How did that ambient sneak in there?!

So I was doing some lighting trials and (lots) of errors last night when I came across something I couldnt explain. I had the ambient light completely killed. I was at F11 and 1/200th of a second at iso 100. When I take a frame like this with no flash there is ZERO light in the picture. When I add flash, however, the color of the ambient light is affecting the image. I was doing a portrait and you could see the orange tungsten glow of the light above the subject showing up on the subjects hair.

So why is this? I know that two speed lights will make more light than one, so does adding a speedlight to ambient light also make that ambient light brighter? (I hope that makes sense to someone aside from me)

Flash is Flash
Ambient is Ambient

Your flash probably spilled somewhere. post up pictures so we can help you more.

What did you have your white balance set for? Is the entire frame somewhat off? Other than that as k.CHU suggested you might be getting a reflection from somewhere.

Also, flash brands/models, and their power settings.

KChu - Thats what I thought too, thats why I was so confused. There is obviously a point where they mix though.

ueb - White balance was set for flash but regardless of what I choose, there is a definite contracting cast where the ambient would be the strongest (right below a recessed light)

CiM - I was using a 580EXii for main light and a yn560 for a rim.

Ill post a pic when I get home. Its real job work time right now.

Is it possible the 580 and the YN560 are balance differently? Is it possible that they don't have the same coloration at varying outputs?

If the ceiling (or light fixture) was being illuminated by the flash, it's possible that it was reflecting a different color because of their surface colors.

The flash isn't going to change the ambient. Could be light getting bounced off something giving the illusion. An image would really help.

CIM - The reflection would be the only thing I can think of, good suggestion!

Ill get you a picture in a few hours

Anyway, if you can add two flashes and get brighter light, how is it that you cant add ambient and flash and get brighter light?

By setting the camera to knock out ambient (i.e. total blackness without flash) you are thereby setting the "threshold" of the exposure. If you fire your flash below that treshold, you won't see much difference. By firing your flash above that threshold, you allow the subject to exposure properly.

The key here is to keep ambient under control. You'll always have a degree** of ambient light in your exposure, you just need to make sure it doesn't interfere.

** Anywhere from immesureable to overpowering. If you see total black without flash, then your ambient will not play a major role in color balance (unless you're shooting into a light fixture......).

Thanks CiM. Makes sense.

Ok. Here is the shot. See the orangeish tungstent tint on the top of the hair? Its obviously a different tint than the two flashes. The ambient is almost 4 stops underexposed so I dont feel like it should be showing up.

Looking at that image I honestly don't see the orange cast. It looks as if his hair might have a natural red hue to it because I see the same tint all the way through, including his sideburns.

LoL It doesnt, its lots of grey and dark brown (and for ribbing purposes, more grey than brown now adays)

Maybe Im just being over critical then. Thanks photomatte.

Agree with PM.. Unless his hair is jet black, thats his hair color.

Have you corrected the white balance at all?