Flash photography tips

Hi, do you guys have any tips for flash photography inside a hall?

What mode/settings should i use? manual? shutter speed at 60/ and aparture as wide open as i can?

I will be using a canon 430ex mk2 On my canon 400d

I find it difficult to even pre-think about my flash settings in a location. I always go and take a few tests shots to conclude anything.

But I shoot ETTL, no thoughts on manual.

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manual, shutter speed as slow as you can get away with and not get camera shake, aperture width for creative control (enough DOF to get the job done). Keep in mind the more ambient you let in the more the color conflict between the flash and the ambient will be, so gel if you can. Learn how to bounce if you aren't already.

Glueeater wrote in post #12573184
I find it difficult to even pre-think about my settings in a location. I always go and take a few tests shots to conclude anything.

But I shoot ETTL, no thoughts on manual.

i agree

i wait and look at the surounding before even thinking

How high is the ceiling?
What color is the ceiling?
What is the ambient light like?
How far will you be from your subjects?
Are you shooting individuals/small groups/big groups?

You need to decide (after you get there) whether to use flash to obliterate the ambient or just supplement it. There are creative decisions to be made before you think about camera/flash settings.

if the cieling is high i cant bounce the flash aint it?

When I do flash photography in a dark settings I will set my aperture as large as I can to get the DOF I need but no more. Shutter speed fast enough as well to got the job done. This method works best in M but you will need a few test shots. Remember you can use a bounce card behind your flash and angle it forward a bit if your subject is far away (I would try to avoid a 90 degree angle on my flash though). Work with your ISO to use available light and correct WB in post.

Quality. thanks.

so overal, dont point the flash directly to the person when taking and try and bounce it instead?

jonneymendoza wrote in post #12574607
Quality. thanks.

so overal, dont point the flash directly to the person when taking and try and bounce it instead?

If you can, if not consider using a bounce card, a white card that kicks part (or all) of the light forward. Commercial versions include the rogue flashbender or demb flipit, do a search here for DIY options.

ahh something like this? http://www.themoment2c​herish.com/DIY-Bounce-Card/

Thats not a bad version, but I've seen variations where you can adjust the amount of forward tilt so if you have a high ceiling you and direct more light forward. The one you have is pretty much fixed.

Here is another option, still fixed though http://super.nova.org/​DPR//DIY01/

Keep in mind you can bounce off pretty much anything. I just shot in a room with very high ceilings (I'd say 30+ feet), and I was bouncing off pillars, balloons, and angled walls. You need to play with the swivel and your camera settings to get shots properly. I read this blog for flash technique:
http://neilvn.com/tang​ents/

And his book on on-camera flash.

I do not use diffusers or bounce cards (per the advice of Neil and smorter on this board).

jonneymendoza wrote in post #12574067
if the cieling is high i cant bounce the flash aint it?

I have been known to use bounce flash under 20 foot ceilings. This requires a higher ISO but the improved light quality is worth it if the room is lit with fluorescent or those god-forsaken sodium vapor lights.
This thread might interest you.

I will use one of my business cards behind the flash head for bounce, that works pretty well.