what the heck am I doing wrong?

[Breezy]

I have shot 2 weddings last weekend and this weekend. I am using the Metz flash attached with the flip it. No matter what I do how I bounce the flash, position the flip it use the diffuser etc.... I get shadows. Can anybody help???
And I have read the manuals only problem is I can't look at them again because some ################## stole them at the wedding last night
They stole my light meter manual, the camera manual and the flash manual, WHAT THE HELL THEY WILL DO WITH THEM BEATS THE HELL OUT OF ME!!!!
I am sure I will find them on ebay, it just pisses me off royally
So any adivse on the shadows?

[Cope]

Breezy,

I just emailed you a .pdf of the camera and flash manual, and realizsed you have a Metz. Go to their site and see if you can't download a copy. I will try to find a copy of the meter manual.

[a2rob]

Post some examples!!

[taygull]

yep, if you want advice on how to improve an image we'd need to see one.

[srwatters]

In general, you might consider dragging the shutter to help balance the ambient and subject. That is if you don't get motion softness issues.

Like others have said, we need to see one to offer more specific help.

[Breezy]

OK guys I will find a couple and post them.
Give me a bit.
Alan you are a life saver!!! I got them and I greatly appreciate them

[Breezy]

OK here are 3, Not great ones but I just clicked on 3 that I knew had shadows.
None of them have anything done since my photoshop won't even open now :(
SOOC Jpegs, I shot Jpeg and Raw
These are from Yesterday.
I will find a few from last weeks

[a2rob]

Originally Posted by Breezy

OK here are 3, Not great ones but I just clicked on 3 that I knew had shadows.
None of them have anything done since my photoshop won't even open now :(
SOOC Jpegs, I shot Jpeg and Raw

Humm, I can't view photos or your site..

[taygull]

I'd sure like to see how you had the camera setup. It looks like you shot the last two in portrait position and you are not using a flash bracket.

The first one has me a bit curios because it looks like you are holding the camera in landscape mode but the flash is coming from a left side of the axis.

One thing I can say is these don't really look like bounced flash to me. If you are using a demb unit then you might have the card push forward too much causing you to redirect the light towards the subject. When I use my demb flash only the flash that would have gone backwards gets directed towards the subject (most of the time).

[Breezy]

These are 3 from last weeks again not great but I knew these 3 had shadows

[Breezy]

Originally Posted by a2rob

Humm, I can't view photos or your site..

Rob are you saying you can't view my photo site?

[Breezy]

Chris no I am not using a bracket and 90% of the shots I didn't use the flip it at all cause the ceilings were pretty low and I figured bounce would be best.
The other "photographers" tried helping me cause she didn't understand it either.
We put my flash bouncing at same angle, same apt etc... and no matter what I got the shadows.
So I really don't know what I am doing wrong.
As for the landscape/ portrait positions for flash, sometimes it was pointed straight up for landscape, one notch towards them etc... I tried everything that I could think of and everything I have learned.
then in portrait style I swivled the head and had it bouncing striaght up, one notch towards them etc...
I just don't get it, and it frustrates the crap out of me. cause the pic of the groom and his dd would have been a nice shot, too bad the background sucks, but it was all like that.

[Breezy]

Rob as for my site, not sure what is going on but Toms isn't working either. I will call them in the morning.

[shutterflypro]

Breezy how tall are you?

Think of the light coming out of your as going in a straight line. Most of the pictures taken with flash cause shadows like you are seeing, however because of the ange used the shadpws normally drop down behind the subject.

If you are short then you should try elevating yourself. Try a chair or step ladder. Remeber that most diffusers will still emit light directly from the camera in a straight line. From camer to subject. With that being said you will need to change you angle of attack.



DISCLAIMER: All spelling errors and incomprehensible grammer are due t the fact that I am typing this drunk out in California right now. So I hope you can understand what I am trying to say.

Raymond

[Breezy]

Thanks Raymond I am only 5 foot 2.
So should I keep a small step ladder handy?

when you say that I need to change angle of attack you are referring to making myself taller right? or changing the angles of the flash to be more angled at times than straight up?

This being short crap sucks!!!