Comments on: 06 – flash outdoors

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:50:22 +0000

Thanks! Sorry about the double posting but I could not find (forgot which article I posted to since I looked at so many that day)!

You rock!

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:48:47 +0000

Michelle .. I replied to your question the previous time you asked. Neil vN

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:42:58 +0000

Neil,
In other forums that I have read about using direct flash, there has been concerns with “pinlights” in the subjects’s eyes. I am not sure if that is a result of the built-in flash or external flash. Maybe it is just a problem with close up face shots outside with direct flash. Your shots are beautiful and I see no evidence of pinlights in the subject’s eyes. Could the FEC being dialed down have an effect on this? What are your thoughts about this subject?

Thanks!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:48:23 +0000

Hi Neil,
Love your opening pic and i have been practicing to get natural flash look at night w/sparklers. I busted my FEC way down, -3, ISO 500, f/4.5, 1/40th. Getting ok results, but think there’s room for improvement. I will be shooting a family of 7 doing this and would be so grateful if you would do me the favor of weighing in with some tips.
Thanks!
Jennifer :)

By: aj

aj — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:24:33 +0000

aha! :) thank you

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:21:27 +0000

Nowhere do I say it is daylight.

Neil vN

By: aj

aj — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:12:46 +0000

Hey Neil! :)

Regarding the third shot in this article with the bride on what appears to be a bridge, with her head turned and veil in the air, you have the following settings.

specific settings:
Canon 1Dmk2
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS
1/250th @ f2.8 @ 100 iso
manual; eval metering
TTL flash: -3 exp comp

just trying to wrap my head around this one, as to how outdoors in sunlight you got 1/250th sync speed with an aperture of 2.8 and iso of 100?

Although it may not appear so, was it actually much darker outside than the photo lets on? Was it heavily shaded until you exposed for it properly? Just want to see if I can wrap my head around that. I thought I had the whole outdoors flash and when to use high speed sync sorted out, but this moment makes me second guess myself!

By: Alfredo Medina

Alfredo Medina — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:50:28 +0000

Thanks, Neil.

I wish both you, as your family, have a happy and successful New Year. I also wish you much success in your new book project, which all look forward.

I also wish congratulations to all the people like me read everyday your advice and guidance on this fascinating world of photography.

Thank you very much,

By: Neil vN

Neil vN — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 17:01:30 +0000

This photo could've been taken with a single softbox as well, since the two softboxes were so close to each other that they could've been thought of as a single light source. I've used the Lastolite 24x24 softbox for family photos at weddings when I have a group no larger than about 8 people. So I will happily use a single softbox (as a single light source), on a family group of 4 or 5 people. Usually though, I use two flashes (with umbrellas) when photographing groups. This way the light is more even from edge-to-edge. Neil vN

By: Alfredo Medina

Alfredo Medina — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:30:09 +0000

Hi Neil,

In your book there is a picture of a couple and in which you used two flashes on softbox. In the case of a small group of people, four or five members of a family-father, mother and two or three children, you consider that it is preferable to use two flashes, both for the case of low ambient light (flash as main light), as in bright daylight (fill flash for the shadows)?

Alfredo