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NEW Basic Assignment #6: Fill-in flash

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pegelli View Drop Down
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Posts: 38965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pegelli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: NEW Basic Assignment #6: Fill-in flash
    Posted: 01 January 2010 at 15:12
Use of Fill-in Flash


Flash is not only for inside or dark circumstances. It can also provide a means to lighten up shadows to get a more balanced exposure in high contrast situations in bright daylight. A random article can be seen here, but googling "fill in flash" will get you in touch with many more references.

In this (for the moment last) basic assignment your job is to make a pleasing photograph of a high contrast situation using fill in flash. It doesn't matter if it's the pop-up flash or an external (on or off-camera) flash. Pls try to make the use of the fill-in flash non-obvious in the final result and make sure it doesn't create additional (harsh) shadows by itself. If you want you can post the same scene with and without the fill-in flash to show the effect better. Last but not least pls. no studio set-ups and only crop in one direction.


General Assignment Rules


The general rules for the assignments are as follows :

- clean slate, all “old” assignments will be locked (over time as the new ones are created)
- no mining, shots must be specifically taken for the assignment (we trust you )
- only one assignment at the time. Once started you can only take the next assignment after having passed.
- one dimension crop and minor straightening allowed (to allow different aspect ratios, but don’t crop in both directions)
- max 2 pics per post/try
- you can do the assignments in any order, and repeated as many times as you want
- at least one moderators or admin will comment on every post and determine fail/pass. This might include general C&C as well.
- all members of Dyxum can also leave comments on the shots posted
- id of members that passed will be kept in a "pass post"
- specifically good pictures or good examples of assignment passes will be kept in a new "assignment gallery"
- instructions for specific assignments will generally stay as is (and we'll have to write new ones for new assignments).
- shots posted for the assignments are eligible for selection in the weekly exhibitions




Edited by pegelli - 16 January 2010 at 21:01
You can see the April Foolishness 2023 exhibition here Another great show of the talent we have on Dyxum
 



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Berean View Drop Down
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Posts: 155 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Berean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 January 2010 at 17:17


My submission for this fill in flash assignment. No flash, 1/80 s, f/4, ISO 200, 30mm



Fill in flash (1/16 strength), 1/60 s, f/4, ISO 200, 30mm.

Hope these are okay? Ian.

Edited by Berean - 28 January 2010 at 18:49
Can't you see? It all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds, shillings and pence: Roger Waters.

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p_man View Drop Down
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Posts: 1021 		Post Options Post Options   Quote p_man Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 January 2010 at 17:27
I think this really shows the benefits of fill flash. I would have been tempted to do an HDR.
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bms44974 View Drop Down
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Posts: 5476 		Post Options Post Options   Quote bms44974 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 01:09
@Berean: Two things make it difficult to evaluate your submission. The first is the difference in shutter speed. As one of the Mods pointed out off-line, the windows are quite a bit brighter in #2 than in #1. As they are back-lit, the majority of the observed difference must be attributed to the difference in shutter speed. This difference will also help illumination the walls. The other difficulty is that one of the assignment objectives is to "make sure it doesn't create additional (harsh) shadows by itself". Since the surface photographed is basically flat, there are no objects to cast shadows and, hence, no way to determine whether the flash cast any notable shadows of its own. You are on the right track, but another photo, taking the above into account, would help.

Cheers... Brian
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lomitamike View Drop Down
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Posts: 828 		Post Options Post Options   Quote lomitamike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 05:25
Trying to get the right metering was tough on this one. This was the best I could manage without blowing out the sky and getting a good fill on her.
Sony A700 with KM5600
Sony 18-250 @ 45mm f/8 ISO 200 1/200



Edited by lomitamike - 29 January 2010 at 05:28
A900, A850, A6000,
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Berean View Drop Down
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Posts: 155 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Berean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 09:26
My resubmission for this assignment. a700, Sigma 17-70mm @ 20mm, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 100, no flash.



Fill in flash, with no shadows (hopefully!). A700, Sigma 17-70mm @20mm, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 100, 1/2 strength flash.



Thanks for your consideration
Can't you see? It all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds, shillings and pence: Roger Waters.

A700, Sig 10-20, 17-70, 70-200, Min 24-85, 28, 50, Vivitar 100 macro, HVFL 42AM
 



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bms44974 View Drop Down
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Posts: 5476 		Post Options Post Options   Quote bms44974 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 14:44
@Lomitamike: Mike, This is an extreme lighting situation for which the fill-flash technique is useful. There are no harsh shadows on the subject, although part of the reason may be the close proximity of the flash to the lens. There are some noticable shadows created by the rope on the fence. Your photo qualifies as a PASS for the assignment, but I would suggest a bit less flash may have done the job. Your photo also points out a difficulty with the technique. The white balance for the areas illuminated by the flash do not match the white balance for the rest of the image. There are ways to minimize this effect, but I won't get into them here.

