In natural light, there is generally only one correct exposure in a photo, which is the correct exposure for the ambient light. However, in flash photography, the correct exposure is whatever the photographer wants it to be. By establishing the correct exposure on the subject using flash, you can go beyond an evenly-lit ambient scene.
Most of what is mentioned in this unit is a reiteration of what was in Lighting 101. I'll skip the given exercise, which is to shoot a subject in the ever-changing light of twilight. I feel like I have a decent understanding of the concept of balancing light, and the rainy days certainly don't help.
Most of what is mentioned in this unit is a reiteration of what was in Lighting 101. I'll skip the given exercise, which is to shoot a subject in the ever-changing light of twilight. I feel like I have a decent understanding of the concept of balancing light, and the rainy days certainly don't help.
Unit 3.2 - Balancing Light: Flash/Sun Crosslighting
As touched on earlier in Lighting 101, fill flash is how one gets rid of harsh shadows in hard light situations, most often a midday sun.
To tame the sun, all you need to determine is:
- The angles you want the sun and speedlite to hit the subject
- How bright you want to set ambient light
- How bright you want to set your flash
Start by having the subject facing away from the sun. Hobby recommends setting shutter speed to max-sync speed when starting, so you can use aperture to set ambient exposure and maximize the flash's work without increasing its output. Once you get background exposure, bring the flash in at 1/2 power. Adjust the flash's exposure by altering power and distance.
And that's basically it. Pretty straightforward.
To tame the sun, all you need to determine is:
- The angles you want the sun and speedlite to hit the subject
- How bright you want to set ambient light
- How bright you want to set your flash
Start by having the subject facing away from the sun. Hobby recommends setting shutter speed to max-sync speed when starting, so you can use aperture to set ambient exposure and maximize the flash's work without increasing its output. Once you get background exposure, bring the flash in at 1/2 power. Adjust the flash's exposure by altering power and distance.
And that's basically it. Pretty straightforward.
Unit 3.3 - Balancing Ambient/Flash Indoors
Again, this was already touched upon in Lighting 101. Basically, once you can expose properly for the flash on the subject, the ambient light can is controlled by the shutter speed. Increasing the ambient exposure also controls the tone of the background (you can go from darkness to having rich tones to having an "airy" look.
Techniques
In summary, there are only two variables that I need to control: flash and ambient light. There are three ways to control them.
1. Altering both light levels at the same time is done by changing aperture.
2. Altering only ambient light is done by controlling shutter speed.
3. Altering flash-lit area but not ambient is done by making opposite adjustments on aperture and shutter speed to compensate.
Total Time reading through Unit 3: 1.25 hours. Includes time looking at other people's work.
1. Altering both light levels at the same time is done by changing aperture.
2. Altering only ambient light is done by controlling shutter speed.
3. Altering flash-lit area but not ambient is done by making opposite adjustments on aperture and shutter speed to compensate.
Total Time reading through Unit 3: 1.25 hours. Includes time looking at other people's work.