Basic Flash Technique help

I can't seem to get how shutter speed and aperture affect a photo when an external flash is used. It has mostly been trial and error for me (mostly error though. Haha!). So can anyone please help me with some basics? Thank you! ^^

Shutter controls ambient light and aperture controls flash. So when you want to combine both decide what depth of field you are after and set your aperture, and control the ambient light to let in more or less light with your shutter. Switch on your flash and dial in minus or plus flash compensation till you get what you like.
One thing to look for is your flash sync speed which on most cameras is 1/200sec. You wil not be able to go higher than that if your flash has no HSS.

One other factor is the way you are using your flash.
IS it on camera,off camera, bounced to ceiling, bounced to wall,using reflector?
There are many ways to use your flash so the best way is to shoot,shoot an shoot.

So for your question again. Your shutter speed will control your ambient light and your aperture will control the DOF and the ammont of light that will enter from the lens. I am still a beginner at this too so I hope I gave you some help.

As long as you are below your sync speed, the shutter speed has no effect on flash. This is probably the biggest point to remember. Aperture and ISO affect ambient and flash equally.

So for fill-flash shots, you want to expose for your ambient light (people will often choose to underexpose slightly to let the flash highlight the subject a bit more) and then dial in your flash from there using flash compensation or manual control.

Post some of your 'errors' and you're bound to get some specific suggestions.

maltau571 wrote in post #12562458
So for your question again. Your shutter speed will control your ambient light and your aperture will control the DOF and the ammont of light that will enter from the lens.

Good explanation. I would just add one thing.

Your shutter speed will control your ambient light and your aperture will control the DOF and the amount of light from the flash that will enter from the lens. Flash output is a factor here as well. In TTL the camera will determine correct flash power if you change the aperture (for DOF) and in manual you have to adjust it.

You are getting into a fascinating area of photography. This is a summary of what maltau571 explained.

¨Flash photography’s primary goal is obtaining a pleasing exposure of the subject followed by the background exposure. This does mean that the background is less important. Every flash photograph is two exposures in one – flash exposure and ambient (or background) exposure. Flash photography requires managing both exposures”.

Two exposures in one? Watch the first 3 minutes of this video. It is one of my favourites. Out of all the explanations it really tied everything together for me. It is a Pocket Wizard ad but the animations are very good.

At about 2:30 of the video it will show the first curtain open you get and the ambient exposure. It may not be a great exposure but it is an exposure. Just like shooting without your flash you can increase or decrease that exposure with your shutter speed. Then you will see the flash fire to illuminate subject. There is your second exposure controlled by aperture and flash output power.

Later keep watching this video as it gets into High Speed Sync.

http://www.pocketwizar​d.com …wizard_controlt​l_optimiz/

That PW ad is awesome. Wish I had some extra money to buy such stuff. Thanks for the link mate