That sounds like a solution to a tough situation.
Just make the bounce card as large as possible.

Neil vN

Steve .. there is a problem with parents who react when they see me lift a camera. Too many of them interrupt their child’s natural behavior that I’m trying to photograph … and instruct to kid to “smile at the camera”. It just kills me. I have a photo then that is so much less than the natural one.

Older kids are then pre-conditioned to stop and smile at the camera. I tell them not to. Just ignore me. Over a short period they learn to anyway.

As for getting to the settings … this does come with time, pre-judging exposure and settings. Also, using TTL flash helps.

Here’s a related article on blending as a photographer at weddings.

Neil vN

Do you find that for candids like these that your stop what they are doing for you to catch the moment? Obviously this little tike is a probably bit young to do it, but in other cases do you find in happening?

I’ve never shot a wedding, but my greatest fear in it is not getting good candids because people continue to move and do things, so to get the exposure right on the first shot is tough. Then you have to be like “okay, one more”, then dial in the new settings, hoping it’s right this time. Maybe it’s just that I’m always taking test shots of friends and fam, so they just ignore me now and go on with their business, but when the official wedding photographer stops to take a picture, they’ll be ready and willing and will wait a few moments longer if the first doesn’t turn out.

Do you find this to be the case?

I also noticed the pattern of light on his hair. This might be due to some available light in the room. There were tungsten spot-lights around.

However, I was busy shooting, so didn’t have the time to do comparative photos without flash.

So at this point I can’t give more info as to that specific light pattern on his hair.

Is there any relation between selected focus point, subject situation and TTL flash? While with some cameras your TTL flash exposure is affected by your focusing point selection …. and in an unrelated way, the quality and type of light is very much affected by how your subject is positioned …. I don’t think there is a direct relation between those three things as you mention them there.

Neil vN

I would like to ask you one more thing about this image’s bounced flash lighting.
The boy’s hair received a ‘v’ shape lighting. I mean, the inner-side of ‘v’ shape not lighten and remains dark.

The total bounced light has got a special shape and final image is better than a studio sitting. Is there any relation between selected focusing point, subject situation and ttl flash?

Neil, are you doing some thing special activities here?

I am facinated with your all work and trying to learn deep into it than simply looking and going. I hope, these arising questions are not bad (not for only wasting your valuable time) and it will be good to all those who are watching it.
thx.

rafiayub .. I am sure that Lightroom must be seeing the Flash Exposure Compensation there.

However, with Nikon it is possible to adjust the overall exposure compensation on the camera’s body while in manual exposure mode …. and allow that to affect the TTL flash exposure.

Neil vN

I have seen one Nikon D3 image with the Metadata 1/3 EV(exposure bias), Manual (exposure program) and Pattern (metering mode).

(Another image has seen with minus exposure compensation on manual mode
like -1 1/3 EV)

Exposure. Camera body Nikon D3. Lens 70-200 2.8 @ 1/40 sec at f/ 3.2 iso 1250 flash fired. Focal length 140 mm

How can we do exposure compensation on manual mode?

Normally, we will do exposure adjustment like one stop down on aperture or one stop up on shutter speed on manual mode. The exposure compensation can be done with aperture priority or shutter priority modes only.

The metadata has been read by Lightroom and I feel nobody can play with it.
Here I am confusing. Neil can you please help me.

-MP

Meryl