Flash question

[ChrisTX]

Can someone explain to me how adjustments can be made to an off camera flash, not by changing the power of the flash so much, but by changing the aperture and shutter to keep the same exposure value? If my flash is too harsh, what would it mean to change the aperture size relative to the flash output?

Does that make any sense?

[ldelacruz]

Larger number equals less light. So if your flash is to powerful you can go up in aperture. Are you doing indoor or outdoor?

[ChrisTX]

Mostly this question is for outdoors. I'm working on using a flash during portrait type stuff in the evening, and I want to learn more about manipulating the flash to keep the light more natural looking.

Say I have a foreground subject being lit by off camera flash in an open outdoor scene. If my flash is too harsh, I can raise the aperture (changing the shutter accordingly to keep the correct exposure) and it will lower the light on the foreground subject. Is that about right? I know I can change flash power in camera, but changing shutter and aperture is way faster and easier than manipulating flash power in the camera menu.

[KenJulio]

I'm sure I'll be corrected by more exp members with what I'm thinking.

By changing the aperture and/or shutter, you're affecting the image not just your subject. If you change your EV or power on your flash, that will soften the light from your flash, leaving your background intact, assuming your background is correctly exposed.

Also, by changing the aperture, you changing the appearance of the image, for instance, if 2.8 is too hot, you go up 2 stops, you have more DOF. So you're changing the feel of the image itself.

[ldelacruz]

I prefer to match the flash to the available light. I try to achieve a look that does not look like flash.

[ChrisTX]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

I prefer to match the flash to the available light. I try to achieve a look that does not look like flash.

That's what I'm working with, but I usually change the flash power using the menu in the camera, or on the flash itself. In instances where DOF is irrelevant, if I have a flash that's put too much light on the subject, if I move the aperture higher by a stop, lower my shutter to a stop to keep the correct exposure, what effect does that have on the flash output? Will going to a smaller aperture lessen the power of the flash on the subject? I'm probably making this sound more complicated than it is.

[JWCustomPhotography]

Originally Posted by ChrisTX

That's what I'm working with, but I usually change the flash power using the menu in the camera, or on the flash itself. In instances where DOF is irrelevant, if I have a flash that's put too much light on the subject, if I move the aperture higher by a stop, lower my shutter to a stop to keep the correct exposure, what effect does that have on the flash output? Will going to a smaller aperture lessen the power of the flash on the subject? I'm probably making this sound more complicated than it is.

You mean...
Aperture controls your flash, and shutter controls ambient?

Smaller aperture will "lower" your flash power and vise versa.

Faster shutter will "dim" your ambient.

Does that help?

Zack arias gave me my
Ah ha moment with this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChrisTX]

Originally Posted by JWCustomPhotography

You mean...
Aperture controls your flash, and shutter controls ambient?

Smaller aperture will "lower" your flash power and vise versa.

Faster shutter will "dim" your ambient.

Does that help?

Zack arias gave me my
Ah ha moment with this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Greatly. Thanks.

[KenJulio]

So I heard what John said again tonight, I found this in Zach Arias' PDF for his Creative Lighting: http://www.zarias.com/posts/PDN_virt...esentation.pdf

[coneman]

Smaller aperture will "lower" your flash power and vise versa.

I'm curious about that statement. My flash output is not affected by aperture size. And if the flash did react to an aperture change, I think the opposite would be true.

[JWCustomPhotography]

Originally Posted by coneman

Smaller aperture will "lower" your flash power and vise versa.

I'm curious about that statement. My flash output is not affected by aperture size. And if the flash did react to an aperture change, I think the opposite would be true.

A smaller aperture opening (larger number) will allow less light from your flash to enter the camera. It doesn't actually change your flash output, but provides a similar effect so to speak

sorry for the confusion.


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