Long exposure with rear curtain flash - how?

-RV-

-RV-

Messages
455
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
Yes
You know the shots of kids waving sparklers that suggest a long exposure but the face is correctly exposed and sharp ? I want to try for something like that.

I'm well used to shooting using flash in normal lighting conditions, but I'm struggling to understand what to set it to to get what I want.

Any advice would be welcome.
 
You only need rear curtain sync if you want their face to be frozen (the flash exposure) after the sparkler waving (the ambient exposure). You'll want this if the two are visually at-odds with each other e.g. if they're writing a word it would look odd for them to be frozen at the start of writing the word rather than at the end as the word would magically appear after their position rather than looking like it was written by them. If they're doing circles or random waving that crosses back over the place they started from you'd be alright with first curtain sync.

Set the flash to second curtain sync, choose a shutter speed for the amount of time you want the capture the movement for and choose an aperture/ISO combination to get the level of ambient light exposure that you want. You may want to gel the flash to match the ambient light (if there's a difference between the two light temperatures).
 
Ok, I wasn't sure, I thought it usually looked better as rear curtain :bonk:

I guess whats confusing me is that I want a long exposure - say a few seconds but I also want to get a sharp shot of their face.

To me it seems like I'm trying to do too much in one go. If I set the Aperture/ISO/Shutter speed for the long exposure what do I do with the Flash settings ? I'll be using a SB800 on iTTL - will it just "work" ?
 
BandyQuill said:
if this is an external flash just flash it off camera with it in hand camera on tripod doing long eposure and you can flash to your hearts content :) make it much easier ?
Click to expand...
Aha, yes, I could do that too - good idea.
 
-RV- said:
Ok, I wasn't sure, I thought it usually looked better as rear curtain :bonk:

I guess whats confusing me is that I want a long exposure - say a few seconds but I also want to get a sharp shot of their face.

To me it seems like I'm trying to do too much in one go. If I set the Aperture/ISO/Shutter speed for the long exposure what do I do with the Flash settings ? I'll be using a SB800 on iTTL - will it just "work" ?
Click to expand...

If you use normal first curtain sync, you will be able to time the flash for the best facial expression and pose, then the sparkler action will follow.

Use second curtain if the subject is moving, like writing a word or running along perhaps, when it will look better with the subject at the end with the sparkler trails falling behind.

Either way, I would set the camera manually to ensure you get the shutter speed you want (at say f/5.6, ISO400) with the flash on auto and it should sort itself out by balancing to the f/number and ISO.
 
-RV- said:
what do I do with the Flash settings
Click to expand...

It might be worth setting the flash exposure compensation to underexpose so you don't overpower the ambient exposure. If you're setting up the shot you could always do it with manual flash and judge it with test shots, just remember to maintain the same flash to subject distance.
 
HoppyUK said:
If you use normal first curtain sync, you will be able to time the flash for the best facial expression and pose, then the sparkler action will follow.

Use second curtain if the subject is moving, like writing a word or running along perhaps, when it will look better with the subject at the end with the sparkler trails falling behind.

Either way, I would set the camera manually to ensure you get the shutter speed you want (at say f/5.6, ISO400) with the flash on auto and it should sort itself out by balancing to the f/number and ISO.
Click to expand...

DazJW said:
It might be worth setting the flash exposure compensation to underexpose so you don't overpower the ambient exposure. If you're setting up the shot you could always do it with manual flash and judge it with test shots, just remember to maintain the same flash to subject distance.
Click to expand...

Thanks both of you. I'll test it tonight :)
 
Good advice already re choosing between front and rear sync.

D300 & SB-800 is a good pairing. Choose the flash sync mode by holding down the flash button on the side of the flash hood (not flash release, the other one) and spinning the thumb dial to cycle through the options (redeye, rear etc)

iTTL should see you right as it pre-flashes to get a reading of ambient/ subject lighting.

However, I'd agree with combining the handheld option with manual settings/ manual release. That way you can follow the subject to make sure the flash is aimed at the right place/ right time. Remember you can tweak relative flash power not only using the settings buttons on the device but by moving closer to (brighter) or further away from (dimmer) your subject.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top