How Am I Doing With My Flash?

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

Yesterday was my birthay (insert small cheer) so my fella got me the SB-600 and I just plowed on in with it. Was wondering how you guys think I'm doing. Have I got a grasp of how it's working or am i underexposing stuff in an unflattering way?

This was my first shot, i just pointed the flash straight at him

Then i decided to tilt the flash at the ceiliiiing...

But then i started to notice that the flash was bouncing off the ceiling and onto the wall behind my subject....

So i pointed the flash up another 25degrees toward the ceiling - was that the right thing to have done?

MohaimenK · Dec 10, 2010

...bad

- don't point the flash AT HIM
- either get a diffuser or w/out diffuser and bounce light off wall on ur right or behind you.
- you bounced the light in the ceiling and it wasn't enough power so the pic looks underexposed so raise the power for flash to throw more light since it's bouncing through ceiling and becoming a diffuser.

puyjapin · Dec 10, 2010

could be worth getting a cheap stand and brolly and bouncing the flast from or thru that, maybe some outdoor stuff as well,
the background is too cluttered for these ones but then you only just got it and it was ur birthday!

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

MohaimenK said:
...bad

- don't point the flash AT HIM
- either get a diffuser or w/out diffuser and bounce light off wall on ur right or behind you.
- you bounced the light in the ceiling and it wasn't enough power so the pic looks underexposed so raise the power for flash to throw more light since it's bouncing through ceiling and becoming a diffuser.

i pointed it at him to see the difference i was about to make by not pointing it at him, since ive never used handheld flash properly before.
im still tryna figure all this out - i dont understand how to change the power on the flash at the mo but thanks for the tips, ill keep trying!

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

puyjapin said:
could be worth getting a cheap stand and brolly and bouncing the flast from or thru that, maybe some outdoor stuff as well,
the background is too cluttered for these ones but then you only just got it and it was ur birthday!

oh yeh take no notice of the shots, theyre just snapshots in my excitement lol. my next stop is a better tripod, ive got a few brollys to hand and reflectors so ill keep playin around!

puyjapin · Dec 10, 2010

you wont really need a tripod to put the camera on for portrait type shots.

flyingember · Dec 10, 2010

my thing these days is bouncing with a diffuser on it.
some light is directed at the subject but most is bounced

with flash it's all about what you want out of the photo. notice how in the first shot his whole face is lit but the couch isn't and in the second you have shadowing but the whole environment is better lit and it feels warmer and more inviting. the shadow may be acceptable for this

in the last two look at the shadowing. one has definite benefits for whole room lighting

Robin Usagani · Dec 10, 2010

If you use the flash in auto mode, it should adjust the power automatically.

But anyway, the 2nd pic looks like the flash is enough. You are just underexposed a bit.

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

thanks guys - yes its on auto at the moment, this is some great help to get me started!

Derrel · Dec 10, 2010

Happy Birthday! A fella that'll buy a girl an SB 600 can't be all bad! Looks like some practicing with it will be helpful.

Robin Usagani · Dec 10, 2010

when you are in a small room, the angle to the ceiling isnt as critical. The flash will bounce all over the place (ceiling, tile, walls etc.). As long as you dont point it to the subject and the flash in auto mode, it will be good most of the time.

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

Schwettylens said:
when you are in a small room, the angle to the ceiling isnt as critical. The flash will bounce all over the place (ceiling, tile, walls etc.). As long as you dont point it to the subject and the flash in auto mode, it will be good most of the time.

so, it works best IN auto mode most of the time? or do you mean dont have it in auto n it'll be good?

lol Derrel, he has to butter me up coz he's such a nuisance the resta the time leavin his dirty socks n dishes everywhere!!

Robin Usagani · Dec 10, 2010

just leave your flash on auto (TTL). If you think the flash is too harsh, lower the FEC. If it is too low, higher the FEC. Thats the easy way

. It will adjust the power automatically even if the flash is pointing up because it is metering it Through The Lens.

ChevyBaby · Dec 10, 2010

Schwettylens said:
just leave your flash on auto (TTL). If you think the flash is too harsh, lower the FEC. If it is too low, higher the FEC. Thats the easy way . It will adjust the power automatically even if the flash is pointing up because it is metering it Through The Lens.

Fabulous!