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Erin I with Flash

© Elaine Hessler

Erin I with Flash

Uploaded: October 25, 2013

Description

ISO 400, 26mm, f/9, 1/60 sec.

Exif: F Number: 9, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/60 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 26.00 mm, Model: NIKON D5100

Comments

Elaine Hessler October 25, 2013

Hi-I FINALLY got these done and posted... I don't know which pose is best, so I've posted two poses, one with and one without the flash for the monthly challenge. The diagram is last. I held the flash off to the right and a bit above, I think...

This type of photography is very difficult for me and it is something I need to work on. Feel free to be very honest in your critiques so I can learn how to do this better.

Looking back at Mike's beautiful photos, I think I would use my telephoto lens (100-300mm) to give a nice DOF, but I don't know how that would work with the flash. I did try to open up the aperture, but everything was overexposed. Maybe I should have lowered the ISO to 100. Ugh it is so hard to think and take pics at the same time... #1549962

Dale Hardin October 25, 2013

You did a wonderful job on both shots, Elaine. On the first shot, it is obvious that you changed your camera settings between the before and after, as noted by the ambient lighting.

The second series seems to have the same setting but with added fill flash.

As far as the DOF settings, it would be no different with or without the flash. And if you shoot in manual mode and set your exposure for how you want the ambient light to look, you can then set your flash to TTL and the subject will not change exposure regardless what you then do to change ambient light. #10880984

Dale Hardin October 25, 2013

By the way, here something to look out for when doing this. On the second shot you placed the flash on the wrong side, thus creating conflicting shadows. You should place your fill light on the same side as the light source for your ambient light. #10880985

Beth Spencer October 25, 2013

Elaine, I think you did wonderful! Erin is Beautiful!
I like the first one the best, the light looks the best to me. The second one with the flash, looks a bit bright to me.
I think you did great, I rarely use my flash, because I need to learn more about using it, but this exercise helped. I really struggle with using it on anything but an auto setting with the camera, but that might be a good winter project. #10881111

Jeff E Jensen October 25, 2013

Yup, you did great! #10881177

Peter W. Marks October 26, 2013

I'm with you Elaine on not getting my head around some of the concepts of doing stuff to images that I haven't seen when I first shot it. So well done! It is even worse now that I have this early stage dementia thing but I am just pleased that I get great pleasure in shooting what I do see and don't care too much about what perhaps I might have seen.
By the way, and this will get old Dale going- didn't you see that cigarette butt back there by the last fence post? lol #10881461

Michael Kelly level-classic October 26, 2013

These are great and show off the fill light capability well. I like them both and such a wonderful model. #10881609

Susan Williams October 26, 2013

Wow, this is a great example of proper lighting for outdoor portrait work. It takes a little extra work and patience, but the results are worth it. Erin is a lovely young lady, Elaine, and I love the setting you chose for these shots. Beautiful work! #10881634

Susan Williams October 26, 2013

Wow, this is a great example of proper lighting for outdoor portrait work. It takes a little extra work and patience, but the results are worth it. Erin is a lovely young lady, Elaine, and I love the setting you chose for these shots. Beautiful work! #10881635

Elaine Hessler October 28, 2013

Yep Dale-I believe you are right about that ambient light and the change in settings... I don't get your statement, "And if you shoot in manual mode and set your exposure for how you want the ambient light to look, you can then set your flash to TTL and the subject will not change exposure regardless what you then do to change ambient light." My flash is of camera on manual, so it isn't TTL, right? But I get what you mean about measuring for ambient light using aperture. But if Erin still is overexposed, changing the shutter speed won't work, will it? So I then have to go back to aperture, right?

Peter-I didn't see the butt-where is it??? Ugh.

Thanks everyone for the comments!!! #10883276

Dale Hardin October 28, 2013

Elaine, what I meant was that if the flash is on TTL then the light on you subject is always going to be correct.

So if you want the ambient to be darker, or lighter, all you have to do is change the shutter speed, and/or aperture on the manual settings of your camera. The light on your subject will stay the same because of the flash TTL. #10883307

Elaine Hessler October 28, 2013

Hmmm. Maybe I am not remembering what I read, but I thought ambient light is controlled through aperture only. I have to go back and read because I thought the shutter speed is limited to less than 1/250 sec. due to the curtain getting in the way. I see that my shutter speed was 1/60 sec., so I could have decreased the shutter speed. For some reason, I thought the shutter speed was less flexible.

Gotta go back and read-again... #10883310

Dale Hardin October 28, 2013

You only have to be concerned with shutter speed limits when attempting High speed sync, which in this case was probably not necessary. But even so, slowing the shutter speed would brighten up the ambient light and using aperture or ISO could be used to darken the ambient. Any of which would not effect the flash TTL. #10883440

Rita K. Connell level-classic October 29, 2013

Elaine, great job...both are very nicely done. I really like the second one she looks more relaxed. I think you did a great job with the flash #10884014

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