bobster]

I would like to think that as well...

Yes I would like to use photoshop at a minimum but I rather "get the shot" and worry about perfecting the dragged out shutter on my 20th wedding.
so you only practice your camera skills at weddings? how about putting some practice into your photography?

[acousticvibrations]

try using a 80/20 and decrease flash by -1 1/3

[enginyr]

I'm not an idiot. The question here is to go against the normal thoughts of correct exposure to the likes of your customer

[PhotoMatte]

Dragging the shutter just means using a longer exposure time which I think sucks since you can always add blur to the image. My goal is to get the sharpest picture possible and go back and add what ever effects possible. This photographer got "lucky" with a shot like this and I can create this shot 100% of the time in Photoshop. http://www.wedpix.com/articles/013/graphics/george_weir_pennsylvania.jpg

My question was..... If people want over exposure...Do we give it to them at the risk of peers saying it's over exposed.

Yes, you can achieve most effects in photoshop...eventually. The best part about dragging the shutter (used by every professional I know, and not by accident or luck, either), is that your subject remains in focus while the rest of the image doesn't, and it takes less than a second! You can get that effect in Photoshop but why spend so much time in front of the computer if you don't have to? I shoot about 1500 images per wedding and if I had to 'fix' every image in Photoshop I'd be out of business (cuz I would've jumped off a ledge long ago).

When I first began using my 580s (both the EX and the EX II), they would occasionally over-expose so much the image was almost all-white. That's when I cleaned and tightened the contacts on the hot shoe and did a quick-study on FEC. That was over 200 weddings ago, so it seems like it never happened, but I understand your frustration.