Guns and Rose???

I just got a 430Ex flash and was playing around with it today, and have read a little bit about it so I just want to get feedback on what i'm doing wrong with these photos, no PP has been done.

The fake Gun << click for bigger version
I bounced the flash of a white ceiling above, but the far side of the metal slide seems to have come out white instead of black. When I tried take this with the flash pointing forward the markings on the side are near impossible to see as they are just carved out of the metal and not very deep. I guess it would be easier with 2 flashes but for the moment this is the best I could do.

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I think it would be better if you were shooting the rose with the gun.

I tried to check the exif of the shots, but, it's non-existant. Would you mind posting the settings on the cam., and how much flash output you used? That might help.

Also, are you using E-TTL or Manual flash mode?

inthedeck wrote in post #6007937
I tried to check the exif of the shots, but, it's non-existant. Would you mind posting the settings on the cam., and how much flash output you used? That might help.

Also, are you using E-TTL or Manual flash mode?

If it helps sure. It was on E-TTL mode

Exif for the gun shot

File name IMG_2556.CR2
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Firmware Firmware 1.1.1
Shooting Date/Time 29/07/2008 14:55:07
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/80Sec.
Av(Aperture Value) F5.0
Metering Modes Evaluative metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Lens EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal Length 43.0 mm
Image size 3888 x 2592
Image Quality RAW
Flash On
White Balance Auto
AF mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style Standard
Parameters Tone Curve : Standard
Sharpness level : -
Pattern Sharpness : -
Contrast : 0
Sharpness : 3
Color saturation : 0
Color tone : 0
Long exposure noise reduction : -
High ISO speed noise reduction : -
Highlight tone priority : -

Exif for the flower shot
File name IMG_2561.CR2
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Firmware Firmware 1.1.1
Shooting Date/Time 29/07/2008 15:02:53
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/160Sec.
Av(Aperture Value) F11
Metering Modes Evaluative metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 100
Lens EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Focal Length 55.0 mm
Image size 3888 x 2592
Image Quality RAW
Flash On
White Balance Auto
AF mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style Standard
Parameters
Tone Curve : Standard
Sharpness level : -
Pattern Sharpness : -
Contrast : 0
Sharpness : 3
Color saturation : 0
Color tone : 0
Long exposure noise reduction : -
High ISO speed noise reduction : -
Highlight tone priority : -

You specified "fake", is that airsoft? Sure looks like a real 18.... a pistol I would LOVE to own.

Vetteography wrote in post #6008022
You specified "fake", is that airsoft? Sure looks like a real 18.... a pistol I would LOVE to own.

Yea its an airsoft one, not a bad likeness and its proper automatic which is unusual for a gas powered airsoft gun.

For the rose, being at 1/160s with f5.6, at 55mm, that will produce underexposed images, as you see. Try going to 1/100 or 1/80th, at the same settings. See if it's not better.

For the gun...try dialing down the ISO to 800 or 1000 (if that's possible with your cam). See if that makes it any better...of course, you'd have to keep the 'other' variables the same. I.e. room light, time of day, etc.

All I can suggest is to continue reading the manual, and taking test shots, with diff. settings dialed in. Keep 'track' of the settings, and eventually, you'll get the hang of it. It'll also cause you to think about the shots you are taking.

Last but not least...you 'might' want to consider a light meter, if you are going heavy duty into flash photography. It'll help, better than the in-cam meter, most of the time.

Ah... a "proper automatic", suggests to me that you are probably a Brit, which means it is unlikely you will ever get the chance to fire a real one.... sorry, man.

If I am correct in my assumption, you need to come over here and hit up a Machine Gun shoot like the one Knob Creek puts on... most fun you can have with your pants on. I got to fire all the fun guns (and I don't mean military, I did plenty of that during my 10 years) but Tommy Guns, Glocks, Uzis and even a Bren!

If I am incorrect, then disregard everything except for how fun it can be...

inthedeck wrote in post #6008064
For the rose, being at 1/160s with f5.6, at 55mm, that will produce underexposed images, as you see. Try going to 1/100 or 1/80th, at the same settings. See if it's not better.

For the gun...try dialing down the ISO to 800 or 1000 (if that's possible with your cam). See if that makes it any better...of course, you'd have to keep the 'other' variables the same. I.e. room light, time of day, etc.
.

So what I'm getting from that is you think the gun is overexposed, and the flower is underexposed, damn I thought they were nearly spot on.

I can do ISO 800 but i don't have in-between iso's on the 400d.

PS, I'm not a brit, their just the neighbors!

The gun seems to be exposed well...though, the table is a little 'hot' and the shiny lacquer causes light to be re-bounced (if that makes sense).

The flower, though, is underexposed, and has harsh shadows, due to direct flash.

That's just my take on it.

inthedeck wrote in post #6008162
The gun seems to be exposed well...though, the table is a little 'hot' and the shiny lacquer causes light to be re-bounced (if that makes sense).

The flower, though, is underexposed, and has harsh shadows, due to direct flash.

That's just my take on it.

Yea it makes sense. The table is tricky because its not lacquer its 5mm of glass which is why you can see the reflection of the gun in it. Might have another go at that shot in the next couple of days. Maybe I'll try to bounce of something to the side instead so that the whole table won't reflect the ceiling bounce. Hopefully the detail on the gun will still be good.

Just dial down the flash power...if you can. Or use FEC = -1 or -2.

I found this one from the same session, i had to change the viewing angle to get it all in frame and i think i pushed the flash even futher back, seems to be a better shot for exposure, i just didn't like how the front looked to be floating on the glass.

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