Cheers... Brian
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Posts: 5476 		Post Options Post Options   Quote bms44974 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 15:06
@Berean: Ian, please recheck your Exif data on these shots. Either the cloud cover in #1 lifted dramatically for #2 or the exposure settings for the two shots are different by about 2.5 stops. #1 also seems to have a greater DOF. Retaining the Exif data in the posted JPG file would be a big help (I wish EVERYONE would do this). I increased the exposure of #1 in LR to match the exposure of the sky and house in #2, giving this:



Two things are notable in this version of #1, the greater DOF and the legibility of the inscription on the featured marker. You have done a good job of controling the shadows with your fill-flash in #2, but these shadows gave interest to the subject. This is a case where the fill-flash may have diminished the image rather then improve it. I appreciate your effort to provide a before and after for your submissions as they are a great learning tool. However, the before shot is not a requirement. Please try again.

Cheers... Brian
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Berean View Drop Down
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Posts: 155 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Berean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 18:35
Originally posted by bms44974 bms44974 wrote:

@Berean: Ian, Either the cloud cover in #1 lifted dramatically for #2 or the exposure settings for the two shots are different by about 2.5 stops. #1 also seems to have a greater DOF. Retaining the Exif data in the posted JPG file would be a big help (I wish EVERYONE would do this).

@Brian: No, the cloud cover didn't lift it was 1/500s verses 1/250s flash sync, so I see your point: thank you. There was no change in DoF, both being f/5.6, ISO the same, as was focal length for both shots. I've not posted the EXIF data from the JPEG file as I don't know where to find it: I shoot in Raw and convert, have made no adjustments in Bridge for these shots, and the EXIF data isn't freely available (to my limited ability in PS/Bridge). If you know how I find it I would be grateful. Incidentally, it does say at the beginning of the post that one may post both flash and no flash shots.

My resubmitted flash fill in, with no shadow, and normally exposed background (but sadly blown out window). I appreciate the Bible book marks, being white, are a little over exposed. No adjustments made: a700, Sigma 17-70mm @17mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1s, HVFL42AM flash @1/32 strength. I hope my fourth submission is good enough    Thank you. Ian.
Can't you see? It all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds, shillings and pence: Roger Waters.

A700, Sig 10-20, 17-70, 70-200, Min 24-85, 28, 50, Vivitar 100 macro, HVFL 42AM
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bms44974 View Drop Down
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Posts: 5476 		Post Options Post Options   Quote bms44974 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 January 2010 at 22:08
@Berean: I'm going to have to ask you to do this again (just kidding!) This one is a pass. The window is overexposed, but the book marks are fine. You've illuminated the shadows on the wings without overpowering them. On to your next assignment.

Cheers... Brian

Edit: You can retain the exif information by unchecking the option "Minimize Embedded Metadata" when you create the JPG file. I don't use CS/ACR so I can't tell you exactly where to find it. In LR it's in the Export dialog.

Edited by bms44974 - 29 January 2010 at 22:17
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Berean View Drop Down
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Posts: 155 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Berean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 January 2010 at 00:41
Originally posted by bms44974 bms44974 wrote:

This one is a pass

Thank you, Brian, and thanks for the advice: Much appreciated! Ian.
Can't you see? It all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds, shillings and pence: Roger Waters.

A700, Sig 10-20, 17-70, 70-200, Min 24-85, 28, 50, Vivitar 100 macro, HVFL 42AM
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Posts: 38965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pegelli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 January 2010 at 08:20
@lomitamike, nice use of fill-in flash and I didn't notice the rope shadows until Brian poited them out. However I have two other tips regarding the picture and that is to try and not chop off the feet of the person in the picture and maybe put the subject a bit less central.
You can see the April Foolishness 2023 exhibition here Another great show of the talent we have on Dyxum
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Posts: 951 		Post Options Post Options   Quote outback88 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 February 2010 at 04:14

Preflash, not enough detail ie colour, also rather flat looking.



Post Flash, the internal yellow is more distintive & pronounced adding a more vibrant shot without the flash being too obvious - IMHO

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pegelli View Drop Down
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Posts: 38965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pegelli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 February 2010 at 20:46
outback88, sorry to say but I think the fill flash for me moved it in the wrong direction. Granted, the colors might be more pleasing but I don't like all the extra shadows (and thereby harsher contrast) you introduced. If you read the assignment it's about using fill in flash to overcome hars contrasts, while here you induced them. Time to try again I'm afraid.
You can see the April Foolishness 2023 exhibition here Another great show of the talent we have on Dyxum
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