The more I learn the dumber I feel.

Ok so I was reading the "Bible" tonight, I was confused by the motion blur, because I was under the assuption that flash photo's weren't affected by Shutter speed. But if I interpreted the "Bible" correctly, the fact that I was shooting in Av means that I meatured for the ambient light, and the camera will set the shutter speed for low light as it would without the flash. (just adding fill) is that correct? So when it is darkish, I should switch to P? (or M when I've read the "Bible" a little more thoroughly)

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Read this thread, about the concept of light from flash and its motion stopping, vs. light from ambient and its inability to stop motion when the shutter speed is slow

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=4925148#p​ost4925148

This shot was taken at 1/125, so motion blur shouldn't really be an issue I don't think.

What you are saying about Av mode sounds right though - that threw me off for a long time when I first started playing with my 30D. Very frustrating...

You're right, I hadn't look at the exif, 1/125 shouldn't be causing motion blur... what's the deal? Why does all this seem to be getting harder???? It makes me want to cry.

If it is not motion blur, because the photo was taken at 1/125, then the other reason could merely be poor focus!

The hands have motion blur, the face is out of focus. Use M mode and pick your own shutter speed and aperture settings, if you're using flash.

With the subject clapping his hands, 1/125 won't stop the motion blur if there is enough light to make an exposure. I'll second the M mode comment. It isn't that hard to do and will let you freeze motion. Just set the exposure so it is under exposing the ambient light. Keep the flash on ETTL and fire away.

I have not read through this thread but I can relate to the title of it.

Federkeil wrote in post #4959668
Ok so I was reading the "Bible" tonight,

Which Bible is that? Sounds like one I need to get if I don't already have it.

Seen ours?
** IMPORTANT LINKS: EOS Flash **

PhotosGuy wrote in post #4963905
Seen ours?
** IMPORTANT LINKS: EOS Flash **

I hadn't seen that yet. Looks quite comprehensive.

125 is NOT fast enough to stop motion blur. In fact, I've successfully (accidentally) induced hand-held blur into photos shot at 1/250 sec with an 85 mm lens. It all depends on how smooth you are.

It looks to me like the face is OOF and the hands (which are focused) are blurred due to the child's clapping motion.

Flash exposure with the Canon stuff is really frustrating until you learn the secret. You have to manually force your ambient exposure to be weaker than your flash exposure if you want the flash to dominate. You can do that in M mode, or you can dial in an exposure comp (-1 to -2) in Av mode.

Ok, so when I set to M, I decide if speed or DOF is more important, and I set that, then adjust the opposite to one stop under "correctly exposed" in my viewfinder? Will that work? I'm afraid I'm getting more confused not less. If I could just get my kids to just sit still at the park I would get much better pictures!

The motion blur is caused by too much ambient light was recorded. Lower the iso to 100, set the Tv to max sync speed of 1/250, watch the LED meter in manual mode--if it's all the way to the left and blinking, then it's safe to say flash will freeze the motion with the aperture you choose.