Available light with flash fill...

[rpcrowe]

I have often found that pure available light is not conducive to a good image. The lights generally come from above and cast dark shadows under the subject's chins and under eyebrows. Using a modicum of flash fill will allow me to get a better image but, not have the image look like it has been lit with flash.

In this shot of a butcher stall at the Wong Nai Chung Market in Hong Kong, I used a Canon 270EX flash a my fill light. Basically I used it in the same way that I would heve used fill flash outdoors.

I set my Canon 30D in AV mode and selected f/3.5 which would give a slightly larger depth of field than wide open. I selected ISO 400 which gave me an exposure of 1/45 second @f/3.5 and which is an ISO that my 30D can handle. The 1/45 second would stop any slight movement of the subject but, I tend to shoot when my subjects are relatively still. My f/2.8 IS lens would neutralize any shake on my part.

I bounced the little 270EX into a Joe Demb Mini Flip-It. I believe that Joe now calls this unit the Photojournalist Flip-It. I like the 270EX because it is so light that I can carry it all day on my camera or in my pocket without worrying about the weight. IMO, it is practicaly worthless without the Flip-It but, when I add the little reflector, the flash becomes quite a useful tool.

I reduced the flash intensity to -1 stop. This is the same way I usually shoot fill flash outdoors.

I post processed in Photoshop CS3 and did some noise reduction with Topaz Adjust 3 DeNoise. The result, IMO, is an image which looks like it has been shot using available light but, which is better than if it had been shot with available light alone.

[Glayva]

Very nice image and I do like your fill flash method and many thanks for the excellent write up.

[dblayn]

Thanks for the little jem of experience -- I appreciated reading through your thought process. Sometimes it can be a small hassle to get the flash out . . . blah blah . . . but the results are worth it instead of direct straight-on flash! I like the light and photo very much.

[Heaterguy]

That is a great shot. I like using availible light and flash as well. I recommend you read Joe McNally's "HOT SHOE DIARY'S" to see how he does his mixing.

[chris123]

Yes i agree with you if you have flash in you cam than you don't need any extra light for taking snaps.But sometime people use extra light and than they waste their pics.