To Flash or Not to Flash, That is the Question:

So I recently got the new 600EX-RT. Nice flash for sure.

I didn't know how to use the 580EXII that well, so of course I needed the new one.

Anyway, without further adieu, here's me using the wrong settings once again, while teaching my dog to head a soccer ball.

1/60th, ISO 100, f2.8

MDJAK wrote in post #14456493
here's me using the wrong settings once again

With action subjects, you'll get ghosting like that unless your flash can overpower ambient by more than about 2 stops.

That's hard to do with one speedlite in bright sun like that. Especially from that far away. And at wide apertures (f/2.8).

If you want a little fill light during daylight, switch to HSS and keep your shutter speed around 1/500" like the second picture.

Shutter speed problem not a flash problem you cant stop motion at 1/60th of a second with or without flash.

Martzart wrote in post #14456887
Shutter speed problem not a flash problem you cant stop motion at 1/60th of a second with or without flash.

Sure you can.

If you adjust your camera to underexpose the ambient, then the flash will freeze the action regardless of the shutter speed.

Martzart wrote in post #14456887
Shutter speed problem not a flash problem you cant stop motion at 1/60th of a second with or without flash.

clarence wrote in post #14456940
Sure you can. If you adjust your camera to underexpose the ambient, then the flash will freeze the action regardless of the shutter speed.

You're both... right.

Using X-sync shutter speed (1/200 - 1/300 on today's DSLRs) will minimize the ambient contribution and minimize motion blur from whatever ambient remains. You want to start there, generally. Then you can decide whether to include some ambient in your shot (by adjusting aperture and ISO).

If you want to include ambient, high speed sync might also be an option, if you can live with the reduced range.

You changed the exposure settings between shots but didn't actually change the exposure. Switching from 1/60th to 1/500th lost you 3 stops which you then gained right back by switching from iso 100 to iso 800. As said above, you typically underexpose a flash shot by a couple of stops. This allows the flash to freeze subject motion at pretty much any shutter speed and optimizes the exposure of your background (were the flash typically has little to no effect).

I normally take a few exposures with out flash and underexpose until I think the background looks best. In your example I would drop exposure until that lime green grass behind your dog turns the color grass is supposed to be, maybe even a click darker. Then kick on your flash and adjust the FEC (or manual flash power) until your subject is properly exposed.

One thing is for sure, don't just use flash to use flash. Know why you need it and how to set it for that given scenario. Easier said than done.

Well all of the above definitely helps. Much thanks.

Martzart wrote in post #14456887
Shutter speed problem not a flash problem you cant stop motion at 1/60th of a second with or without flash.

Here are a few examples of how you can stop motion with flash even with a shutter speed of 1.6 full seconds...
http://www.flickriver.​com …o/sets/72157621​026541191/

Hover over a picture and click on the "i" icon to see the EXIF info (including shutter speed) of each picture.

clarence wrote in post #14458497
Here are a few examples of how you can stop motion with flash even with a shutter speed of 1.6 full seconds...
http://www.flickriver.​com …o/sets/72157621​026541191/

Hover over a picture and click on the "i" icon to see the EXIF info (including shutter speed) of each picture.

None of those images appear to have been captured outdoors while the sun is shining. Eliminating ambient exposure is the key, whether it's done via the camera shutter or a dark environment.

Y'all are picking nits with the wording of Martzart's statement, and I don't think this is helpful to the OP or anyone else trying to capture a jumping dog in the sunshine.

MDJAK wrote in post #14456493
So I recently got the new 600EX-RT. Nice flash for sure.

I didn't know how to use the 580EXII that well, so of course I needed the new one.

Anyway, without further adieu, here's me using the wrong settings once again, while teaching my dog to head a soccer ball.

1/60th, ISO 100, f2.8

your work with the flash has greatly improved i see, good call buying the 600, did Omar steal the 580 ?

MDJAK wrote in post #14458173
Well all of the above definitely helps. Much thanks.

Curtis N wrote in post #14458837
I don't think this is helpful to the OP

Freezing action in a dark environment illustrates how flash exposure can freeze action even with a slow shutter speed.

My initial reply covered the more likely approach for using a speedlite in a bright environment... HSS with a sufficient shutter speed.

No nitpicking intended. I will edit or remove any statement which you find inaccurate or offensive.

FJ LOVE wrote in post #14459357
your work with the flash has greatly improved i see, good call buying the 600, did Omar steal the 580 ?

He borrowed it but never returned it. Watch out for him

Canon has some nice topics (with video) on the 600EX-RT at

https://www.usa.canon.​com …e-600EX-RT-with-Syl-Arena