Exposure lock tips?

[Vtec44]

If I lock the exposure of the sky to get it perfectly exposed, the subject will be under exposed. Is there any tips/tricks to quickly measure how much flash I need to properly expose the subject? Link to reading materials or book suggestions for this particular lighting technique is appreciated.

TIA.

 

[SabrinaO]

Good question! I would like to know this too if there is a certain way to do this....but I think you just have to chimp. Choose a power output, take the picture and check it in camera. If the flash is too much, or too little, adjust and shoot and check again.

 

[Vtec44]

Good question! I would like to know this too if there is a certain way to do this....but I think you just have to chimp. Choose a power output, take the picture and check it in camera. If the flash is too much, or too little, adjust and shoot and check again.

That's what I've been doing and just check the histogram after.

 

[joealcantar]

This is where the light meter comes in handy to meter off camera flash. This read may clear up the mud:
Flash 101 (Fill Flash In Use) | The Wonder Of Light
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Shoot well, Joe

 

[Vtec44]

This is where the light meter comes in handy to meter off camera flash. This read may clear up the mud:
Flash 101 (Fill Flash In Use) | The Wonder Of Light
-
Shoot well, Joe

Great read!! Thanks.

 

[Kbarredo]

Light meter is the quickest way to do it. They cost around 300$ though.

 

[Vtec44]

I tested the technique on my coworker on the 2nd floor in the middle of the day. The off camera flash was held by me while taking the picture. The short lighting came out pretty nice although I wish I had enough light to brighten his hair. I still need to fine tune the technique but I'm satisfied with the test. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Patrice]

The photo of your co-worker is not bad. You can soften that light a little bit with a small soft box or even bounce off a piece of white kraft foam tied to your flash.

Here is simplistic way that can work when you are in a pinch.

Meter where you want to nail the exposure and lock it in. Recompose and focus. Set your sb-XXX to TTL. Take a photo. Dial in + or - flash comp and there you are. Should be good to go for a few until the light or setup changes. Works well with aperture priority.

You can also play with your flash on TTLBL. Practice until you can set your camera on first try. After a decade or two you'll be able to set exposure bang on every time, and in manual mode no less - no chimping, no histogram. (Really, ask all the great pros from the past. You might need a medium though.)

The internet has lots of tutorials on flash photography from pros and kids alike.

 

[Vtec44]

I ended up locking the exposure on the background, then used matrix metering and TTL BL to fill flash. Although, I should have used a smaller fstop. The good thing is that I have 300 coworkers.