B29 - fill flash and/or post process comparison

[RichDitch]

I sometimes use my V2s instead of my V3s when I expect I’ll want to do some fill flash since I can add an SB-N5 or -N7 flash to the V2 hot shoe. With the B-29 I brought just the V3s and tried the pop up built in flash for fill. I was pleasantly surprised that it helped.

On this shoot I set the V3s to Program mode with auto ISO, set image quality to raw + jpeg (I rarely do this just to avoid so many images to deal with), and had Picture Control set to Standard.

While waiting in the shadow of the wing we got to talk to volunteer Dan Martin, and I took a couple shots with the 10-100, the realized that fill flash would help.


The unprocessed jpeg taken without fill flash.


Unprocessed jpeg taken with built-in flash for fill.

Much better for the main subject.

Here are the same two images, but starting with the raw versions and processing in photoshop.


No flash, raw processed in photoshop.


Raw with fill flash, then processed in photoshop.

Processing is basic: open the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw, fix the geometry to level horizons and correct some tilt, then use the Auto button to deal with highlights, shadows, and saturation. I compare before and after and then often reduce the auto adjustments.

My conclusions from this little exercise are:

• the built in flash of theV3 (and the other N1 cameras) does a pretty good job within a reasonable shooting distance.
• having the camera in P mode made using the flash easy with no concern over shutter speed settings
• photoshop did an excellent job in pulling up the shadows in the non fill flash image

--
You can see a lot just by looking.
And you can learn a lot by reading the manual.
WSSA #449

 

[Paul Pasco]

I am a big proponent of fill flash. Try shooting in M mode as you can adjust shutter speed and aperture which allows you to have more control over background exposure. It’s particularly useful for still life photos.

 

[RichDitch]

I am a big proponent of fill flash. Try shooting in M mode as you can adjust shutter speed and aperture which allows you to have more control over background exposure. It’s particularly useful for still life photos.

Thanks for this suggestion Paul. I’ll keep it in mind for future situations where it would help out.

 

[ishwanu]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

 

[RichDitch]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

 

[Paul Pasco]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

I think she is doing a selfie or someone out of the photo is taking a photo of her using the curved surface of the fuselage. You see a lot of this at the Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago.

 

[RichDitch]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

I think she is doing a selfie or someone out of the photo is taking a photo of her using the curved surface of the fuselage. You see a lot of this at the Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago.

It's possible, but I can’t make out any cell phone in her hands. I did wonder if the one position was like the tourists “holding up” the leaning tower, but I don’t recall anyone around to take a shot of her doing it.

Speaking of people taking photos there I saw the expected cell phones but only one person with an actual camera - a high school aged kid with an entry level grade Nikon DSLR and a kit lens. He had cut school to be there which seemed like a good choice on his part.

 

[ishwanu]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

Southern California, where I am, has its own assortment. I'll take a guess that she's from Sedona and is performing a New Age ritual to bring the universe into balance. Hope it works.

 

[holgerlinke]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

I think she is standing just below the cartoon figure and doing some posing related to it:

--
WSSA Member #454 - Worldwide Squirrel Shooters Association

 

[holgerlinke]

Great tips regarding the built-in flash, thanks!

So far I've only used it indoors and appreciated its flexibility. For example, you can tilt it slightly upwards when pressing the shutter button and thus quickly control the amount of light hitting your subject, e.g. if you just want to have some highlight in the eyes or a very minor overall impact. Or for providing a very weak bounce light off some surface. Only very few cameras offer this feature

 

[RichDitch]

Do you know what the woman in the background is doing?

A good question, but I have no idea. Just keep in mind that this is AZ where there are a lot of strange people!

I think she is standing just below the cartoon figure and doing some posing related to it:

I hadn’t thought of that. Quite possible!

--
You can see a lot just by looking.
And you can learn a lot by reading the manual.
WSSA #449

 

[DavidZihon]

There is another part of the B29 that some may or may not wish to know about, but a few days ago NHK Media in Japan just ran touching story on the Hiroshima legacy.

It's not to be judgemental, but to remember in compassion the way that others were touched by these planes.

This story includes a story about the seeds from the surviving trees, which have been planted in around 60 countries in remembrance of the WWII events.


A follow up story just presented in Japan

You can watch it here if you wish: