Shooting indoors with changing light conditions and using flash

[ajax_andy]

I shot a wedding as a favour earlier this year and came across the following issue:

The drinks reception was in a room that had a huge glass panel in the roof... the weather was extremely changable and cloudy one moment, bright sunshine the next and so on... anyway I ended up manually setting my exposure, manually setting my flash exposure, lining up the shot and then just as I pressed the shutter the sun would either suddenly stream in to the room or disappear... this left me with a lot of shots VERY over or under exposed.

I was wondering to counter this in the future should I shoot in Shutter Priority mode? And also should my flash be set it ITTL?

[Rentham]

Yes, you'll want to be in iTTL mode there. Ride your flash exposure compensation up (if you want the flash to be the dominant light source) or down (you just need some fill) to get your desired look. I'd stay away from the automatic exposure modes on the camera. Shoot manual and let the flash bridge the gap to get your chosen exposure.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Yes, you'll want to be in iTTL mode there. Ride your flash exposure compensation up (if you want the flash to be the dominant light source) or down (you just need some fill) to get your desired look. I'd stay away from the automatic exposure modes on the camera. Shoot manual and let the flash bridge the gap to get your chosen exposure.

That's great advice thank you

So would you say that as a general rule that when the light can change its always best to shoot it iTTL, and when its steady then full manual?

[Rentham]

That's a pretty good rule of thumb. I go eTTL any time the situation is dynamic. In an event like a wedding, the variables are in constant flux. Ambient light, distance to subject, etc. I let the flash do the heavy computational lifting and it generally gives me what I'm asking for. I shoot manual flash in a controlled situation when I want consistent exposure from frame to frame.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

That's a pretty good rule of thumb. I go eTTL any time the situation is dynamic. In an event like a wedding, the variables are in constant flux. Ambient light, distance to subject, etc. I let the flash do the heavy computational lifting and it generally gives me what I'm asking for. I shoot manual flash in a controlled situation when I want consistent exposure from frame to frame.

Thank you... I'm pretty new to flash so this kind of information is really helpful

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

That's a pretty good rule of thumb. I go eTTL any time the situation is dynamic. In an event like a wedding, the variables are in constant flux. Ambient light, distance to subject, etc. I let the flash do the heavy computational lifting and it generally gives me what I'm asking for. I shoot manual flash in a controlled situation when I want consistent exposure from frame to frame.

Out of interest someone recommended to me that I shoot using spot metering and meter for the brides dress is order to ensure all the detail is captured... is this right?

Hope you dont mind me asking but I thought seeing as you mentioned you shoot weddings it was a good opportunity to get some expert advice

[Rentham]

I don't mind at all. Keeping detail in the dress is definitely important. A perfectly valid method may be something like using spot metering to expose for detail in the dress, fine tune, then lock it in with manual mode. I usually pick an aperture based on the DOF I want or need, then use SS and ISO to balance things out.

[ajax_andy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

I don't mind at all. Keeping detail in the dress is definitely important. A perfectly valid method may be something like using spot metering to expose for detail in the dress, fine tune, then lock it in with manual mode. I usually pick an aperture based on the DOF I want or need, then use SS and ISO to balance things out.

Thanks you've been very helpful