Waldemar
Enthusiast
Jul 22, 2005, 10:28 AM
Post #2 of 3
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Re: [ryin] need help using a flash for wedding!?!
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I'm not familiar with the Sigma flashes, but typically the "M" settings are for manually controlling the output of the flash. For wedding photography the TTL setting is best, so long as the photographer is assured there is an electronic link between the camera's exposure setting and the flash unit. With TTL the strength and duration of the flash is directly controlled by the camera's metering system, and will almost certainly provide a good exposure.
Here is an example universally used by photographers:
A white 3"x 5" card is taped to the top of the flash head so that most of the card extends beyond the lens of the flash. Some light will reflect off of this card. This light will less directional and much softer than the lignt emanating directly out of the flash. The flash head head is then tilted up, sometimes as much as 90 degrees. Most of the light will bounce off overhead surfaces in the immediate environment. The end result is the light that actually reaches the subject is very soft, having been bounced off of both the card and the ceiling (if one is indoors), and the resulting exposure is void of red-eye effects and all shadows are very soft.
The effective maximum distance will depend upon the Guide Number Rating of the flash unit. At, least that is what used to be used with film cameras. All of my still camera equimpent dates to 10 or more years old. A Guide number rating of 70 or above will be sufficient for most wedding work, but probably not stong enough for large group portraits. A guide number of over 100 will throw enough light out some 30 or 40 feet.
Another advantage of TTL metering is a technique known as "flash-fill". The camra must have that feature programmed into it, however. "Flash-fill" is intended for daylight use and produces just enough fill light to erase the harsh shadows caused by the sun. If the camera doesn't have flash fill capability, set the flash for manual amd experiment with reduced output percentages, starting at 25%. If the flash has a thyristor sensor on it, which is a method of the flash unit measuring its own output, set the flash for a film speed two or three stops faster. ISO 400 on the flash for ISO 64 film in the camera, for example.
Good luck!
G5 1.8. Final Cut/QT Pro/iMovie/Still Life. GL1. XL1-s
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