Comments on: Directional light from your on-camera flash … http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/ various writings on photography, whether techniques, ideas, equipment info, or just rants. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:21:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-1345 Neil Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:54:45 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-1345 <blockquote>Hi there Marleny .... The actual settings aren't that critical, since the TTL flash technology (with a little nudging via flash exposure compensation), takes care of the exposure. And if the available light levels are a fair amount below the flash exposure, then you have a lot of headroom to play with your settings. In other words, whether I had chosen 1/125th @ f4 ... or 1/160th @ f5 isn't of much relevance if the ambient light is 2 or more stops below that. In the examples above, my camera was set to 500 ISO. But again, this could've been anywhere from 400 to 800 ISO. It doesn't matter as much as most people would think. I didn't meter for the bride. I just took a test shot to see that I do get some detail of the outside ... and then I just used TTL flash to expose for everything inside the room, and in particular the bride. And again, I didn't meter for the bride. Look again at the two side-by-side shots where I don't have flash in the right-hand image. I didn't meter for the bride. I wanted the interior and the bride to be much darker than the background (the out-of-focus areas outside the window.) If I had metered for her, then the background would've blown out completely. And that would've been fine too .. but would've looked very different from the examples here. Neil vN</blockquote>

Hi there Marleny ….

The actual settings aren’t that critical, since the TTL flash technology (with a little nudging via flash exposure compensation), takes care of the exposure. And if the available light levels are a fair amount below the flash exposure, then you have a lot of headroom to play with your settings.

In other words, whether I had chosen 1/125th @ f4 … or 1/160th @ f5 isn’t of much relevance if the ambient light is 2 or more stops below that.

In the examples above, my camera was set to 500 ISO.
But again, this could’ve been anywhere from 400 to 800 ISO.
It doesn’t matter as much as most people would think.

I didn’t meter for the bride. I just took a test shot to see that I do get some detail of the outside … and then I just used TTL flash to expose for everything inside the room, and in particular the bride.

And again, I didn’t meter for the bride. Look again at the two side-by-side shots where I don’t have flash in the right-hand image. I didn’t meter for the bride. I wanted the interior and the bride to be much darker than the background (the out-of-focus areas outside the window.)

If I had metered for her, then the background would’ve blown out completely. And that would’ve been fine too .. but would’ve looked very different from the examples here.

Neil vN

]]> By: Marleny http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-1335 Marleny Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:11:08 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-1335 What were your settings for these shots?? I'm assuming that your ISO must have been pretty high, and the aperture somewhat wide open...was the SHutter speed close to your Flash Synch speed since the background was so bright?? Just wondering if you metered for the bride?? or out the window?? If you metered for the bride in the low light situation, wouldn't your background be blown out? Yet it remains so beautifully intact...thanks in advance. I'm learning so much from reading and re-reading all the info that you post. What were your settings for these shots?? I’m assuming that your ISO must have been pretty high, and the aperture somewhat wide open…was the SHutter speed close to your Flash Synch speed since the background was so bright?? Just wondering if you metered for the bride?? or out the window?? If you metered for the bride in the low light situation, wouldn’t your background be blown out? Yet it remains so beautifully intact…thanks in advance. I’m learning so much from reading and re-reading all the info that you post.

]]> By: Denise Snyder http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-792 Denise Snyder Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:42:06 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-792 Just wanted to THANK YOU for this blog - it has taught me more than any other resource on lighting. I love my speedlight now that you have shown me how to use it properly. Just wanted to THANK YOU for this blog - it has taught me more than any other resource on lighting. I love my speedlight now that you have shown me how to use it properly.

]]> By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-880 Neil Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:23:30 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-880 <blockquote>Jakob ... There will automatically be catchlights when using the on-camera flash like this. Since we're approximating the idea of a studio softbox in where we want our light to come from, we'll get similar catch-lights. It has everything to do with the direction of our light-source. When you think about it, it just has to make sense that there will be catchlights. I hope it makes sense. It might just be one of those things that you need to try and out see for yourself that the result is repeatable. Neil.</blockquote>

Jakob …

There will automatically be catchlights when using the on-camera flash like this. Since we’re approximating the idea of a studio softbox in where we want our light to come from, we’ll get similar catch-lights.

It has everything to do with the direction of our light-source.

When you think about it, it just has to make sense that there will be catchlights.

