Use of Flash in Shade

A black reflector wouldn't make people squint...

tim wrote in post #11043184
A black reflector wouldn't make people squint...

I went back and looked at my last run with a reflector and you are right, the shots are a little squinty. Later in the shoot I used it for rim lighting and the squint was gone. Good to know.

I spot meter for the flash, use the flash as fill and crop tight..to heck with the background in an instance like that.

I was told to use flash all the time (430 or 580) when shooting weddings ect as it will help with dark faces and shadows.

I would rather use a reflector to block out harsh light (out of the shot) than to shine the sun in the faces og the subjects.

but , what do i know I am new to this and learning.

Doing something because someone told you to isn't a good reason to do it. Understanding what you're trying to do and using the best tool for the job is the best idea.

Like I probably already said on this thread, reflectors are effective ways to blind people, other than that they're not often much use.

tim wrote in post #11073801
Doing something because someone told you to isn't a good reason to do it. Understanding what you're trying to do and using the best tool for the job is the best idea.

Like I probably already said on this thread, reflectors are effective ways to blind people, other than that they're not often much use.

I was told to as a new guy and at the time the shots looked ok on the lcd but at home a little dark, flash just works well for outside fast paced shooting where you have little time to see if everything is good.

shayneyasinski wrote in post #11075353
I was told to as a new guy and at the time the shots looked ok on the lcd but at home a little dark, flash just works well for outside fast paced shooting where you have little time to see if everything is good.

Do you understand the histogram, exposure compensation, and flash exposure compensation?

Use a tripod and shoot the background exposed properly then move them in and expose for them and layer it in post and mask I don't do this, just posting another suggestion. I had this happen at a wedding 2 weeks ago and I just let the background blow out. It wasn't too bad though and worked in a lot of the shots. Here's one:

http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157624931097775/

Under expose the background by about a stop to a stop and a half. Lock in that exposure, then fill the subject with ETTL flash. It's a nice balance.

tim wrote in post #11076741
Do you understand the histogram, exposure compensation, and flash exposure compensation?

Yes, kind of, No

Best read your camera manual, wikipedia, do a bit of googling, then go try it for yourself. They're all basic concepts that you must understand.

After that you can move onto the color of light, mixing light sources of various directions colors and intensities, diffusion, etc.

images by Paul wrote in post #11077244
Under expose the background by about a stop to a stop and a half. Lock in that exposure, then fill the subject with ETTL flash. It's a nice balance.

I had my weddings (three of them; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) this weekend, all in bright harsh sun. And this is what I found; as much as it's commonly said that you want to meter for the background and fill with flash, I found I was getting a better looking image by underexposing the background just a bit. The pain with ETTL, though, is I always need to chimp and nudge the FEC. But by regularly checking, I came away with pleasant exposures.

The sun (with flash) provides better color in my shots but the shade (also with flash) can be nice too. My only problem with shooting flash in the shade, whether off-or-on-camera, is the foreground and any surrounding foliage tends to get so overexposed. Easily fixed in LR but I'd rather not have to repeat the same Adjustment Brush work in multiple shots (and re-using the settings from previous images isn't really an option, since people tend to move a bit during the formals).

ALSO: I find it ironic that the same acronym can be used for On-Camera-Flash and Off-Camera-Flash

tim wrote in post #11073801
Doing something because someone told you to isn't a good reason to do it. Understanding what you're trying to do and using the best tool for the job is the best idea.

Like I probably already said on this thread, reflectors are effective ways to blind people, other than that they're not often much use.

Not if the reflector is reflecting the light from a strobe or flash. No squinting because the duration of the reflected light is the same as the flash duration. I do agree though, the silver and gold especially are blinding in bright sun.

I expose for the background and use off camera fill flash on the foreground.