Nabil-A
8th of May 2005 (Sun), 23:01
I have been experimenting with my Stofen Omnibounce and 420ex flash on my camera and for the most part rely on spot metering for most of my portrait or group work how ever i have the following dilemma.
Ive well aware of the intended use of the stofen omnibounce being (from previous threads).
1) for bouncing off ceilings, walls (and ideally white, otherwise colour case issues arise),
2) at 45 degrees or other angle to provide correct lighting of subject and hence not straight on, as this only achieves reduction of flash intensity and can be achieved by using FEC -1 etc (as per Scotts previous notes).
3) for indoor use, despite other users having varying apparent success with outdoor use (again, FEC i would believe achieves the same effect with slightly less diffusion).
However, with all this in mind, i am faced time and time again with a lack of workflow understanding in setting my flash and resulting random success with flash use.
Heres a typical example of my typical workflow.
Indoor Scenario, Fluroscent lighting, so i naturally set my white balance to fluroscenet, set camera to AV mode, adjust F stop to say 2.0 (minimum field), make sure camera is at say iso50, ensure camera has recylced flash and is ready to fire. Frame subject, spot meter of skin (FEL), set omni bounce at about 45 degrees (for correct bounce angle to illuminate subject), focus lock on subject (so i dont have to refocus for next shot (speed), shoot.
Problem is i get rather varying results with my exposure level and i tend to find that i Up or down FEC and exposure compensation to bring out correct exposure details.
Trial and error and i generally get it all right, but how does one ensure FEC and EC settings are correct the first time. I might be answering my own question, but in ive read somewhere the need to set exposure compensation for generally dark scenarios,-1 to -2 and in bright scenarios exposure compensation to +1 to +2. (as in dark scenarios the flash overexposes the subject as a result of trying to exposing the scene correct and vice versa.
Um i might be mixing up matrix metering with spot metering related flash use.. to be honest im a little confused..
Someone pleasE???
Ive well aware of the intended use of the stofen omnibounce being (from previous threads).
1) for bouncing off ceilings, walls (and ideally white, otherwise colour case issues arise),
2) at 45 degrees or other angle to provide correct lighting of subject and hence not straight on, as this only achieves reduction of flash intensity and can be achieved by using FEC -1 etc (as per Scotts previous notes).
3) for indoor use, despite other users having varying apparent success with outdoor use (again, FEC i would believe achieves the same effect with slightly less diffusion).
However, with all this in mind, i am faced time and time again with a lack of workflow understanding in setting my flash and resulting random success with flash use.
Heres a typical example of my typical workflow.
Indoor Scenario, Fluroscent lighting, so i naturally set my white balance to fluroscenet, set camera to AV mode, adjust F stop to say 2.0 (minimum field), make sure camera is at say iso50, ensure camera has recylced flash and is ready to fire. Frame subject, spot meter of skin (FEL), set omni bounce at about 45 degrees (for correct bounce angle to illuminate subject), focus lock on subject (so i dont have to refocus for next shot (speed), shoot.
Problem is i get rather varying results with my exposure level and i tend to find that i Up or down FEC and exposure compensation to bring out correct exposure details.
Trial and error and i generally get it all right, but how does one ensure FEC and EC settings are correct the first time. I might be answering my own question, but in ive read somewhere the need to set exposure compensation for generally dark scenarios,-1 to -2 and in bright scenarios exposure compensation to +1 to +2. (as in dark scenarios the flash overexposes the subject as a result of trying to exposing the scene correct and vice versa.
Um i might be mixing up matrix metering with spot metering related flash use.. to be honest im a little confused..
Someone pleasE???