Outdoor Fill Flash Inconsistent

Hi:

I am trying to get the appropriate amount of fill flash outdoors. I am using program mode with ESP on my E-1 with the FL-50. I like the first example with the boy but in the picture of the girl there doesn't seem to be enough flash to illuminate her face. Same with the 3rd picture. Do you think this is because of the bright spots in photos 2 and 3 and that the flash is cutting out sooner than I want for the face. Would the solution be to dial in more flash for those subjects with bright colors. The boy's coat is dark so I assume more flash was allowed by the camera. Is this thinking correct? Thanks, Kent

I had about the same problem, (with e300 and fl-36), there was not constant result in these situations. I solved by using outdoor flash in AUTO mode and setting flash exposition to about -1,3 / -1,6. from then all is ok...

have a good day,

Francesco

Thanks Francesco. I'll give it a try. I forgot to mention I was using FP TTL Auto mode. Take care, Kent

I've found FP isn't the best mode for outdoor fill; it reduces the overall flash output considerably. I've since switched to TTL Auto, set shutter speed to 160, and I get much more consistent results. I'll use FP only if I can't get proper exposure at 160 for a desired f-stop; but then it's typically a coin toss whether I get good fill or not.

I really hope the next E* has a much faster flash synch.

Yes, saarela. I also wish the sync was 1/500 like some of the Nikons. FP mode does limit the range but these images were taken well within the range so I wonder if TTL Auto would be any different for me. FP mode uses the flash at full strength though so you do get fewer flashes on a battery charge. Thanks for your help. Kent

there's nothing wrong with the flash on these photos - it actually looks quite good....

but if you want the faces to be brighter, then you have to either spot meter off the face (and realize that other parts of the photo may be overexposed due to the relative dark and light areas in the scene) or take the photo when the face is already lighter - from having more sunlight directly on the face...

look at photo #2 - her pink jacket, hand and the tree are all quite light as it is....the ESP metering is trying to give best overall metering for entire scene - if you spot metered on her face, the flash would have been stronger and her face would be correctly exposed, but you would have blown areas on her jacket, hand and tree trunk.

so you have to decide which is more important to you - but realize the flash can't just zero in to specific areas without affecting other areas... (unless you use special tools).

--
doreen

Thanks Doreen. That makes sense. I think, also, that pictures 1 and 2 might not be a fair comparison because it could be that the boy's face got some light from the sun peaking through whereas the girl did not. And I think the shadows on her face are so strong in picture #3 that, as you suggest, if I had enough flash to light up her face, then the rest would be washed out. Thanks again. Kent

Hi Kent,

I posted a while ago an exercise for FL-50 and E1...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&thread=20452374

Hope it helps.

Cheers

Thanks Nick. I'll look through it and give it a try. Kent

we just did an outdoor photo shoot for customers and i set the fl36 to negative -3.0 power output ,FP ttl auto with the e500 on P mode. no flash adjustments on the camera itself. camera set to forced (fill) flash. results were perfect nearly every time. center weighted metering with the 14-54 lens.

set the camera on manual, auto iso, auto wb, flash compensation +1 in camera, flash FP ttl auto. So far i am happy with the results, may try to lower the in camera flash compensation to -1 or less

--
http://www.pbase.com/shg2

Wow. -3.0. Was your lighting very even or in the shade or was this with harsher shadows as in my 3rd picture? Thanks for your help. I have a lot of experimenting to do. Kent

When you use manual, do you use an exposure that would be low if there was no flash. Or how are you determining what exposure to use--the meter? I usually use manual indoors and the flash balances nicely but outdoors I think would take much more practice. Thanks for your suggestions. Kent

The two problems that you are facing in these images are shooting with the FL-50 in FP Mode, and shooting in Program Mode with ESP metering in very bright back lighting situations. In the third image the overall scene is so bright that I imagine your exposure was very fast -- in FP Mode the FL-50 range is very greatly reduced, probably eliminating any effective fill. I do outdoor portraits all the time using the FL-50 for fill with my E-1 and get very consistent results. But I always use Center Weighted Metering and always shoot in Manual Exposure Mode -- always metering for the overall scene. My FL-50 is set to Auto TTL and I simple use the compenation dial on the FL-50 to adjust the fill amount based on camera to subject distance. In most situations I'm shooting with flash around -1 to -2 stops. However, I try to avoid shooting against very bright backgrounds where the subject will have to be strongly lit with full power flash -- that creates an obviously flash lit subject. Below is an example of a portrait done a while back using the technique referred to above. Notice that my subject doesn't look flash lit, but fill was necessary as she was facing away from the sun. Try experimenting with shooting in Manual Exposure Mode and Auto TTL, once you are familiar with the amount of flash compensation to dial in, I think you'll see very consistent results.

God Bless,
Greg
http://www.imagismphotos.com
http://www.pbase.com/daddyo

E-1, FL-50, ISO 100, 1/20 Sec @ f5.6, Manual Exposure Mode

Very nice, Greg. I actually seem to remember admiring this photo a while back if I am not mistaken. I will try your suggestions. Thanks so much, Kent

Kent Moore said:

When you use manual, do you use an exposure that would be low if
there was no flash. Or how are you determining what exposure to
use--the meter? I usually use manual indoors and the flash
balances nicely but outdoors I think would take much more practice.
Thanks for your suggestions. Kent

Click to expand...

i meter for the background and let the flash pick the right exposure for the people, i am still in try and error period so dont have a base to make recommendation. you better try it and see how it works as i am doing now.
--
http://www.pbase.com/shg2

if you want to see some of the -3 shots, send me an email and i send you a couple examples. i think we took about 100 shots that day and they were basically all consistant.

[email protected]