To begin with, I would like to suggest that you "try" the following
flash techniques:
1. Put your camera in manual mode - at 1/125 and f8 and keep it
there for flash scenarios (ignore the camera exposure readings in
this regard - just keep it on those settings).
2. Set your ISO to 400.
3. Set your SB-600 to TTL Mode and tild the head up for bounce
flashing method. If the ceilings aren't that great, then I suggest
the use of the inexpensive Stofen omnibounce cap that you can get
for the SB-600.
Now experiment and fire off a few shots. It should usually take
you less than a dozen practice shots to adjust the flash exposure
compensation on your flash to offset any light loss due to the
bounce method. I normally adjust my flash exposure (FEC) from 0 to
+1.0 depending on room and environment.
Here are some D80 holiday shots taken at the settings above. The
only difference is that I used the SB-800 instead of the SB-600.
This method works and believe you me, you will revel in this
process. I used to shoot the way most people do, allowing the
camera and flash to do everything automatically, but I never had
that much luck. Occasionally I got a few keepers, but most were
not. Then one day a few years back, a newspaper photographer gave
me his insight about taking flash photos techniques which will do
well with virtually any camera you use. He was sooooo right and
I've been using this method ever since with a dozen different
camera types. To make it simple - keep the camera on manual and
leave your dedicated flash on TTL and add FEC on the flash where
needed (do not adjust the camera).
Examples (all RAW, AWB, ISO 400, camera on manual 1/125 and f8,
with the SB-800 in bounce mode set to TTL. Lens used was the kit
18-135 zoom):
