Finally took my 580EX outside experimenting with Fill Flash

Well, I finally got out this weekend to shoot a bit and I decided to use my 580EX and explore fill flash a bit. I can't believe I waited this long. I went to a park I go to often and took some shots in places that I know have a lot of trees and shade where I have had trouble getting great exposure across the whole dynamic range. There's one spot near a rock bridge where there are ducks and rocks and typically when I get the duck looking white the water and reflections in the water are dark. There isn't much that I could bounce the flash off so I brought my white bounce card and gave it a try.

I'm very pleased with the results and if I took these same pictures without the flash I would have very dark areas and no highlights in the rocks and water.

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good shots there. so can you notice a big difference from when you went to the same spot without the flash.
its something i haven't done yet with my 430ex. i will need to get out more with the speedlight

jjmucker wrote in post #2384549
good shots there. so can you notice a big difference from when you went to the same spot without the flash.
its something i haven't done yet with my 430ex. i will need to get out more with the speedlight

Huge difference!! The second shot would have very dark rocks normally. Now I understand why many people don't go anywhere without their flash. Even when you don't think you need one it can really help.

how far were you from these ducks. did you just shoot in AV mode and resume normal operation

jjmucker wrote in post #2384566
how far were you from these ducks. did you just shoot in AV mode and resume normal operation

I was about 20 feet away in both shots using my 85mm f/1.8 lens. I find that I hardly ever shoot in Av mode and have really taken a liking to shooting in Manual mode. I like the control it gives me. For those shots I was at 1/250s (max sync speed with flash), F/11, ISO 400, no EC, +1/3 FEC. Using these settings I was able to just focus and shoot without having to make changes and I let the flash do its work.

when you say shooting in manual, do you mean on the actual speedlight or the camera. ive never tried using manual on the speedlight but always shoot in manual with my 350D as i feel more comfortable using this setting now

jjmucker wrote in post #2384683
when you say shooting in manual, do you mean on the actual speedlight or the camera. ive never tried using manual on the speedlight but always shoot in manual with my 350D as i feel more comfortable using this setting now

Sorry I was not clear. Since you were speaking of Av mode and referring to the mode of the camera I was doing the same. I shot those with the camera in Manual but the flash on ETTL.

This is a great post. I brokedown and ordered a 430EX over the weekend for use as fill flash, and to exploit the benefits of bouncing flash. I have always been an "available light" guy, trying to avoid the flash look. After reading this section lately, I know that with proper technique, it isn't so obvious.

Heatseeker99 wrote in post #2384715
This is a great post. I brokedown and ordered a 430EX over the weekend for use as fill flash, and to exploit the benefits of bouncing flash. I have always been an "available light" guy, trying to avoid the flash look. After reading this section lately, I know that with proper technique, it isn't so obvious.

You hit the nail on the head. I've learned that understanding the equipment and some theory has helped me tremendously. I shoot a lot in daylight and it never occured to me to use a flash outside until I started reading and researching and grasping the concept of fill flash. If used correctly the flash is one of the most valuable pieces of gear I own.

thats ok TMR design. i should have realised you were talking about the camera just wanted to be sure

Heatseeker99, you will enjoy your new speedlight. as much as i love available light, sometimes you just need a speedlight, and as you said, using the right technique it will not look obvious at all that you have used flash

Another shot from the same location. If I didn't have the flash the water would not look blue as it does and the rock in the bottom right would be dark with no highlights. The darker rock behind it would appear black with no hightlights whatsoever.

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Just some observations for the benefit of those who are motivated by Robert's photos to try flash fill...

Robert used a 580EX to provide fill at f/11 to subjects 20' away...he was MAX'd out in the power output from that flash! If you use a lesser flash, you will not be able to use fill flash to the same distances. And if you think you can open up the lens to make it easier on the flash, remember that he was at 1/250...so going to higher shutter speed for proper exposure with larger aperture would force the use of HSS, but that causes the flash's light output to drop very precipitously!

So set your expectations accordingly, with lesser output flash units!

Wilt wrote in post #2384784
Just some observations for the benefit of those who are motivated by Robert's photos to try flash fill...

Robert used a 580EX to provide fill at f/11 to subjects 20' away...he was MAX'd out in the power output from that flash! If you use a lesser flash, you will not be able to use fill flash to the same distances. And if you think you can open up the lens to make it easier on the flash, remember that he was at 1/250...so going to higher shutter speed for proper exposure with larger aperture would force the use of HSS, but that causes the flash's light output to drop very preciptously!

So set your expectations accordingly, with lesser output flash units!

Thanks for adding that Wilt. I do take the power of the 580EX for granted. It's quite a flash.

Wilt wrote in post #2384784
So set your expectations accordingly, with lesser output flash units!

obv.

Heatseeker99 wrote in post #2384869
obv.

Obvious only to those who know the 580EX was maxed out. It takes an understanding of Guide Numbers to realize that fact, and with increasing dependence on ETTL tens of thousands have no clue what Guide Number is and how it can be useful!