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View Full Version : Learned something new

kygarden
Apr-04-2006, 03:42 PM
For me anyway. I always avoided shooting into the sun...but NOW I love it! I never took the time to fool with balanced fill flash...but today I did and I love the results. Pictures really come alive with the sun lighting the back of the subject.

This isn't a masterpiece, but it shows the effect I think.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/63006978-L.jpg


And here's a better example. I took these today.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/63008946-L.jpg
John Mueller
Apr-04-2006, 04:47 PM
Isnt it great when you learn a new trick and it comes together.
Nice going:thumb
kygarden
Apr-04-2006, 05:47 PM
Isnt it great when you learn a new trick and it comes together.
Nice going:thumb

Yep :) I think the reason I never messed with fill flash is because I didn't want to drag out the SB600 flash and worry about recharging batteries for it, etc. I recently bought a 15 minnute charger with 2400 mAh batteries and that helps a lot!
pathfinder
Apr-04-2006, 07:54 PM
With film and non-automated cameras and flashes, fill flash was really hard to do.

But today, with modern DSLRs and their companion flashes, it is as easy as selecting ETTL and Av mode, at least on the Canon side of the aisle.

I agree - I like and use fill flash frequently in sunlight also. Nice point to emphasize and your pictures do it well.
Lyle C
Apr-05-2006, 04:17 PM
Nice shots, esecially the top one. Looks like I need to start pulling my flash out more often!
Angelo
Apr-05-2006, 06:58 PM
that first shot is a winner :thumb

fill flash technique is good but you have to be careful... too much back light will give a halo effect that makes the subject look like a bad paste job.
ziggy53
Apr-05-2006, 10:05 PM
With film and non-automated cameras and flashes, fill flash was really hard to do.

But today, with modern DSLRs and their companion flashes, it is as easy as selecting ETTL and Av mode, at least on the Canon side of the aisle.

I agree - I like and use fill flash frequently in sunlight also. Nice point to emphasize and your pictures do it well.

It's just iTTL for Nikon folks, and many think it works a little differently, and better, than the Canon implementation. I can testify that Canon E-TTL can get fooled on center-weighted cameras, but true spot-mode capable cameras are supposed to work better.

Both technologies are better than TTL or auto-mode flash, especially when time is-a-wastin'.

ziggy53
kygarden
Apr-06-2006, 06:08 AM
I was in matrix/multi-pattern metering mode for these shots. I rarely switch off from matrix metering unless I'm having a hard time getting a shot to look how I want it. I also had the flash dialed down -0.7 and the flash unit (SB600) in balanced fill mode. I've been walking around the yard the last few days using the setup (whether there was backlighting or not) and I'm liking the results :) No difuser on the flash unit either.