Everything I take with flash is underexposed :(

A

AngelinaV

Messages
4
Name
Angelina
Edit My Images
No
I'm borrowing a Nikon D200 to take some wedding photos for my dad, and although I did a photography course some years ago, it didn't cover flash photography. The camera has a speedlight, which I have several diffusing attachments for, but I cannot seem to get a picture that the histogram does not read as underexposed, even when it looks good on the preview and I aim the flash right at the subject.

I have tried setting the ISO at 1000, the shutter speed at 60, apeture at around f4 and it's still reading underexposed. I have used all sorts of settings and I just don't seem to be able to get it right. Even in photos where the flash looks harsh and obvious, I'm getting underexposure on the histogram.

Really want to get this right before the wedding. My dad isn't worried about professional results, but I would at least like to give him correct exposures!
 
What sort of a flash gun is it..it may help folk diagnose any problems you have.

Is the flash firing?

Are the settings normal/default?
 
Sorry, it's a Nikon SB800, and it's definitely firing. It's set up to be dedicated to the camera's settings. I haven't touched any of the settings since it was lent to me as I wasn't sure what did what and was told it wouldn't need it.

Thanks for your help :)
 
Last edited:
A few things to look at

Are you sure it's not just the background that is underexposed?

What exposure mode are you using on the camera, m,a,s etc?

Is the flash on normal firing mode or slow sync or something else?

What's dialled in terms of flash compensation on the camera?

Any exposure compensation dialled in?

And lastly, do you have any examples to post, ideally with exif data?
 
Thanks so much for your help. I'm not really sure what it's reading, the image looks fine to me on my computer and on the LCD screen, it's the histogram that's saying underexposure. Most of the spikes are clustered over to the left hand side, and I'm getting significant spikes there too. Could that be caused by the background only? This is the first time I've worked with a Digital SLR, when I did the course it was all film so getting used to histograms etc too.

Been using the camera on S setting as I thought that would be easier when I'm taking shots at the wedding. Not going below 60th at the moment, but the ISO is insane - using 100/200 with the flash just isn't an option and even at 1000 I can't get a decent exposure.

Flash is in AA mode, no adjustments for exposure. The camera is set for +0.7 exposure as my dad says he finds otherwise it underexposes. I'm getting perfect exposures without flash, by the way. I'm not sure about flash compensation on the camera, I don't have the manual for that, sadly. On the LCD readout, I'm getting the flash icon when it's plugged into the hotshoe, and beneath that, it says REAR if that's any help!

How would I post a sample with some EXIF data?

Thank you again, so much for your help. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time.
 
ISO set to 400 or 800 (I'd go 800 indoors) to give the flash a helping hand so it's not working too hard and this will also help you burn in a bit of ambient without resorting to really slow shutter speeds. Set camera to manual mode and the shutter speed set to something like 1/100th and aperture at f/4.5 and just whack the flash in TTL mode and not AA mode... the flash will do the work. You can then just adjust the shutter speed to something slower to burn in the ambient or speed it up to cut out the ambient and have only the flash contributing to the exposure. I wouldn't bother adjusting the aperture too much, as closing it down will only make the flash work harder. If you feel you're going too slow on the shutter, just increase the ISO.

There are loads of ways to shoot using flash but this is a pretty simple way that means all you ever do is adjust the shutter speed, which is easy using the command dial on the rear :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks specialman, just got some perfect exposures with those settings. What a relief. Hopefully I can get to grips with everything in time for the wedding now!
 
Whilst histograms are useful, don't be completely led by them as they can be misleading in some circumstances.

What's more useful is enabling "blinkies" or over-exposure warning. This makes areas of the image which are over exposed blink.

When talking about correct exposure it's quite subjective. If the main subject is exposed correctly. The fore/background may be under/over exposed but whether that's a problem differ from shot to shot.
 
AngelinaV said:
Thanks specialman, just got some perfect exposures with those settings. What a relief. Hopefully I can get to grips with everything in time for the wedding now!
Click to expand...

Glad it works for you. It's a bit of a 'catch-all' way of shooting because you can quickly go from lots of ambient that makes the flash less noticeable, through to flash-dominant exposures just by changing the shutter speed a few stops. Plus, with the flash in TTL, you can take advantage of high-speed sync and you don't have to fanny around with flash settings. The light might not be the best but exposures should be even most of the time...... just be mindful that when doing shots of the bride, especially when she's dominating the shot (i.e lots of white) you may need to take a few shots at different exposures just to make sure. :)
 
AngelinaV said:
compensation on the camera, I don't have the manual for that, sadly. On the LCD readout, I'm getting the flash icon when it's plugged into the hotshoe, and beneath that, it says REAR if that's any help!
How would I post a sample with some EXIF data?

Thank you again, so much for your help. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time.
Click to expand...

not got or used a d200 ,but on a d50 REAR means its set to rear curtain sync ,,,that may be part of the problem ,,,,get rid if that then try again maybe ???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top