Post your best flash/ambient balance pics...

Are we going to accept critiques?

windpig wrote in post #15396862
Are we going to accept critiques?

My vote would be yes considering that there is very little detail being provided with most of the images so so far.

Constructive of course.

doidinho wrote in post #15396952
My vote would be yes considering that there is very little detail being provided with most of the images so so far.

Constructive of course.

I agree. I'm always interested in hearing how other photographers think I can improve my images or techniques.

Well, how about we give it a while and let those that have posted chime in in that regard and then those that agree get constructive criticism and/or observations on their posted image/images. Those that want the critic should also take the time to critic those of others.

The subject of what this thread is about has been a Holy Grail for me and I've kept images in a folder called ambient-flash for a couple of years to look at and figure how and why good ones work and bad ones don't (I've saved both).

Anyway, this is the sort of thing I really appreciate about POTN.

What do you guys think of the balance of this photo? Too much flash?
60in umbrella cam left

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ddbias/82198154​48/

Her face has some shadows that make it appear to be too much flash, but the rest looks balanced with sunlight.

I don't think there is too much flash in the image at all. It does not fit into what I interpreted the theme of the tread to be, but it's still balanced IMO.

Your using the sun as more of an accent light in contrast to the first images you posted where the ambient and flash we working together to be the key light.

In case your wondering, I'm asking myself the following questions when evaluating flash/ambient balance in this thread.

If you were to take away the flash would the image still hold it's own? If the subject would be really dark and in shadows I wouldn't consider it balance in the contect of this thread.

When the flash is added does it add to the feel of the photo and work with the ambient light or is it just covering up undesirable ambient light?

whoty wrote in post #15397045
What do you guys think of the balance of this photo? Too much flash?
60in umbrella cam left

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ddbias/82198154​48/
Trisha and Mark-82L by DBiasphotography, on Flickr

whoty wrote in post #15397045
What do you guys think of the balance of this photo? Too much flash?
60in umbrella cam left

Maybe just a touch. What makes it problematic is that it appears that her forehead is being lit by the sun. Without a lot of fill her face has the potential to go dark relative to the forehead.

Hmmm, interesting comments by Robert 'cause to me it has a flash look to it. It could be that the exposure of his wrist/hand just seem out of balance with with the rest of the two subjects and distinct on axis flash look to me. I'd like to see the image without sharpening and web compression.

windpig wrote in post #15397131
Hmmm, interesting comments by Robert 'cause to me it has a flash look to it. It could be that the exposure of his wrist/hand just seem out of balance with with the rest of the two subjects and distinct on axis flash look to me. I'd like to see the image without sharpening and web compression.

I think we're on the same page. The sun is more of an accent light in the image and the key is the umbrella. Take away the umbrella and there would be relatively little light on the subjects. I think this is in line with your opinion as well?

It's balanced in the aspect of the flash being adjusted to give good subject exposure and the ambient being adjusted to provide proper exposure for the kicker. Not exactly what I understood the theme of the thread to be either, but i thought it was worth mentioning due to the somewhat rocky start of the thread and the subject of the thread being so specific.

Original SOOC converted to JPG a resized for web.

PeyDay17 wrote in post #15396533
I've quoted it before and I'll quote it again... Amazing balance. This is what I have in mind when I think of balance ambient/flash.

Thank you so much, flash/portrait photography in general is something I am still learning so I appreciate the compliments!

How is this one, one of my first shoots with flash. Sun was coming through trees behind her left. 550ex in small softbox on camera left. Park wasn't that good back ground wise but had to make up with what was available.

Okay guys, I'm an anal nitpicker and all this is subjective we can all agree. The unsharpend image looks better without the halos, but with the sun involved, even though it's a highlight, I think it needs a slightly higher ratio, pull the flash power down by 1/3. It's a real nice image, great connection between the two, a winner any day. My attention just gets drawn to the area of the two hands. Anyway I wanted to see if I could imitate a lover ratio in curves for the heck of it. It leaves then to underexposed.

Robert, you and I are on the same page.

Bobby, I think you've simply got an innate ability to put this concept of balanced ambient/flash together.

Okay
have at it.

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