I hope it makes sense.
It might just be one of those things that you need to try and out see for yourself that the result is repeatable.

Neil.

]]> By: Jakob Swartz http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-725 Jakob Swartz Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:27:02 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-725 Hi Neil, I must echo what so many others have said before me: A great thanks for giving this easy to understand tutorial of how to use on-camera flash. After spending some days on the strobist blog, I thought I would need to invest in off-camera lights for great shots. Your site has convinced me that I can learn so much more with on-camera falsh still. Thanks for your time. One question on this post. You bounce the flash up to the behind left of the bride, shielding with your hand so there should be direct light falling on the bride. However, I notive very nice catchlights in her eyes. How did you achieve these catchlights if there is no direct light reching the subject? Cheers, Jakob Uganda Hi Neil,
I must echo what so many others have said before me: A great thanks for giving this easy to understand tutorial of how to use on-camera flash. After spending some days on the strobist blog, I thought I would need to invest in off-camera lights for great shots. Your site has convinced me that I can learn so much more with on-camera falsh still. Thanks for your time.
One question on this post. You bounce the flash up to the behind left of the bride, shielding with your hand so there should be direct light falling on the bride. However, I notive very nice catchlights in her eyes. How did you achieve these catchlights if there is no direct light reching the subject?
Cheers,

Jakob
Uganda

]]> By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-605 Neil Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:23:14 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-605 <blockquote>Hi there Andre and Dedrei .. Thank you for the kind compliments. :) Always feels good to hear that the webpages are of such help. Neil</blockquote>

Hi there Andre and Dedrei ..

Thank you for the kind compliments. :)
Always feels good to hear that the webpages are of such help.

Neil

]]> By: Dedrei http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-603 Dedrei Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:19:52 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-603 WOW, your blog is just amazing. Love it. Love it. Love it! So much easier to understand than some of the popular other blogs. More pics and easy to understand. Good on you for sharing your knowledge! Please let me know if you are planning anything for Australia. Cheers Dedrei Cairns, Aus WOW, your blog is just amazing. Love it. Love it. Love it!

So much easier to understand than some of the popular other blogs. More pics and easy to understand.

Good on you for sharing your knowledge!

Please let me know if you are planning anything for Australia.

Cheers
Dedrei
Cairns, Aus

]]> By: David http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-523 David Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:28:43 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-523 I stumbled upon your site yesterday and I have to echo the laudatory comments of previous posters. You are the man! I'm just getting into flash and I've already learned so much from your excellent tutorials which are comprehensible and encouraging. Simply brilliant. You are clearly a gifted teacher and if you come to the UK, I'll be there! I stumbled upon your site yesterday and I have to echo the laudatory comments of previous posters. You are the man! I’m just getting into flash and I’ve already learned so much from your excellent tutorials which are comprehensible and encouraging. Simply brilliant. You are clearly a gifted teacher and if you come to the UK, I’ll be there!

]]> By: Neil http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-566 Neil Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:57:09 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-566 <blockquote>Hi there Wei ... The reason why I use a black card to flag my light (or to specifically direct my light), is because in most cases I would rather not throw any light forward. A white bounce card would've done that. I'll add a more in-depth explanation in the next week or so. Keep checking back. Neil.</blockquote>

Hi there Wei …

The reason why I use a black card to flag my light (or to specifically direct my light), is because in most cases I would rather not throw any light forward. A white bounce card would’ve done that.

I’ll add a more in-depth explanation in the next week or so.
Keep checking back.

Neil.

]]> By: Wei http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-479 Wei Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:54:17 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/10/25/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash/#comment-479 Hi Neil..first of all, just like others i'd like to say a big thank you for your website. After searching for other a-like websites to properly understand a good technique of flash photography, yours has to be on top! I have a quick question and am not sure if I have missed it whilst reading through your pages. With your bounce card, I have noticed that yours is black. Are there any advantages of using black over white? Thanks! PS: Let me know if you ever stop by Australia! :) Hi Neil..first of all, just like others i’d like to say a big thank you for your website. After searching for other a-like websites to properly understand a good technique of flash photography, yours has to be on top! I have a quick question and am not sure if I have missed it whilst reading through your pages. With your bounce card, I have noticed that yours is black. Are there any advantages of using black over white? Thanks!

PS: Let me know if you ever stop by Australia! :)

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