Do some of the camera settings intimidate you? Do you want to learn how to develop your photography skills and learn how to use your camera effectively without always going back to the "auto" function? These challenges are for you!
This week’s challenge is Fill Flash
Explanation:
For this challenge you will shoot in Priority (A/Av - Tv/S) or Program Mode, with either your pop-up flash or an external flash enabled. You will be looking for situations where the scene can benefit from fill light.
Additional Tips:
All lighting in a photo falls into two categories; Key light and Fill light. Key light is the main source of illumination on your subject (i.e the sun, a window, overhead room lights) whilst fill light serves to fill in shadows to create a more even exposure.
When to use fill flash
A lot of people who are new to flash shooting have the mistaken belief that your flash is what you use when you're shooting in low light. And while it's true that a flash can be used carefully to improve low light shots you'll probably find that you use your flash as much, or maybe even more, in bright light than you do in low light. That's because very often the lighting problems in your image aren't about an overall lack of light, but simply about a lack of light in certain places in your scene.
This is an example I found online (not great but demonstrates my point):
The image on the left has a bit of detail in the background trees, yet the sky is blown out and much of the model is in shadow. Its important to note that our eyes have a much wider dynamic range than your camera does. If you were standing at this location you would probably see detail in both the person and the bright background behind them. Your camera though can't capture that much dynamic range. Instead it exposes to preserve the bright details in the background, at the expense of the foreground which ends up dark and under exposed. In this situation, it appears that the metering tried to find a point at which both the model and background are correctly exposed... failing on both accounts.
The image on the right uses fill flash to get light onto to the model, which evens out the exposure and reveals the detail that didn't appear in the normal exposure. It also appears they metered for correct exposure of the background, then controlled the amount of flash on the subject using flash exposure compensation (FEC).
Fill flash is a valuable tool to add to your photographic arsenal. When it's used well, no one who looks at your image will ever assume that a flash was used.
Useful links:
Flash Exposure Compensation was covered in a previous Camera Settings Challenge: Camera Settings Challenge 3
Experienced photographers who are knowledgeable in this particular setting are encouraged to offer "kind and constructive" suggestions on the posted entries. Those entering this challenge want to learn and improve.
This challenge starts today, and will run through till midnight Friday 28th February. All photos must be taken during these dates to be considered. Enter as many as you would like- the idea is to practice and learn. TAG your photo CSC14-04 AND post your picture in this thread to receive feedback from other experienced photographers specific to this challenge.
Voting will take place on 2nd March (and remain open 24 hours), and the winner will be announced 4th March. The winner of the challenge will select an experienced photographer to host a new challenge. It is the winner’s option on who they want to host the next challenge; it may be someone they follow whose work they admire, or someone who is active offering suggestions on previous CSC challenges. The winner may also select an experienced photographer for the list of photographers who have agreed to host future challenges as another option. Here is the link to that list: http://365project.org/archaeofrog/365/2013-12-18
Expect to receive constructive suggestions on how to improve your skills.
How to post your photo on this link:
1) Upload your photo to 365, and be sure to add CSC14-04 as one of the tags.
2) Go to your page that has the photo you wish to post.
3) Copy the "share" code in the bottom right section of that page.
4) Return to this thread and paste the code under comments
Pick me. pick me... :) I think I have this one covered... lol
Seriously though. If anyone needs some help with this drop me a line here or find/friend me on Facebook as i do not come here daily at https://www.Facebook.com/Brendan.Maunder
This is a great challenge for me.. I git an external flash for christmas and i took it out the box for a photo of it {next to my camera} and put it promptly back in its box... Lol...
@ikamera I teach photography and lighting so trust me there are no entry level questions. :)
Fill flash can be just about anything really but the idea is that is is not your main/key light. It is only there to fill in the shadows to bring the shadows to some level of brightness to allow it to match the bright part of the image. How bright you have it is up to the artist.
Flash exposure is turning the power up and down.
@calgop Pop up flash you have the same ideas as the other types of flash. i would turn the power down using Flash exposure to something like -2 and try a few.
The small pop up flash give a very harsh light, to soften it you can shoot through a a4 bit of paper or some baking paper.
