How to balance ambient & strobe lighting using a light meter?

[zona5101]

ok lets recap the question...

If I am using a flash outdoors as a fill light for eliminating potential facial & background shadows and using a sekonic light meter that shows my flash to be 50%, does that mean that I have the optimum balance?

maybe...maybe not. Lighting ratios are dependent on what you are trying to achieve. For example a classic lighting ratio between the main and fill is 2 to 1 where the main is twice as bright as the fill - or flipped around - the fill is 50% of the main. Is that optimum? Maybe...maybe you want something "flatter " where the main and fill are closer...or maybe you want something more dramatic so it closer to 3:1 or higher. Even thought I am using the terms "main" and "fill" it is the same concept just substitute the words "ambient" and "flash"

If so, what would be the advantage/disadvantage of going with a different ratio/percentage? Say, my light meter shows 70% flash and 30% ambient light...what difference does that make in taking the shot versus say 50% flash and 50% ambient light?

The ratio will determine how much flash is used to fill in the shadows or in the case of 70% flash 30% ambi, how much fill light from the sun is used to fill in around the flash. It will change the depth of the shadow... if overdone you get the washed out look of the flash only.


There are two other considerations for your fill flash lighting: color temperture balancing and the effect of longer shutter speeds on the ambient only portion of the exposure.