How much flash, how much ambient?

[Phtoo]

At the moment im trying to get better at mixing flash and ambient on location. any tips on getting better at this? finding the right balance?

And wondering, in a shot like this:
imgur: the simple image sharer
imgur: the simple image sharer - behind the scenes shot

would the flash be overpowering the ambient 100% , or would it be a mixture? - thankyou

 

[analog.universe]

I'm not super experienced with this, so hopefully some of the off camera flash geniuses will chime in here.

My guess though, is that the flash is about 2 stops under ambient? The sunlight is coming in perpendicular to the curb, and seems to be lighting the whole scene fairly evenly. The softbox is being used to fill in the shadows a bit, but it's not bright enough relative to the sun for it's own shadows to be visible. All the shadows cast by the model seem to be from the sunlight, and they're made more subtle by the fill from the softbox. If you notice, there is also very little proximity effect from the softbox (the area near it is not much brighter than the most distant part of the scene), suggesting most of the light in the scene is coming from the sun.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

There is no answer to that question.

Most of it depends on your taste, what you are trying to achieve/show, your clients if there are any, etc., etc.

 

[kundalini]

The way I'm reading the image is that the available light (sun) is the main light source. The large octabox just off lens axis is the fill light and cutting down the harshness in the shadow lines of the sun and the light on the right of the subject is providing some profile modeling. Also notice the guy in the middle... using a hand held light meter.

 

[Buckster]

c.cloudwalker answered already, but to get you started on the path:

Generally speaking, set up your exposure for the background with no additional light being thrown at it. Then set up your light for your subject so that it doesn't cause you to change your exposure and doesn't leave your subject too dark or too bright. From there, you can make adjustments to the balance between them to taste, using shutter speed to adjust the light of the background and aperture to adjust the light of the subject.

Light strength as a factor of guide number and distance from light to subject plays a role and can also be used (move your lights closer or further from the subject and/or adjust their output strength), and then there are the many sizes and types of light modifiers that come into play, including diffusers, reflectors, snoots, grids, gels, flags, gobos and more. In addition, ISO and exposure compensation can be used as well to get you where you want to be in terms of DOF and shutter speed when balanced against the rest of that stuff already mentioned.

Once you have those basics down, you can work on lighting the background as well.

Start at Strobist 101: Strobist: Lighting 101

 

[gsgary]

I think the flash is just adding a bit of punch, easiest way is to take ambient and flash readings then there is not guess work

 

[Robin Usagani]

cant even see the shadow from the flash.

 

[Phtoo]

The way I'm reading the image is that the available light (sun) is the main light source. The large octabox just off lens axis is the fill light and cutting down the harshness in the shadow lines of the sun and the light on the right of the subject is providing some profile modeling. Also notice the guy in the middle... using a hand held light meter.

isnt there only one flash??. i cant see the second light that would be providing profile modeling

 

[gsgary]

There is a shadow behind her from the sun and it looks like the flash is just filling the shadows camera right

 

[Vtec44]

It looks like the flash was there to fill the harsh shadows. You don't see the shadows under her legs and barely behind her in the final image.

 

[kundalini]

isnt there only one flash??. i cant see the second light that would be providing profile modeling

I see the lady on the left edge of the frame as the second light casting a split lighting pattern. In the final image you will notice some slight shadow on her nose caused by this light.

 

[Dominantly]

There is no answer to that question.

Most of it depends on your taste, what you are trying to achieve/show, your clients if there are any, etc., etc.

Exactly, just depends on your mood and the scene.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I have a sekonic light meter that does a better job of estimating ambient/flash ratio 1st try over me popping several shots

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I have a sekonic light meter that does a better job of estimating ambient/flash ratio 1st try over me popping several shots

Is the use of a flash meter overrated?

:lmao:

 

[Buckster]

I have a sekonic light meter that does a better job of estimating ambient/flash ratio 1st try over me popping several shots

Is the use of a flash meter overrated?

:lmao:

The only time I pull mine out is when I'm shooting film.