Fill Flash with bright background? Solutions?

I've been thinking in my head mostly and doing some test shots around the house as the weather hasn't been very good in Seattle.

My question is regarding using fill flash when the background is extremely bright in comparison to the person or subject being photographed.

To my understanding, to get an even exposure at max sync speed (lets say 1/250) you might have to stop down the aperture value. Otherwise, lets say shutter speed of 1/250 at f2.8-f4, the background would be overexposed.

But lets say the photographer wants to have a shallow depth of field and max sync speed, is a ND filter the right solution in this scenario?

Thanks

Thats about it, unless you use HSS on your flash.

gonzogolf wrote in post #11907236
Thats about it, unless you use HSS on your flash.

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure my instincts were correct.

Yep, HSS is your friend, or learn to like f16.

If you have HSS capability then you can go above your sync speed.

If not you'd either need to step down your aperture or use ND. The thing with ND is that you may be limited by how much power your flash and output.

Keep in mind the severe reduction in max distance that the flash can reach, due to HSS. A recent thread on POTN discusses this, with various models of cameras and flash units. If you have a camera whose normal max shutter x-synch speed is 1/200, going to 1/400 might result in -2EV to -3EV reduction in flash output intensity, meaning that 20' max distance (no HSS) could be reduced to 7' (with HSS at 1/400)

When thinking about HSS and fill flash, I think in terms of having the flash nice and close to the subject.
If you have a 580EX shooting through an umbrella and have that within 3 feet of your subject then you should be able to handle just about any shutter speed and F stop.

Sunny 16 suggests that a sun lit background would require 1/3200, ISO 100 at F2.8. That is within the capabilities of a 580EX through an umbrella within 5 ft of the subject. you could even go a bit faster to darken the background.

I'd like to point out that if you're shooting your subject with a very bright background, your flash will actually be doing most of the work (ie, it's not going to be fill-flash).

Also, a quick question on high speed sync, is it normal for noticeably longer recycle times when using HSS?

pxchoi wrote in post #11912608
Also, a quick question on high speed sync, is it normal for noticeably longer recycle times when using HSS?

Unlike normal ETTL flash, all the stored electrical energy is expended, rather than being recycled back to the capacitor after 'enough light' is sent out to the subject.

pxchoi wrote in post #11912608
Also, a quick question on high speed sync, is it normal for noticeably longer recycle times when using HSS?

Yes, longer recycle times because HSS is a series of pulses, rather than one blast of light. It usually depletes the flash more than one blast as Wilt noted above. It also limits the flashes power output for the same reason.

If you have your flash on the camera with the head pointed toward the subject the distance scale on the flash will illustrate the impact HSS has on flash output.

I just gave it a quick check. at 1/200 the distance scale said out to 3 meters. At 1/2000 with HSS the scale read .7 meters as the farthest for good exposure.

So roughly 2 feet out to 9 feet which is just over 4 stops.

That also means that bouncing is not generally going to accomplish anything. So either off camera flash, preferably with a modifier, or fire it right at them and go whatever you get.

dmward wrote in post #11912828
If you have your flash on the camera with the head pointed toward the subject the distance scale on the flash will illustrate the impact HSS has on flash output.

I just gave it a quick check. at 1/200 the distance scale said out to 3 meters. At 1/2000 with HSS the scale read .7 meters as the farthest for good exposure.

So roughly 2 feet out to 9 feet which is just over 4 stops.

That also means that bouncing is not generally going to accomplish anything. So either off camera flash, preferably with a modifier, or fire it right at them and go whatever you get.

Thanks! This is really helpful advice.