How would you shoot this situation?

[fsendel]

Hi everyone, the other day I went to a party with some friends and took my camera. I have some experience with my SLR but I had never been in a situation like this one, although I had read the theory of what you should do. However, I wasn't able to obtain satisfying results.

It was very low light and outdoors. If I used the built in flash, pictures came out relatively ok but not very pleasent, with almost everything except the immediate subject completely dark. I tried to increase the ISO and not use any flash, but I had to go too high and pictures were too noisy... what should one do in this situation ?

Thanks for your tips!

[jdepould]

You need a slower shutter speed and second curtain sync. This is also called dragging the shutter. Right now, the camera is exposing for the foreground with flash, and ignoring the rest. You need to use a shutter speed slow enough to give your background some life.

[Jojie]

Originally Posted by fsendel

It was very low light and outdoors. If I used the built in flash, pictures came out relatively ok but not very pleasent, with almost everything except the immediate subject completely dark. I tried to increase the ISO and not use any flash, but I had to go too high and pictures were too noisy... what should one do in this situation ?

Thanks for your tips!

Buy an external flash. But meanwhile if you don't have one. Given a situation ofcourse but in your case I would have used flash on high ISO as well.. and not switch it off.. (considering very low light right??)

But if the images gets to harsh because of the lighting. Play with the builtin flash exposure.. perhaps tone it down a little?

But certainly .. I would (a newbie's point of view anyhow) I would play with my shutter speed ( enough so I don't get motion stuff. so around 40-60), lowest aperture possible, and bump up ISO (you'll have to live with some of the noise) and still use flash....

[fsendel]

Thanks to both of you for the tips. I've never actually tried the second curtain sync (its the same as rear sync, isn't it?) I will give it a try.



Regarding the external flash, I do plan to get one but, would it help for a stiuation such as this one? I always thought the external flash was useful for indoor shots so you can bounce the light and make the light more natural. But how would it help for an outdoor situation?

Thanks!