Flash Vrs open wide with natural light

[MHD]

So you find your self at a functionand you have the choice of either using your trusty SB-800 or using a fast nikkor prime (sub f/2) to get the pic...

What do you do?

[JordanP]

I think you have left an option out .... what about both?

Personally I go wide open but at times when I'm verging on a risky hand holding shutterspeed I will usually back up at least with wide open + flash (usually at least a stop down so the natural light has power over the shot)

Cheers,

[MHD]

yep true... But I found that when I was filling with a fast prime I needed to stop the prime down to stop it blowing...

I was asking this as I was looking through some photos I have taken and I definately think that the riskier ones, ie the ones shot with f/1.4 - f/2.0 to acheieve shutters of 1/20-1/60 turned out better (even though I had a slightly higher "miss" rate)

[birddog114]

No flash with fast prime lenses,
That why I invested my funds in 28/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 105/f2 DC.
I love natural light

[sirhc55]

I think that at a function (especially if being paid) I would tend towards getting the shot with whatever knowledge I had to hand and was sure of. If I thought the prime without flash would be OK then yes I would go that way.

But, in reality, it is not really a time to experiment.

Chris

[MHD]

I was Backup

It was very liberating

[JordanP]

yep true... But I found that when I was filling with a fast prime I needed to stop the prime down to stop it blowing...

I was asking this as I was looking through some photos I have taken and I definately think that the riskier ones, ie the ones shot with f/1.4 - f/2.0 to acheieve shutters of 1/20-1/60 turned out better (even though I had a slightly higher "miss" rate)

I just dial the flash back to stop any blowing. Have to agree that natural light is generally much better - but in defense of the SB800 I have also achieved results that look natural with the flash. I'm just at ends learning to use it properly - used to a more manual flash system that wasn't linked into metering where I had complete control.

[xerubus]

i shoot wide open and occasionally use flash just as a fill for poor light conditions...

cheers

[MattC]

Personally, I prefer to shoot a couple of stops down from wide open. I generally find that the DOF at even f2.8 is a little less than desireable for much of what I do. When shutter speeds get too low for hand held shooting I pull out the speedlight. I try to use it sparingly to avoid over powering natural light - doesn't always work.

Cheers

Matt

[Raydar]

With the SB – 800 on top of the cam, that’s a hard one to vote on

Cheers
Ray

[Onyx]

Proper use of flash should render it invisible, ie. more "natural" than nature intended...

Depth of field is certainly an issue shooting any lens wide open. Add to that less than optimal sharpness, means you'd either turn up the sharpening in PP or more likely resize to keep final image small(ish).

[dooda]

Onyx,

I tried everything on with flash in dark indoors when close up with SB 800 and couldn't get rid of that washed out look. What's the secret?

ALso, with ambient and flash, what do you use for WB?

[birddog114]

Onyx,

I tried everything on with flash in dark indoors when close up with SB 800 and couldn't get rid of that washed out look. What's the secret?

ALso, with ambient and flash, what do you use for WB?

dooda,
I'm offering you an accomodation in Sydney for a week, so you can get Onyx around to play with all the "secret of SB-800",

[dooda]

Careful what you say birdie, I just may take you up on it. I could use some serious tutelage.

[birddog114]

Careful what you say birdie, I just may take you up on it. I could use some serious tutelage.

Dooda,
Not too worry, I knew you can, cos your love can fly you to Down Under!
One small thing to ask: if you heading South with her, ask her to make a contact with our control tower so we can give her special clearance on approaching

[gstark]

I'll probably use both, and try to balance the sources so thet the light appears to be natural, but the flash fills the shadows nicely.

Oh yes, rarely wide oipen - I want the sweet spot of the lens most times, along with the extra DoF that affords me.

[Onyx]

Onyx,

I tried everything on with flash in dark indoors when close up with SB 800 and couldn't get rid of that washed out look. What's the secret?

ALso, with ambient and flash, what do you use for WB?

Be careful how close up you get - 0.6 metres is the min distance recommended for the SB800 (use a longer lens to get you closer) Diffuse as much as possible. Lumiquest have a few nifty products in this respect (I think Gary has one of their pocket light diffuser thingy). But with the std SB800, pull down the wide angle adapter and place the white cap light diffuser on at the same time. Might help, or might not.

Ambient and flash - depends on what you call ambeint: if it's indoors ambient, try balance for the light source and use the coloured gels on the 800 (remember to compensate for the amount stated on the gel). If outdoors, WB flash or cloudy. Sunny -2/-3 might also bring you close to acceptable colour.

See you & your wife in Sydney at our forum anniversary maxi-meet in August. (find an excuse to come)

[nodabs]

ideally i'd like to play up to the flash say a longer exposure then freezing the forground with flash/s some nice seamless fill flash is good really as long as you craft your light into the environment flash is a good thing