Flash and Shooting Portrait as Opposed to Landscape?

[Cre8tivepixels]

Hey Guys,

Does anyone have anytips for shooting with the SB800 (any flash really dont think it matters) and why when shooting landscape i get great exposed pics but when turning the camera to portrait style i lose flash and it under exposses? Is there a tip to get this right?

Ie: head adjustment/postion or increase the output on the flash etc???

I want to shoot more Portrait style event images, but i am never happy with the exposure? And with these things you cant stuff around with the settings.....this type of photography is hit and run!

Dan

[gstark]

Dan,

Can you please show us some examples of the results that you're seeing.

Pending those ...

Many people, when using something loke the SB800, point the head up to use the ceiling as a diffuser.


And they forget to point it into a more appropriate direction when they switch from landscape to portrait orientation.

[MarkW]

I purchase a flash bracket from Joe Demb Products (USA) so that when rotating the camera to portrait format, I can adjust the bracket so that the flash is upright and still use bounce on the ceiling. Also the use of a side flash doesn't always give the lighting direction that I prefere so I can make adjustments using the bracket.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/bracket/

Remember ceilings are white (mostly) which is a very good reflector for bounce. Trying to bounce from walls will normally underexpose due to wall colour/texture, obstactles in the line of sight etc.

[Reschsmooth]

And they forget to point it into a more appropriate direction when they switch from landscape to portrait orientation.

and blind the poor person standing to their left!

[Oz_Beachside]

Dan, two things come to mind, are you covering any of the red window with your hand? (I know its AF assist, but I'm sure there is a sensor in there for something...).

also, as Gary mentioned, are you bouncing, and not adding enough compensation (such as EV +1.0?)

[wendellt]

dan not sure what you mean

when i use flash for press

it's always on ttl the camera meters the scene via matrix and the flash output is adjusted in most cases the camera gets it right but theres so much leighway with ttl in some cases it blows out images

standard flash work for social has my cam set to 1/250 f4 ISO320 flash on ttl compensation:0
this setting will pretty much kill the background(black)

alternatively on the 17-35 you can go all the way down to 1/50th at 35mm ISO640 tuen down flash compensation -3 and stand away from person about 1.2 metres you can get a balanced exposure with more ambient light in the background showing

the metering can be fooled in thedark when people are wearing all black and theres only a little lighter tones in the scene like the faces the camera will underexpose and the output from the flash will cause a blown result

flash can also underexpose depending on flash output like if its on full power it takes tiem to recycle and if your hammering your shots out then the flash cant keep up

regarding your specific problem i cant really advise im think maybe the angle of light is different when you turn the camera from portrait to landscape or the lighting situation changes between changovers so the meterign changes hence flash output changes

[johnd]

Dan, there is also a RRS Portrait Package that you use to rotate the SB800 around to whatever orientation you want. Check out the RRS site under Portrait Package. Like all RRS gear, it costs heaps but is built like a tank. I have the RRS package and it does a great job. I don't understand though why your SB800 isn't working when the camera is in portrait orientation. You should get the same amount of light on the subject as in landscape, but you will get shadows throwing to the left or right rather than directly behind.

Cheers
John

[MarkW]

Dan, there is also a RRS Portrait Package that you use to rotate the SB800 around to whatever orientation you want.

John
These RRS and also the Kirk systems whilst very good (I know cause I have the Kirk system but not the flash rotation product) are horrendously expensive. To start with you need the basic arca plate system to mount everything which means changing tripod and mono QR plates. The kirk system is about $200 US for the flash unit plus all the bits for the plate system which adds another $150 odd. The RRS system is even more expensive as everthing seems to come in 2 parts which have to be ordered seperately.

The Joe Demb product is simple easy to fit and can generally be used with your existing QR systems. Whilst its not as flash as the RRS or Kirk systems it effectively does the job.

[PiroStitch]

or u could just stick the sb800 onto the sc29 and hold it in one hand and hold the camera in the other hand

[jethro]

Flash bracket is the obvious choice! Spin it twist it Ect!
jethro