Advice Needed Please!

[Pippy_Neville]

We are getting an award at our office next week and I have said ok to taking the photos for it, nothing too fancy just some hand shaking and handing over a certificate type thing.

However, the room it'll be in has no natural light, and the only window is sort of smoked with our logo and overlooks warehouse. There is some light there, but not much, and all I have is the onboard flash. The set up will be that I am only a max of about six/eight feet from subject. I may be able to borrow a Speedlite 550 but I've not used one yet. If I can't get the 550, I'm planning to use 400D + 50 f1.8 + tripod (as the nifty is my fastest lens). Photos are for our website and possibly a few trade mags.

After that long and probably boring description, my questions are:
Should I use the onboard flash or just open up the lens? (I'm worried DOF won't be enough)
If I can get the speedlite is it best to bounce (he has no diffusers I think)
Any other tips?

Before anyone suggest it, work won't buy a flash for me as we're only a little family company (I've offered to do it as looking forward to experience) and yes, I will have a morning to practice some shots but only on the day itself.

Thanks everyone,
Phil

 

[oldgit]

Nothing wrong with the nifty50, remember at f1.8 the DOF is nearly nil. The kit lens may also be useful if you need a wider angle

Set ISO800 for indoors with flash.

The onboard is better than nothing, but the 550 will do you much better. It can be bounced off the ceiling for less harsh shadows.

If you've never used an external flash and dont have a lot of time to practice, though I hate to say it "P" mode is your friend.
Once you've some time/experience you'll probably find that "M" with something like IS0800, f6.3 , 1/100th (as a starting guess) will
work, although you are going to have to experiment.

If you use Av to open the lens, which is a good idea, then dont forget that the flash fires on the first shutter so you can still get a blur if the subjects are moving and the exposure time is long(ish) > 1/50th.

Oh and dont forget spare batteries

 

[Pippy_Neville]

Nothing wrong with the nifty50, remember at f1.8 the DOF is nearly nil. The kit lens may also be useful if you need a wider angle

Set ISO800 for indoors with flash.

The onboard is better than nothing, but the 550 will do you much better. It can be bounced off the ceiling for less harsh shadows.

If you've never used an external flash and dont have a lot of time to practice, though I hate to say it "P" mode is your friend.
Once you've some time/experience you'll probably find that "M" with something like IS0800, f6.3 , 1/100th (as a starting guess) will
work, although you are going to have to experiment.

If you use Av to open the lens, which is a good idea, then dont forget that the flash fires on the first shutter so you can still get a blur if the subjects are moving and the exposure time is long(ish) > 1/50th.

Oh and dont forget spare batteries

Thanks OG, that's really helpful, especially the advice on settings. I usually shoot on M these days so good advice to go for a P! I'm hoping I can get the 550 and get it a couple of days before so I can have a practice at home.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

You could make yourself a quick diffuser for nothing if you have a suitable sized round tupperware dish going spare - just cut a hole in the lid and put it over the head of the flash - tesco do a set of three that look as if they would work, for 75p or so

 

[Bazza155]

Always worth a few test shots, grab a collegue, shoot a few shots with different settings.

 

[towershot]

You could make yourself a quick diffuser for nothing if you have a suitable sized round tupperware dish going spare - just cut a hole in the lid and put it over the head of the flash - tesco do a set of three that look as if they would work, for 75p or so

But don't leave the salad in....:shake:

And don't forget to SMILE ,I know it's a pressure shoot ,but if you smile they might smile.......

 

[Pippy_Neville]

You could make yourself a quick diffuser for nothing if you have a suitable sized round tupperware dish going spare - just cut a hole in the lid and put it over the head of the flash - tesco do a set of three that look as if they would work, for 75p or so

Thanks FITP, I think I've decided to pop to Jessops and buy a diffuser though, they can't be much I would guess (cue laughter track from knowing flash enthusiasts!)

Always worth a few test shots, grab a collegue, shoot a few shots with different settings.

Yes, gonna try and get that sorted Bazza. I'm in office tomorrow so I'll try without flash then, hopefully I can pick up 550 at wknd to play and can try it Tuesday am in office (shoot is Tuesday lunchtime. Ooh, hark at me, "shoot"!)

But don't leave the salad in....:shake:

And don't forget to SMILE ,I know it's a pressure shoot ,but if you smile they might smile.......

I'm on pretty much nowt but salad at the mo' under orders towershot! And I'll try and remember to smile...

Thanks all, I'm looking forward to it!

 

[david1701]

if the walls are white bounce it either off the ceiling or the wall behind you, and i woulda thought iso 200/400 with a proper flash, if you can get hold of a gel to balance the flash output to the rooms light (florescent or tungsten) it will be easy to shoot raw and then correct the colours afterwards

 

[awp]

You need to use flash for this.

Don't shoot ANYTHING until it's all over and you can set up the shots - otherwise just looks messy.

 

[MJ Stebbings]

Shoot in RAW, its a must!!!

 

[Out Of Focus]

You say you are going to use your nifty fifty to get a wide aperture however as you're using flash and not ambient then a very wide aperture is not important. If the room is relatively small and/or will be relatively packed with punters and/or you are relatively close to the subjects then it would be much better to use your 20-80 @ 20mm (or thereabouts) ....... if you bounce the flash off the ceiling (as david1701 says) and as long as it's not too far above you then from a 550 there will be plenty of punch for f4 or 5.6 at least, probably smaller and bouncing will give a wider coverage for the 20mm FL as well as a better style of lighting

But as others have said it's difficult to tell, not knowing the room etc, so have a few practices first

Good luck, Dave B.

 

[david1701]

just a thought do you have access to triggers/ a pc cord?

 

[Pippy_Neville]

if the walls are white bounce it either off the ceiling or the wall behind you, and i woulda thought iso 200/400 with a proper flash, if you can get hold of a gel to balance the flash output to the rooms light (florescent or tungsten) it will be easy to shoot raw and then correct the colours afterwards

Sounds like good advice david. I'm definitely getting the flash now but not any gels... should have sent off for the lee filters set!

You need to use flash for this.

Don't shoot ANYTHING until it's all over and you can set up the shots - otherwise just looks messy.

I hadn't thought of that, will do. Thanks awp.

Shoot in RAW, its a must!!!

Thanks MJ, I usually do, I'll double check.

You say you are going to use your nifty fifty to get a wide aperture however as you're using flash and not ambient then a very wide aperture is not important. If the room is relatively small and/or will be relatively packed with punters and/or you are relatively close to the subjects then it would be much better to use your 20-80 @ 20mm (or thereabouts) ....... if you bounce the flash off the ceiling (as david1701 says) and as long as it's not too far above you then from a 550 there will be plenty of punch for f4 or 5.6 at least, probably smaller and bouncing will give a wider coverage for the 20mm FL as well as a better style of lighting

But as others have said it's difficult to tell, not knowing the room etc, so have a few practices first

Good luck, Dave B.

Thanks DB... as said above, getting the flash now so you're right, speed not a must. I still think the nifty is sharpest I've got generally, but will try with 18 & 28 as well as seems best. Will certainly try to set up to bounce the light, sounds like a must.

just a thought do you have access to triggers/ a pc cord?

No, unfortunately not david. (although I have to admit I'm not sure what a pc cord is or does!)