Zombies! (second curtain flash questions)

Hi,

There is a Zombie walk tonight, and I'm going to go shoot it.

The "Zombies" will shamble up LV Boulevard, and then back down, confusing tourists along the way...

I've shot this is the past, with an on-camera flash. The results were an illuminated subject, and a dark background.

This time around, I'd like to get a bit more of the background visible in the shot.

I'll be using a 5dm3, 24-105 f4, and a 580EX (not a II)

As I understand it, I can expose for the background (arbitrarily, let's say 1/15 / f4 / ISO 1600) and if the flash/camera is set to second curtain, the initial opening of the shutter will expose the background, and then the firing of the flash will illuminate (and stop action) for the subject (zombie)
Is this correct?

However, I'm hand-holding the camera, and I don't want a lot of motion blur on the background, so I'm considering upping the ISO quite a bit (to see what the 5KMIII can do noise-wise)
and to get some hand-holdable shutter speeds that won't blur the background...

Should there be any specific settings on the flash to use high ISO's on the camera?

What recommendations can you make for flash settings? ETTL?

lastly, I'm thinking that it's going to be rather dark, does the 5dm3 / 580EX combo still allow for the focus assist firing from the flash unit? (Planning on using AI servo for focus mode)

Any tips, hints or suggestions appreciated!

thanks!

BTW

also, would there be any benefits in using Auto ISO in this situation?

thx

You asked a lot of specifics which others may chime in on but......

I always seperate the two lighting aspects in my approach.

1) Use the camera settings for background exposure.

2) Let your flash control subject exposure.

Just as you described: Raise your ISO, lower your Shutter Speed and use a wide Aperture. That will allow you to expose the background as desired or as best you can. Then set the flash to ettl mode and it will expose your subject.

I typically use "manual" mode with fixed settings, even for ISO. Auto ISO only works up to ISO 400 on my camera which isn't sufficient for night time or otherwise dim lighting. Also, the camera won't always get it right whereas you can adjust fixed settings as needed.

If the ambient lighting will vary greatly, then I will often operate in "TV" mode. That allows the camera to adjust Aperature in helping avoid any blown out (overexposed) shots....

Good luck

billinvegas wrote in post #15176124
... lastly, I'm thinking that it's going to be rather dark, does the 5dm3 / 580EX combo still allow for the focus assist firing from the flash unit? (Planning on using AI servo for focus mode)

My understanding is AI servo and the focus assist lamp aren't compatible. Got to be in one shot to get the help.

oldvultureface wrote in post #15176167
My understanding is AI servo and the focus assist lamp aren't compatible. Got to be in one shot to get the help.

That's half correct, or otherwise on my flashes and 40d.

The focus assist lamp doesn't work in AL Servo mode. It does however work in both Al Focus as well as One Shot mode.

Ralph

billinvegas wrote in post #15176124
...As I understand it, I can expose for the background (arbitrarily, let's say 1/15 / f4 / ISO 1600) and if the flash/camera is set to second curtain, the initial opening of the shutter will expose the background, and then the firing of the flash will illuminate (and stop action) for the subject (zombie)
Is this correct?...

Second curtain flash is used for showing movement behind the subject, it will not help for exposing the background.

to expose background u will need to use low shutter speed i think u'd better expose the camera for the background and let the flash light the foreground which are zombies and since this is outdoor u might use a softbox over the flash

Great timing on the thread Bill, I am trying the same thing tonight, but only down on Fremont Street. Played around last night a little and ended up as most are suggesting, high ISO, slow shutter speed, and adjusting aperture for the on-camera flash (left the 580ex-II back at sis-in-laws condo argh! ) Going to try with the good flash tonight, adjusting the aperture to expose for the background and adjusting the flash power for the subject exposure. Would like to see some pics of yours when you get them done. Good Luck!!

DavidR wrote in post #15176552
Second curtain flash is used for showing movement behind the subject ...

Precisely. If the zombies are moving toward him, he doesn't want ghosting (pun intended) in front of the subjects.

So, am I understanding correctly, would 1st curtain be more appropriate in this situation?

Please don't get bitten by the zombies OP

Doesn't matter, either will do what you want.

billinvegas wrote in post #15176767
So, am I understanding correctly, would 1st curtain be more appropriate in this situation?

To me, your initial setup is correct, i.e., second curtain. If the creatures are moving diagonally toward you and you have set a shutter speed to include some ambient, the ghosting would leave a trail behind the subject. Shooting first curtain, the ghosting would appear as a streak in front of the subject, probably not what you would want.

How did this work out for you? I also attended the zombie walk and had a difficult time with focus especially. I was shooting with a 60D, Sigma 17-70mm 2.8OS, and a 430EXII. I had settings very similar to yours and was using AI Servo. Some of the shots I got were decent, but nothing particularly wow worthy unless they were standing still.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this thread, had to cover for a vacationing co-worker.

The post-mortem (pun intended) of the Zombie walk shoot.

The zombies' plan was to walk north on Las Vegas Blvd, cross over at the Cosmopolitan,
and then head south on LVB.
My initial plan was to wait, and shoot them on their return trip. Things didn't work out quite that way, so I shot on the northbound portion of the walk. The background(s) would have been better on the east side of the strip, and farther up, just didn't work that way.

Started out intending on using one shot for focus, test shots of pedestrians walking indicated this wasn't going to work well (fast pace, subject out of focus area quickly)
so I decided to see how AI servo would work.

Flash - had diffusion material on the 580EX (diffusion gel, rubber-banded around the head of the flash) test shots just looked "muddy" to me, so I decided to use bounce card instead. Second curtain

Can't remember the exact shutter / f-stop offhand (can check exif later) I seem to think that it was around 1/30 @ f4 - 4.5 - 5 or so, ISO set to Auto - this seemed to be a decent exposure on the background.

AI servo was the correct choice, Zombies didn't exactly "shuffle" along the strip, they were walking at a rather fast pace. AI servo seemed to work well, but didn't quite work on some shots. When they were OOF they were REALLY OOF!

The flash seemed to do it's job at stopping the action. (this was my first attempt to use these settings)

I don't know if it's allowed to post a link to a Facebook album on here, if not,
moderators - please message me and I will edit the post.

Here's a link to the photos I put on my Facebook profile. Privacy is set to public, so you should be able to view them. If not, let me know and I will make other arrangements to view them.

thanks for all the hints, tips, and suggestions!


https://www.facebook.c​om …60299&type=1&l=​b8ea7ba61f