Speedlight Fill Flash

PatrickO

PatrickO

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Patrick
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I'm using outdoor fill flash more and would like to improve my technique.

Has anyone come across any good detailed online guides to using speedlights for outdoor fill flash.

I've had a look and not come across anything that impressed me.
 
On camera? I'm not sure there's a whole lot to it really, Patrick.
 
What Dean said.

IIRC If you shoot Nikon, the ambient and flash balance to create an exposure. So if you want the flash as fill, you might need to overexpose the ambient slightly (it all seems weird to me).

With Canon it's easier, you can shoot your normal ambient exposure, then dial in -1/2 stop on the flash, if it's too bright, dial it down, etc.

Don't try to bounce or diffuse it, you'll lose too much power and as it's just fill it creates no shadows so softening isn't that necessary.

I thought there was something on the B&H YouTube channel, but couldn't find it with a cursory look.
 
Yeah, use AP/AV eg and flash works it out for ya.
 
The23rdman said:
On camera? I'm not sure there's a whole lot to it really, Patrick.
Click to expand...

Yes, on camera.
Things I was wondering about: diffusers, manual or auto ttl, when to set the flash compensation up/down?
My pop-up seems to do a fair job but presumably a diffused speedlight would be better.
 
A speedlight, yes, but there is no need to diffuse it. You're not looking to add enough flash to be obvious so diffusion isn't necessary.

Patrick, just go out and play with it in TTL.
 
The23rdman said:
A speedlight, yes, but there is no need to diffuse it. You're not looking to add enough flash to be obvious so diffusion isn't necessary.

Patrick, just go out and play with it in TTL.
Click to expand...
This^
And experiment with FEC.
 
Phil V said:
What Dean said.

IIRC If you shoot Nikon, the ambient and flash balance to create an exposure. So if you want the flash as fill, you might need to overexpose the ambient slightly (it all seems weird to me).

With Canon it's easier, you can shoot your normal ambient exposure, then dial in -1/2 stop on the flash, if it's too bright, dial it down, etc.
Click to expand...


Hi, You don't need to overexpose the ambient with Nikon to get the flash as a fill light. It's very easy to set up and you can also set the system up to give an automatic balanced light (flash and ambient).
 
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