My flash test....

ababysean · Jan 7, 2011

So I went out yesterday and did some flash testing.
I only have an sb600, which I think is an ok flash for fill but I can not get it to over power or remove the shadows.

No flash is on the right, flash on the left.

On this first one, we were pretty much in full shade. Totally covered, I wanted to warm up the tone with the flash.

On this one, we were obviously in full sun with harsh speckles. The one on the right, with no flash you can see the shadows on her face.

On this one we were still pretty much covered in shade, but I moved her so that her body angles created the shadows. I really like how the flash removed the shadow from her face caused by her hair and under her chin.

I'm doing a similar exercise on Tuesday, so if anyone has any tips or pointers I'd love to try them out!

redtippmann · Jan 7, 2011

ababysean said:
I only have an sb600, which I think is an ok flash for fill but I can not get it to over power or remove the shadows.

Odd... I use them all the time for main lights when on location.

ababysean · Jan 7, 2011

Do you use TTL or manual?
I think I made the mistake as using them TTL, on Tuesday I'm going to try manual.
Can you use commander mode while in manual?

jake337 · Jan 7, 2011

ababysean said:
Do you use TTL or manual?
I think I made the mistake as using them TTL, on Tuesday I'm going to try manual.
Can you use commander mode while in manual?

Yes, you can use manual in commander mode. There is also a AA+ mode that I'm not sure about.

Just go to your commander screen( I set it up as my FN button for quick adjustments) and put cursor on the flash your setting(the left column) and press up or down to change modes.

Also in your psots your saying the right pic is without flash and it seems the opposite.

Stradawhovious · Jan 7, 2011

If you really want to see the effect that the flash is having on the photos, you should try to keep everything as identical as you can from shot to shot and add the flash to one.
Same pose, Same location, etc. etc.

If not, disregard everything past this period. -->.

In the pics above, every shot is a different pose, and the last one even has a very different quality of natural light since she posed on a different part of the tree.

Picture #2 is the closest to what I'm trying to explain. If she hadn't turned her head down and to her right you would have been able to see almost EXACTLY what kind of impact the flash had on the shot.

I'm surprised you are finding the SB-600 to be under powered for this. I will admit I don't know what I'm doing so I really have no business giving any advice, but that unit is a bright little thing when you pull the stops out........

Bram · Jan 7, 2011

Lol not enough? Hit mode, twice till you get M on the lcd, hit the - till you get 1/1 then fire it and tell me that's not bright enough lol.

ababysean · Jan 7, 2011

whooops! I mean left is WITH flash.

and yes, that is another thing. I did tell her to hold the pose twice so I can get one with flash/without, but I guess she didn't understand, and at the time I was just trying to get some general playing around.

So on Tuesday, everything will be the same as close as possible.

Bram · Jan 7, 2011

Is it still not bright enough? Orrrrrrrrrrrrr?

Stradawhovious · Jan 7, 2011

ababysean said:
I think I made the mistake as using them TTL,

NOW I get why you think it was underpowered.

ababysean said:
on Tuesday I'm going to try manual.

Good call. I think you will have MUCH different results, and will change your mind about the little SB-600.

Stradawhovious · Jan 7, 2011

jake337 said:
ababysean said:

Do you use TTL or manual?
I think I made the mistake as using them TTL, on Tuesday I'm going to try manual.
Can you use commander mode while in manual?

Click to expand...

Yes, you can use manual in commander mode. There is also a AA+ mode that I'm not sure about.

Just go to your commander screen( I set it up as my FN button for quick adjustments) and put cursor on the flash your setting(the left column) and press up or down to change modes.

Yes, you can use commander mode in manual, but according to their profile the OP has a D3000. That model can't use the pop-up for commander mode. For off camera, he would need a radio trigger or PC cable and some adapters.

vtf · Jan 7, 2011

It must be broken, send it to me and I give it a good home.

Robin Usagani · Jan 7, 2011

The flash TTL did a good job on this shot. None of your photos look underexposed. The reason you cant really see the flash because it looks like you were metering your subject. That means you hardly use any juice. What you should try is metring the sky. That means your subject will be underexposed without flash. The TTL will bring your subject to the right exposure. If not, use FC. I like using TTL if it is on the camera.