Could I get some advice on why i suck at ocf (pics inside)

[lmyamen]

Ok so im working on getting better with off cam flash but i feel like my results suck. What can I do better? the picture with the black back ground was a shot in my drive way around 5:30, what kind of settings do i need if i want to expose the back ground also? any tips would be great or just thoughts on the shots.

Never mind the dumb facial expressions i was just testing lighting

f/4.5 1/100 ISO 250
promaster 7500edf 1/4th power zoomed at 50mm 43" shoot through umrella
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5355901956_db31b2b2c6_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5355902234_ec227e0d84_z.jpg

[toadhunter911]

Pretty typical one light results. Dramatic shadows. Try placing a reflector to your (subject) left. That will bounce some light on to the dark side. To show more of the background, you need to up the ambient light by dragging the shutter. This video explains how to make your background lighter by adjusting the shutter speed (ya, it's really a commercial for the softbox, but it describes the technique too). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0g63DggyzQ

[kouman]

You need a fill light camera right. Either another flash or a reflector. If you just have one umbrella put it more close to the front of you instead of off to the side.

[sigma pi]

try moving the light a little higher

[Tawcan]

Looks like the main source was the flash in both of these pics. Hence for the very high contrast ratio. You can use the flash as the main light source or use it as fill so the pic will have a bit different "look." As other have already suggested you can try using a reflector on the other side to add some fill. Your light is also too far off the axis so you're getting close split lighting. Try putting the light 45 degrees or closer to the lens so more light can hit your subject.

[doidinho]

Great advice above.

[williejr]

Google "Onelight Field Guide" by Zack Arias, buy it best 28 bucks you will spend.

[sdipirro]

Besides the other good advice, I'm wondering if you're asking about a better mix of ambient light and flash, since you asked about exposing the background. Look at your camera settings and try them without the flash. What do you see? If you see all black, then that's what you'll see as the background when you use the flash. Modify the ISO and shutter speed to add stops of light until you get a reasonable background image. If you're shooting all manual with the flash, the exposure on the subject should still be OK with the strobe setting you're using (for f4.5), but the change in ISO and shutter speed will allow more ambient light into the exposure.

[lmyamen]

Thanks for all the tips guys, this was just some attempts at a self portrait testing lighting. You all have really good advice, for some reason I was not thinking about properly exposing the background rather than just thinking 100% about the subject. I will give this another go this weekend.