HELP.. fill flash problems

I'm just not sure what to do here.. I would like really like some input please....

On this shot I...
1) Set camera to M
2) Metered for the bright BG f9 1/125
3) Set flash to +1.5 or +2


What should I have metered on and how should I have set my flash... Most of the times when I leave it on "P" the BG goes black.. and in this case we didn't want that...

If anyone can offer any help I sure would be grateful....

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By definition with fill flash I think you've done the right thing by metering for the background, but perhaps +2 FEC is too much. Why not start with 0 FEC, or even -.5? Bit of experimenting, but that's typ values I use.

Not sure I can see anything too wrong with those shots except maybe the FEC is a bit over the top at +1.5 / 2. I think an FEC of +1 would be nearer the mark. Have you tried experimenting with different FEC?


(Sorry Troy, I must have been typing as you posted)

troypiggo wrote in post #5904023
By definition with fill flash I think you've done the right thing by metering for the background, but perhaps +2 FEC is too much. Why not start with 0 FEC, or even -.5? Bit of experimenting, but that's typ values I use.

I think that's where I've been going wrong.. I've just been reading the same thing you told me, but a lot of time when I'm reading this stuff I get lost... so I like to hear it from someone like you that's not writting a tech manual...

Thanks for your input and I'm going to give it a try...

William

What exactly are you unhappy with in the above pictures?

lowcrust wrote in post #5904056
What exactly are you unhappy with in the above pictures?

I posted one of the pictures today in the PEOPLE forum and it was ripped all apart... that's not a bad thing... I need to know what I'm doing wrong.. but no one gave me any ideas.. so I came here for help...

WilliamL wrote in post #5904077
I posted one of the pictures today in the PEOPLE forum and it was ripped all apart...

Here's the thread...
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=535664
and it wasn't ripped apart, it was critiqued. And you need to take that stuff with a grain of salt. It's just opinions.

A few things to keep in mind:
1) These shots have a little too much flash. They're not terrible.
2) +1.5 FEC is generally more than you need for fill.
3) Any automatic metering system, including E-TTL, will be influenced by the luminance of your subject. Her black dress was a factor here, which needs to be accounted for by lowering the FEC.

Curtis N wrote in post #5904155
Here's the thread...
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=535664
and it wasn't ripped apart, it was critiqued. And you need to take that stuff with a grain of salt. It's just opinions.

A few things to keep in mind:
1) These shots have a little too much flash. They're not terrible.
2) +1.5 FEC is generally more than you need for fill.
3) Any automatic metering system, including E-TTL, will be influenced by the luminance of your subject. Her black dress was a factor here, which needs to be accounted for by lowering the FEC.

THNAKS Curtis... I guess I used the wrong term "ripped" ... I was kinda proud of them and so was her Mom ... but I really want to do and be better.. Thanks again.. wm

They look good to me. Like mentioned, start with FEC of 0. Actually using flash is manual mode is lot easier than I thought. Having lightmeter does help in that situation.

BTW - I would have used ISO100 and lower aperture and higher ss.