Some people have used white plastic spoons. You stick the spoon in front of the flash and shoot away.
I tried this with light on face inside with someone else but looked very bad. So I caught my son and tried to catch him real quick after work. I know there is not enough light but it was all I could find to try to light on my camera. Its not a good photo and his eyes are shut, but just trying to play with the light on P setting. I am one who always runs back to auto lol. Also it was later in the evening and was cloudy all day. Suggestions except the obvious of more natural light.
@miata2u hi Peggy. I've been offline for a few hours. It's a good first attempt. My first thought is your shot is a little underexposed. Perhaps try increasing your ISO and focus on getting the exposure correct. The flash should just give you a bit of light in the shadowy areas. I'll explain a bit better later tonight when I'm in front of a PC.
I used a bit of flash in the shot on the right to put a bit of a catchlight in the moorhen's eye. Eyes without a bit of sparkle can look a bit lifeless.
A wee bird with tiny eyes probably isn't the best illustration but I'm not a people person:)
Hi! I have a couple attempts I would enjoy critique on--I usually avoid use of my flash like the plague, so any comments and suggestions to "do it better" that anyone has to offer on these would be wonderful! Throwing them out there for discussion!
Here is the first one ("without flash" on the left, "with flash" on the right):
Here's the second (I didn't really take this last August, I just posted it in one of my "holes" since I had 2 shots for today). Full explanations for both shots in my project if you wish to read them. Again, "without flash" on the left, "with flash" on the right.
I took several pics this afternoon with my trusty 4 year old as a model in front of a bright window. I definitely should use flash more than I do especially during daytime because I was surprised to see here in these photos how much flash helped me to achieve an even exposure.
BTW, all the pics in these collages have exact same settings for aperture, shutter speed and ISO except for the added fill via external flash mounted on my camera at 1/128th of power.
@ikamera That's worked really well for the first one but it's overwhelmed the second one. A big reflector, white card or something, just out of shot on the left would fill the shadows and preserve the cool window light. It's quite an eye catching shot as it stands though :)
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But, yes, it's something I need to learn to use so I'm in ;)
Congrats on the win with a wonderful shot!
Seriously though. If anyone needs some help with this drop me a line here or find/friend me on Facebook as i do not come here daily at https://www.Facebook.com/Brendan.Maunder
@mzzhope @kwiksilver
it might pay for people to look at my profile details here as I also have links to talks and other forums where I talk a lot about using flash.
@miata2u Peggy if you need my help just tag me in your comments of get me on facebook and i would be more than happy to help where I can.
You will be fantastic trust me. :)
@iqscotland that is an interesting point you make.
the look and the amount of flash that is put out by the camera is determined by a few factors and the important one is Flash exposure setting.
when I am shooting events I will generally drop my flash exposure down 2 stops so it doesn't give the appearance of flash but still give some fill.
@mzzhope @kwiksilver @miata2u @ikamera @calgop
thank god there is no one that would ever do that, so we are all safe.. :) @mrsbaldy
First, I've always thought fill flash is a setting in camera or flash. So, it's just flash on less power?
Why FEC, can't we just turn the flash power up or down?
Clearly, I haven't played enough with my flash, it intimidates me. I even got speedliters handbook, haven't really read it thoroughly.
I don't have any external flash, and thank you very much. ^________^
Fill flash can be just about anything really but the idea is that is is not your main/key light. It is only there to fill in the shadows to bring the shadows to some level of brightness to allow it to match the bright part of the image. How bright you have it is up to the artist.
Flash exposure is turning the power up and down.
@calgop Pop up flash you have the same ideas as the other types of flash. i would turn the power down using Flash exposure to something like -2 and try a few.
The small pop up flash give a very harsh light, to soften it you can shoot through a a4 bit of paper or some baking paper.
Some people have used white plastic spoons. You stick the spoon in front of the flash and shoot away.
A wee bird with tiny eyes probably isn't the best illustration but I'm not a people person:)
Here is the first one ("without flash" on the left, "with flash" on the right):
BTW, all the pics in these collages have exact same settings for aperture, shutter speed and ISO except for the added fill via external flash mounted on my camera at 1/128th of power.