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Tips for taking casual party shots with flash

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Juli Valley

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I find that shooting at a slow speed 1/30th at f 5.6, 200ISO with a 550EX with Sto-Fen diffuser works well for informal party shots. I used the 28-135IS with my 10D. It allows for nice ambient lighting without the extremely slow shutter speeds that Av allows. Here are some examples. http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/advent_party_2003

--
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=19579
Canon 1oD, Olympus C-3o4oZ.
Juli



--
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=19579
Canon 1oD, Olympus C-3o4oZ.
Juli

 
Juli,

I have shot a metric ton of photos at recent Christmas parties and have been thrilled with the results. Set-up...
  • 10D with 28-135 IS and a single 550EX
  • Manual mode, 1/200, f/5.6, ISO 400
  • Flash bounced from room or tent ceiling (9-14 ft)
  • Diffuser panel extended straight up to send some light forward.
Shots with lower shutter were blurred, not from me but motion by my subjects. Also, I find the blend of indoor ambient light (usually tungsten, usually quite warm) and flash (daylight temperature) is a tough mix for white balance. To each his/her own. Example...


Juli Valley said:
I find that shooting at a slow speed 1/30th at f 5.6, 200ISO with a
550EX with Sto-Fen diffuser works well for informal party shots. I
used the 28-135IS with my 10D. It allows for nice ambient lighting
without the extremely slow shutter speeds that Av allows. Here
are some examples. http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/advent_party_2003

--
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=19579
Canon 1oD, Olympus C-3o4oZ.
Juli



--
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=19579
Canon 1oD, Olympus C-3o4oZ.
Juli

Click to expand...
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http://www.pbase.com/misterpix
 
Hi Juli!

Nicely done! One question: why such a slow SS? I would think that 1/30th could lead to some softness and blur...

--
Jamie W.

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy. -- Benjamin Franklin
 
agreed. I would go for at least 1/60... bumping ISO would be no prob till 800.
Jamie W said:
Hi Juli!

Nicely done! One question: why such a slow SS? I would think
that 1/30th could lead to some softness and blur...

--
Jamie W.
Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy.
-- Benjamin Franklin
Click to expand...
--

Cheers,
kevin aka mun weng

My idea of a perfect weekend:
shooting football from the end zone with a 600mm F4 L IS.

My photo website:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~mun-weng/

Photosig:
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=106220
 
Love these ambient light pics...not too harsh. I shot with Stofen Omni bounce attached to 550ex and normally have to adjust +1 and bounce off the ceiling... I always forget to adjust white balance...should I have done that? Thanks.
 
That allows for the ambient lighting. I have not had a problem with blur. I don't know if it's the flash freezing the image or the IS on the lens, but it works for me.
 
These were shot with daylight WB which seems to work well with the flash. I've heard the flash setting is more for studio lighting.
 
Juli Valley said:
That allows for the ambient lighting. I have not had a problem
with blur. I don't know if it's the flash freezing the image or
the IS on the lens, but it works for me.
Click to expand...
Juli's are primarily 'posed' with very little action to worry about. That would certainly make a difference--action vs. posing that is LOL.

diane
--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me
 
juli, I think you have to take into account motion blur as well (subject movement). especially when taking snapshots (candids).
Juli Valley said:
That allows for the ambient lighting. I have not had a problem
with blur. I don't know if it's the flash freezing the image or
the IS on the lens, but it works for me.
Click to expand...
--

Cheers,
kevin aka mun weng

My idea of a perfect weekend:
shooting football from the end zone with a 600mm F4 L IS.

My photo website:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~mun-weng/

Photosig:
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=106220
 
A pro taught me this technique. He calls it dragging the shutter. Try it at home. I think you will like the results.
 
Juli Valley said:
I find that shooting at a slow speed 1/30th at f 5.6, 200ISO with a
550EX with Sto-Fen diffuser works well for informal party shots. I
used the 28-135IS with my 10D. It allows for nice ambient lighting
without the extremely slow shutter speeds that Av allows. Here
are some examples. http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/advent_party_2003
Click to expand...
Juli

Nice informal shots. I noticed that the lighting was much more even across the room than I have been getting with my D60 & 550. This was especially clear in the room shot without people in it. Usually I am blowing out portions of the frame. Do you attribute the even light to the diffuser? Did you have the 550 back when you still owned the D60? And do you notice any difference using the flash using the 10D vs D60?
Thanks Steve
I had to move up when I couldn't get flash bulbs for the Brownie anymore.
http://www.pbase.com/stevebrown
 
I don't know anything more to tell you except that I think it works well in situations like this. Here's a link to some shots I did with the D60 last year using 1/20th and 1/30th. I didn't have a bracket at the time. The band shots were weird because of their lighting. I like to think I've done better with my camera this year. This was a large house party with about 400 people.
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/christmas_party
 
Glad you like it! I change it from time to time. I usually have a faithful message, but I like this light-hearted one! Besides which.....its true!
Joe Reilly said:
Jamie W. I love your signature line!
Click to expand...
--
Jamie W.

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy. -- Benjamin Franklin
 
Yes, I had the 550EX with the D60. I just posted some shots with that combination last year. I think the flash works better with the 10D. I used the Omnibounce in the 45 degree angle. I can't remember, but I suspect the somewhat washed out ones are due to my failure to **** the flash head last year at the 45 degree angle.
 
so you would recommend roughly a 1/30 shutter for more accurate lighting?

and using daylight WB? I haven't tried that before, but I've always stuck with the Flash (lightning symbol) WB.
Juli Valley said:
I don't know anything more to tell you except that I think it
works well in situations like this. Here's a link to some shots I
did with the D60 last year using 1/20th and 1/30th. I didn't have
a bracket at the time. The band shots were weird because of their
lighting. I like to think I've done better with my camera this
year. This was a large house party with about 400 people.
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/christmas_party
Click to expand...
--

Cheers,
kevin aka mun weng

My idea of a perfect weekend:
shooting football from the end zone with a 600mm F4 L IS.

My photo website:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~mun-weng/

Photosig:
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=106220
 
great thanks. i've noticed this with the slow synchro mode of my IXUS 330 but am now able to put it into practice with the 10D.
I would dare to go for 1/30 with IS (not beyond 70mm)

is it true that changing the shutter speed will not affect the flash's decision on its flash output power? (only aperture affects it according to the article)
Juli Valley said:
Google had several articles on this technique. Here's one.

http://www.eddiebonfigli.com/article9.html
Click to expand...
--

Cheers,
kevin aka mun weng

My idea of a perfect weekend:
shooting football from the end zone with a 600mm F4 L IS.

My photo website:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~mun-weng/

Photosig:
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=106220
 
The iso 400 F5.6 1/30 sec is a setting often used for parties, receptions etc. The duration of the flash is very short, it will freeze the motion of your main subject. And then the longer exposure ensures you that ambient light will fill those otherwise dark rooms. (was that entirely english?).

Although I had great results with this technique using film, with the 10D an ETTL I do not always get consistent results. That's why I have to say to Juli: Great work on this party!

Rob.
 
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