Please help with light balance

[disneydreamingdebby]

I am essentially clueless, so please keep in mind when answering the following:

How do I balance the natural light with the flash? I set up the tripod to take this, but with the flash the castle is washed out and without it, my daughters aren't visiable.

I have a rebel Xsi. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[RBennett]

Question: what setting did you use when you used the flash? The reason I ask is that your Canon should have a setting where you can have the rear-flash sync. Basically what it will do is it will hold the shutter open to expose the castle properly, but then it will fire the flash at the last second to expose for the girls. That would be my first suggestion, but flash photography is my weak area.

 

[mabas9395]

What mode was your camera in? Green Box Auto, Av, Tv, Manual?

 

[disneyboy2003]

I looked at the EXIF data for both your photos.

The top photo shows that you were using Program Mode, which selected settings of: shutter speed 1/60 sec, aperture f/3.5, and ISO 400.

The bottom photos was also in Program Mode, with settings of: shutter speed 1 second, aperture f/3.5, and ISO 400.


I'm not sure how much experience you have with photography (specifically, camera settings), so if my explanation is too simple, then I apologize in advance.

With flash photography, there are always 2 exposures going on in the photo: the foreground subject and the background. In your case, you want your flash photo to properly expose (1) your subject (the 2 girls) which is lit by the flash and (2) the background (the castle). The flash helps with the foreground exposure. Your camera settings determine the background exposure.

There are several ways of achieving proper exposure (both the foreground subject and the background) in your flash photo. Whichever way you choose, you should end up with approximately the same camera settings for your photo.

First, there's a consumer-friendly, easy way of taking night pictures with flash. Your camera already has a "Night Scene" or "Night Portrait" mode:

Select this mode, and it should be set-it-and-forget it.


Second, you can try:

1. put your camera in Aperture Priority mode (Av),
2. set your metering mode to "Spot Metering" (the square with the dot in the middle),
3. when you look through the viewfinder, put the center spot right on the castle (the camera will then measure the exposure for ONLY the castle and choose the camera settings)
4. take your flash picture (I'm assuming that your flash is probably automatically set to "E-TTL")

Finally, if you're comfortable with Manual camera settings:

1. start by adjusting the settings to get the the proper exposure for the castle. Based on the photos above, you can probably try 1/8 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400. However, if you're trying to get both the foreground subject and background in focus, you'd probably want a smaller aperture (larger f-number), like perhaps f/5.6, f/8, or f/11. That means that you'd probably increase your ISO up to ISO 800 or, if needed, ISO 1600.
2. After you get the right settings for the proper exposure of the castle, you THEN add the flash. Set the flash to E-TTL, which is basically the "Auto" mode for flash. This should get you the proper flash exposure for your foreground subject. If it's too bright (ie. if your subjects are overexposed by the flash), try decreasing the Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC).

I think that any of the above steps should get you approximately the same camera settings for proper nighttime flash photography. Of course, I think the last option gives you the most control and the most creative control.

Again, sorry if this is all information you already knew. I'm sure others have better ideas. However, hope it helps.

 

[boBQuincy]

Or take the easy way out: layer the two images and adjust the opacity of one of the layers until it looks good. This works well if one area is dark and the other is light (and they are) and if the images are fairly well aligned (they are). A little layer masking will clean up any ghosts.

By working with the original images you should be able to get a pretty good blend. Here's my 60 second version...

 

[handicap18]

I took a similar picture a few years ago:

ISO 400, 1/20th shutter speed and f/3.5 (don't know why I used that f/stop ??!!??) and rear-curtain flash synch

You have the right idea. Put the camera on your tripod. Manual mode. Set your ISO low (400 or 200), Shutter speed slow (I would use probably 1/2 to 1 second) and an f/stop of about f/5.6 or f/8 (at least if I were to do it again this is about what I would use), pop your flash and set it to rear.

The slow shutter speed will give you the exposure you want on the background (in this case the Castle) and then setting your flash to rear will tell it to go off right before the shutter closes, thus giving you the exposure you want on your foreground (in this case, people). The flash will also freeze the action of the people so they wont be out of focus from movement even with the longer shutter.

 

[PhotographyDR]

Well I am kind of bias because I wrote the article but this will answer your question pretty well.

http://www.wdwphotography.com/photos/flash-in-the-park/

I think that this will help with your issue.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Question: what setting did you use when you used the flash? The reason I ask is that your Canon should have a setting where you can have the rear-flash sync. Basically what it will do is it will hold the shutter open to expose the castle properly, but then it will fire the flash at the last second to expose for the girls. That would be my first suggestion, but flash photography is my weak area.

