hello!i have some problems with taking pictures with flash especially with concert fotos .they allways are :or too white (whith too much flash)or the second plan of the image is too much dark couldn4t you give me a big help ,ppplllleeeeaaaasssssseeeeee?!!i would like to know how the speed makes the second plan less dark and how many f: i need to compensate to reflected flash and at last if someone give me the adress of sites in the internet talking about flash and books also talking about flash i know that i need experience but i would like to know more about flash.thanks and sorry about my english. once more muito obrigado(in portuguese)

-- luis costa (buisaisso@hotmail.com), September 19, 2000

Answers

Hi:

- Avoid flash and try a high speed film. - If not possible use slow sync flash (experiment) - Compensate at the printing stage: dodging + burning.

-- Marc Leest (mmm@n2photography.com), September 19, 2000.

In all my years shooting concerts, the spotlights were exposed at 1/250 at f2.8 with film at EI 1600. Maybe not on a high school stage but most all concert spotlights.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), September 19, 2000.

Take a reading off the grass around where you are going to be shooting. Set your camera to that setting. A teacher of mine gave me this info. He has been shooting for over 30 years. He shoots alot in the New Orleans cenateries.

-- kate (kate140@yahoo.com), October 06, 2000.

To learn about flash photography, go to the photonet forums page and type "flash" in the search box. You'll get a list of hundreds of flash questions and answers. Well worth reading.

A book that I've read, re-read and continue to consult is: "Mastering Flash Photography" by Susan McCartney Published by Amphoto Books, New York.

Regarding the black backgrounds in your flash pictures. I've had the same experience. Here's what you should try:

Turn OFF the flash. Take a meter reading of a performer. You'll probably find that the shutter speed is quite low. For example, let's say you use Aperture Priority or Manual, and select an aperture of F4. The accompanying shutter speed could be, for example, 1/4 second. Now, if you turn ON your flash and set your flash synch speed (or the camera does this for you) at 1/60th, then the PERFORMER will be illuminated properly BY THE FLASH, but the BACKGROUND will be dark because by setting 1/60 instead of the recommended 1/4 second you have UNDEREXPOSED THE BACKGROUND BY 4 STOPS (1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60 = 4 stops). You see? The flash will illuminate whatever it can reach and is determined by the apeture, but the shutter speed determines the background exposure.

The problem is that if the light is too bright and you set your shutter speed at a slow setting, the performer will be frozen by the flash, but have a ghost around him/her. Worse still, if the light is bright enough, the whole picture will by completely blurred--just as it would be if you went outdoors and hand-held your camera while trying to shoot at a slow shutter speed. The best situation is that the performer is frozen and the background is visible. There's no simple rule to follow.

The answer is to bracket your shots until you get an idea of when to use one technique versus another: Shoot one at the meter's recommended slow shutter speed. Shoot another using 1/60th or even at whatever your maximum flash synch speed is, possibly 1/125 or 1/250-- check your manual. Keep notes and analyse your shots later. You'll see what works and what doesn't.

Flash is complicated, but gets easier with experience. Don't be discouraged if you don't get what you expect immediately. As I said, shoot it both ways and see what you get. You'll learn as you practice and review your shots and notes.

Good luck.

-- Roy Kekewich (roykekewich@yahoo.com), October 07, 2000.