Help help! Using flash in bird photos

[jgrussell]

Okay, we all know natural light is best. Sure. Righht. When it doesn't rain day after day after day after...

So I broke down, broke out the old handy dandy trusty 420EX and tried using flash. With a diffuser, the flash didn't add enough light. Without it, even with some degree of flash compensation, I got harsh shadows, blown out whites and worse.

How do you use a flash effectively? Does it differ when you're using it for fill flash in better day light? Do I need a new flash (the 420EX is pretty old and doesn't have many controls)? A snoot? A Better Beamer?

These are the very best I got, and they ain't very good:

1. 1/180, f8, ISO 400

http://jgrussell.smugmug.com/photos/527836617_cAMAB-O.jpg

2. 1/200, f6.7, ISO 400, FEC -1

http://jgrussell.smugmug.com/photos/527836685_ChQuK-O.jpg

3. 1/200, f8, ISO 400, FEC -1

http://jgrussell.smugmug.com/photos/527836757_ehnUU-O.jpg

4. 1/200, f8, ISO 400, FEC -1

http://jgrussell.smugmug.com/photos/527836821_o75wE-O.jpg

[Techuser]

Seeing by the shadows it is casting I think you need to reduce its power and increase the exposure to balance more with the ambient lighting

the third one looks good enough for me

[jgrussell]

Seeing by the shadows it is casting I think you need to reduce its power and increase the exposure to balance more with the ambient lighting. the third one looks good enough for meNot a whole lot of room to increase the exposure here. I'm wondering maybe if I should use the diffuser and BOOST the power?

[dancad]

Not a whole lot of room to increase the exposure here. I'm wondering maybe if I should use the diffuser and BOOST the power?

With the Rebel XSi and 100-400 (I assume) and with all shots at ISO 400 and most at f/8 you do have room to increase the exposure. (ISO 800 + open up the aperture = you should start seeing see a difference). Of course with higher than 1/200s. you may have to use high speed sync on the flash.

[jgrussell]

(ISO 800 + open up the aperture = you should start seeing see a difference)ISO 800 is really ugly on the XSi. But I will try this and see if Noiseware can salvage something. Thanks!

[TooManyShots]

First, don't try to use the flash as your main light source. Which means that don't use your flash at full power. Instead, use the flash as fill flash or balancing light. In that case, for bird photography, you need to get a better beamer or flash extender. Set the flash power to -1 to -1 2/3 F stop compensation. Set the flash zoom range to 50mm. Enable High Speed sync mode. What this means that you would still need to expose your shot properly. The flash, in this case, would only bring out the shadow. Or increase the color and contrast of your subject under a dull looking day. Here is a shot I took on a rainy day. ISO 2000. Flash was used.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3465799241_cbc0cb41cc_o.jpg

Another at ISO 2000.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3465799127_4b7e4db40f_o.jpg

[jgrussell]

That's gorgeous. I'd be very happy with a shot like that. Thanks for the tips.

[twoshadows]

jgr,

#3 is a gorgeous shot, and I think (beside the fact that everything else is right about it) it's because the BG is light enough to look like natural light. Along with TooManyShots good advice, I would advise getting a 580EX II . I have the 420EX and it just doesn't cut it for a number of reasons. The 580 gives you increased range and flexibility. Makes it pretty easy to balance ambient with natural. Good luck! :)

Ian

[jgrussell]

I would advise getting a 580EX II . I have the 420EX and it just doesn't cut it for a number of reasons.I was afraid somebody was going to say that. I know I need to do it, but have been holding off since I don't tend to shoot flash that often. But these rainy days convince me I have to bite that bullet.