Flash
Guide - The Teddy Bears Test
by
J. Ramón Palacios
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Teddy
Bear Test - Exteriors 204 and some conclusions
Variations
on aperture selected
(36)
Flash 1: on hot shoe, with diffuser
Flash head: straight forward
Flash settings: TTL + Matrix
Flash compensation: none
Flash 2: at right on SU-4 with diffuser
Exposure: 1/125 sec, f/8, S priority mode
Result: Very natural and soft fill flash, like in images 31,
34 & 35. |
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(37)
Everything as above, except for
exposure, locked at: 1/250 sec, f/5.6
Result: Exactly as above, with DOF reduced just a little.
The slightly more light into the chest of the brown bear is
the result of the wind moving the trees canopy after the exposure
was locked. |
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SOME
CONCLUSIONS AROUND FLASH FOR EXTERIORS
In
exteriors is where you use fill flash, balancing exposure for
ambient light; as opposed to flash (key, main source of light)
under most interiors conditions. Therefore the best flash settings
for exteriors are TTL + Matrix.
If
you decide to also use Matrix Metering and D lenses and you happen
to own a F5, F100, F90s/N90s, F90/N90, F80/N80, or a F70/N70,
then you get 3D Multi-Sensor Matrix Balanced fill flash, which
is even better, although hard to notice for the untrained eye.
Two
flashes are always better than one. I am positive three flashes
are always better than two. Diffusers and white cards are useless
outside, where the softness of secondary light is overpowered
by the natural key light.
Flash
compensation should not be used under strong contrast situations
like those illustrated here. Unless all you want is a spark or
catch light in the subjects eyes.
When
using two flashes make certain the triggering flash is not making
pre-flashes. To avoid them, simply tilt or rotate its head a little.
When "straight forward" is used here with two flashes,
it should be understood as "almost straight forward".
Again,
unless you want to shoot at wider apertures or faster shutter
speeds than those under P mode, keep it there and you then don't
have to worry much about checking the GN (Guide Number) and flash
reach. There is no shame in trusting your camera.
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