How do you deal with fast changing and high paced situations?

Here's the situation: Group event outside; summer with fast moving clouds; some small sunshades. I am there to take some candids.

For my skill level, this is fast paced. People are not willing to pose for more then a second or not at all. So if a good occasion comes up, I need to be ready.

Setting 1: Manual, 1/160, f is adapted to the subject, 100 iso and a flash to fill. This is great if there is not or just enough light. However, if I suddenly have too much light (e.g. cloud disappeared) then the pics are overexposed.

Setting 2: Sacrifying DOF and go Tv (1/160), again with a fill flash.

Setting 3: Risking blur and go Av.

I ended up using setting 2, increasing the number of useful pictures, but loosing some great shots.

How do you deal with this kind of situation?

Manual on the fly, adapt to every situation. Or raise the iso a bit to comfort levels where everything will be on auto pilot, I'd say around 200-400. You probably have a newer camera so I wouldn't worry about noise.

It also depends on the time of day. Is it 3 pm? Then you're fine. But if it's closer to evening hours, you really have to be on point.

Most of all, remain calm! And don't be afraid to ask people to maintain a pose for a few seconds. I shot a wedding where the reception was partially indoors and partially outside under trees at around 7pm in the fall. By then conditions began getting darker so I switched to my prime and went from there. If it had been during the afternoon I would've had an easier time.

outside with fill, Av
I dunno how you can determine you'll risk blur - even a very cloudy day will give you plenty of motion-stopping shutter speed at iso 400 - unless you forgot to tell us this gathering is for a track meet...

SMP_Homer wrote in post #14733901
outside with fill, Av

Ditto

I have also been experimenting with TV mode and im using it more and more in changing light. We all know what shutter speed we need to prevent motion blur.I find myself saying set the shutter at say 1/320 and let the camera do the rest of the work.... it does not miss. You still fill with flash just like in AV..Now if you want to control DOF your screwed but if DOF is not an issue...i was at a reception this weekend with all glass windows on one side, High white ceilings,gold walls with tungsten and fluorescent lighting plus it had clouds floating by changing ambient and trees that blocked light is different areas of the reception venue........pretty messy for lighting. I had better success in TV mode. I was setting the shutter at 1/160- 1/320 and had 1600- 2000 iso and the camera did not miss.

As suggested by others, go Av with fill flash. With a newer camera set your ISO to 320 or 400 and there won't be any motion blur.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #14733901
outside with fill, Av
I dunno how you can determine you'll risk blur - even a very cloudy day will give you plenty of motion-stopping shutter speed at iso 400 - unless you forgot to tell us this gathering is for a track meet...

This. Ever since my camera meter broke I've been on Av with no issues. I like the full control of manual but it's really not needed. Never had an issue with blur.

Lots of experience. You get used to adjusting back and forth.

Thanks for all the help! This is why I love this forum: I was just to dumb think of Av with 400 iso! That indeed opens up a whole new world of flexibility for me. Why are the simplest solutions sometimes the hardest to think of?