Thanks for answering. Someone posted after you to set the flash to rear. I have to investigate that.

I looked at the EXIF data for both your photos.

The top photo shows that you were using Program Mode, which selected settings of: shutter speed 1/60 sec, aperture f/3.5, and ISO 400.

The bottom photos was also in Program Mode, with settings of: shutter speed 1 second, aperture f/3.5, and ISO 400.


I'm not sure how much experience you have with photography (specifically, camera settings), so if my explanation is too simple, then I apologize in advance.

With flash photography, there are always 2 exposures going on in the photo: the foreground subject and the background. In your case, you want your flash photo to properly expose (1) your subject (the 2 girls) which is lit by the flash and (2) the background (the castle). The flash helps with the foreground exposure. Your camera settings determine the background exposure.

There are several ways of achieving proper exposure (both the foreground subject and the background) in your flash photo. Whichever way you choose, you should end up with approximately the same camera settings for your photo.

First, there's a consumer-friendly, easy way of taking night pictures with flash. Your camera already has a "Night Scene" or "Night Portrait" mode:

Select this mode, and it should be set-it-and-forget it.


Second, you can try:

1. put your camera in Aperture Priority mode (Av),
2. set your metering mode to "Spot Metering" (the square with the dot in the middle),
3. when you look through the viewfinder, put the center spot right on the castle (the camera will then measure the exposure for ONLY the castle and choose the camera settings)
4. take your flash picture (I'm assuming that your flash is probably automatically set to "E-TTL")

Finally, if you're comfortable with Manual camera settings:

1. start by adjusting the settings to get the the proper exposure for the castle. Based on the photos above, you can probably try 1/8 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400. However, if you're trying to get both the foreground subject and background in focus, you'd probably want a smaller aperture (larger f-number), like perhaps f/5.6, f/8, or f/11. That means that you'd probably increase your ISO up to ISO 800 or, if needed, ISO 1600.
2. After you get the right settings for the proper exposure of the castle, you THEN add the flash. Set the flash to E-TTL, which is basically the "Auto" mode for flash. This should get you the proper flash exposure for your foreground subject. If it's too bright (ie. if your subjects are overexposed by the flash), try decreasing the Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC).

I think that any of the above steps should get you approximately the same camera settings for proper nighttime flash photography. Of course, I think the last option gives you the most control and the most creative control.

Again, sorry if this is all information you already knew. I'm sure others have better ideas. However, hope it helps.

Wow. Thank you. This is not anything that I know. I will have to print out your instructions and play a bit. I won't have the castle, but I should be able to find something fun to use for my background. Then, in the winter, I should be able to get a good castle shot!
Again, thanks...you do a great job explaining.

Or take the easy way out: layer the two images and adjust the opacity of one of the layers until it looks good. This works well if one area is dark and the other is light (and they are) and if the images are fairly well aligned (they are). A little layer masking will clean up any ghosts.

By working with the original images you should be able to get a pretty good blend. Here's my 60 second version...

First, I was so excited that you posted. I have your site bookmarked in my favorites! I took a picture to emmulate your Epcot Japan picture!
Here's mine (Which doesn't have the color depth in any way shape or form...how'd you make yours so vibrant? Mine is wahsed out.

Very cool how you layered them. I know NOTHING about editing. Eventually I will have to investigate this...what program do you use.

I took a similar picture a few years ago:

ISO 400, 1/20th shutter speed and f/3.5 (don't know why I used that f/stop ??!!??) and rear-curtain flash synch

You have the right idea. Put the camera on your tripod. Manual mode. Set your ISO low (400 or 200), Shutter speed slow (I would use probably 1/2 to 1 second) and an f/stop of about f/5.6 or f/8 (at least if I were to do it again this is about what I would use), pop your flash and set it to rear.

The slow shutter speed will give you the exposure you want on the background (in this case the Castle) and then setting your flash to rear will tell it to go off right before the shutter closes, thus giving you the exposure you want on your foreground (in this case, people). The flash will also freeze the action of the people so they wont be out of focus from movement even with the longer shutter.

Thanks. I will be investigating this. I didn't know I could set the flash...I love that it can freeze the people too!

Well I am kind of bias because I wrote the article but this will answer your question pretty well.

http://www.wdwphotography.com/photos/flash-in-the-park/

I think that this will help with your issue.

I am off to read this now!


Thank you everyone!