Best techniques for using a flash

[becksjd]

Hi Everybody,

I have an event I am going to be shooting this Friday. It isn't a huge event and it is low key but I want to use the opportunity to learn a few things. I am borrowing my SIL's flash and I am wondering if anyone has any tips. The event is an awards ceremony for a non profit organization. They just want me to take group shots. Someone suggested I point the flash to the ceiling. I know nothing about using a flash, does anyone have any pointers.

I want to take candid photos for them that night too and some of the awards, just more for practice for me, but they don't expect that. So can I get some tips on what I can do with the flash so that I don't blow people's faces out with the flash?

I suppose it would be similar to shooting a wedding reception in a reception hall. It will be darker, with some coloured lights.

Let me know if you have any ideas or if I need to clarify what I am asking (sometimes I don't make much sense).

Thanks again

Becky

[pekelo]

Here is a website that maybe helpful:

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-pho...looking-flash/

[inkista]

+1 on neilvn.com. Read fast. Practice A LOT. You don't have much time, and you've got a lot to learn. My recommendation would be to shoot with the camera in Manual mode, and the flash in TTL, and use FEC (if you're on Canon) or EC (if you're on Nikon) to compensate and adjust. Gel your flash if you're in an orangey environment. Learn to bounce if the ceilings will let you.

Above all, do not expect to light up an entire room with a mere speedlight powered on AAs. Let the ambient do the heavy lifting if you can.

[becksjd]

Thanks for the feedback...

[BigFuzzy]

heya Becky..
yeah, bit short notice. The thing I'd do is find out what the venue is like. CAN you bounce it off a ceiling/wall? Do they even have a usable ceiling/wall?

If no, and if you have no way of getting your flash off-camera, you need to practice learning how to use the flash compensation so you can use the flash without "whiting" everyone out by blasting flash into their faces full -on. So check your manual (or the flash's) to see how to compensate the flash. Typically, if shooting on camera, you'll need to compensate down (ie underexpose) the flash a bit to make it look more natural.

And make SURE you get the images sharp.. so (without going into too much detail) keep the shutter speed above 1/60th.

If you have the chance, and you know the lighting conditions will stay the same throughout the shoot. Take some practice shots and when you see an exposure that is good (ie bright but not too 'flashey') put it on manual and keep those settings, that way you don't have to keep checking to see if things are going well.

But remember, if you use that method, the ambient lighting needs to remain the same as does the distance between you and the subject!

Hope that helps.

PS looking at your flickr now.