outdoor daytime shoot. flash/no flash


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macrolandscape

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this might come off as a pretty silly question but how many of you shoot in daytime with flash on/off? reasons? if you're using sunlight with reflectors to fill in, do you still trigger flash?
 

Did a shoot recently for a children outdoor event with no direct sunlight (blocked by HDB flats) and use a lot flash (angle not directly at subjects). The results were excellence with nice and warm color tones. It is good to start the first 2 test shots both with and without flash to compare the differences to help you decide whether the results are what you desire as different lighting and scene required different decision on whether to use flash.
 

this might come off as a pretty silly question but how many of you shoot in daytime with flash on/off? reasons? if you're using sunlight with reflectors to fill in, do you still trigger flash?

hi macrolandscape,

there is no true answer to this.

i do not shoot humans, but the lighting condition is so different for every shot. having a clear concept of how light works, and thinking before you execute the shot will help.

for example, if you are shooting a BACKLIT subject, i.e. a human with the sun behind her - firstly, try to avoid this, but if you have no choice, FILL FLASH can help with getting details. else you will either get a blownout sky (which can be useful if that's what you want), or just a silhouette with a proper sky.. or you can have a bit of both with fill flash.
 

hi macrolandscape,

there is no true answer to this.

i do not shoot humans, but the lighting condition is so different for every shot. having a clear concept of how light works, and thinking before you execute the shot will help.

for example, if you are shooting a BACKLIT subject, i.e. a human with the sun behind her - firstly, try to avoid this, but if you have no choice, FILL FLASH can help with getting details. else you will either get a blownout sky (which can be useful if that's what you want), or just a silhouette with a proper sky.. or you can have a bit of both with fill flash.

i understand what you're saying nai meh. but would a reflector be able to do that adequately?
 

i understand what you're saying nai meh. but would a reflector be able to do that adequately?

my apologies, i have limited experience with reflectors.

but i do think that you can use flash with reflector being used. why not? :)
 

my apologies, i have limited experience with reflectors.

but i do think that you can use flash with reflector being used. why not? :)

well you've got a point. or i can just throw my camela away n start painting. lol.

thanks anyway nai meh for ur input. appreciate it.

thank you too jedi.
 

well you've got a point. or i can just throw my camela away n start painting. lol.
nah, i won't do it if i were you. photographers usually photograph because they can't paint!

jokes aside, maybe you can take a look at strobist.

i have had no use to look at it, having no flash, but it should make for fun reading.

link

that's lighting 101, have fun!
 

there are certain effects that you can only produce with flash. E.g., glamour shots. But then again, forget about your little pop-up flash or normal flash. You need a real power pack and a big strobe or ring flash (google Dave Hill for examples)

But otherwise - reflector is normally nicer and more natural

And of course any landscape/architecture - flash is useless
 

And of course any landscape/architecture - flash is useless

not really.. :)

flash can be used for light painting. sulhan here has demonstrated it before - you can search for his threads and look for the labrador park one. but yes, the uses are more limited, that's for sure.
 

there are certain effects that you can only produce with flash. E.g., glamour shots. But then again, forget about your little pop-up flash or normal flash. You need a real power pack and a big strobe or ring flash (google Dave Hill for examples)

But otherwise - reflector is normally nicer and more natural

And of course any landscape/architecture - flash is useless

professional interior/ architecture photogs uses strobes to achieve better results... you might have been cheated if you think some the beautifully taken pictures in interior design magazines are taken with available lighting.;)
 

professional interior/ architecture photogs uses strobes to achieve better results... you might have been cheated if you think some the beautifully taken pictures in interior design magazines are taken with available lighting.;)
that and whole lot of pp.
 

Actually... with Nikon's CLS AWL system.

You can actually have LOADS of fun, off camera lighting can be a breeze seriously...

just need to get SB-600 minimum as slaves and you can strobe all you like...
 

Saw many professional photographer is doing that, carry along the flash and using the flash on day time. For example outdoor model shooting, outdoor wedding shooting etc, any advice
 

Saw many professional photographer is doing that, carry along the flash and using the flash on day time. For example outdoor model shooting, outdoor wedding shooting etc, any advice

It all depends on the scene.... if the subject is backlit, your camera may be easily fooled by the large amount of bright light and give you a metering which will cause your subject to be too dark while giving a bright BG. So in such a case, you fill flash to your subject to balance out the equation. How much, you can do trial and error to find out... ;)
 

It all depends on the scene.... if the subject is backlit, your camera may be easily fooled by the large amount of bright light and give you a metering which will cause your subject to be too dark while giving a bright BG. So in such a case, you fill flash to your subject to balance out the equation. How much, you can do trial and error to find out... ;)

In that situation, spot metering or centre weighted metering a better choice than matrix metering? :think:
 

When you're shooting outdoors near grass on a sunny afternoon, your BG can get very easily blown, cause many types of foliage are pretty damned waxy and reflective.

Reflectors sometimes work but you might need a large one like those california sunbounce for full body shots. Still, i'd prefer to work with a flash if i do have an extra unit to act as shadow diffuser in harsh light :bsmilie:
 

In that situation, spot metering or centre weighted metering a better choice than matrix metering? :think:

If you spot meter on the subject, then your BG will be blown... :sweat:
 

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