Sunsets and flash

[Torlough]

I know you all have these pics in your port, or have seen them. you know he hot chick on the beach with an orange sunset in the background and she is lit perfectly.


as an example but not as close to sunset.

Most of the photography I do is with existing light. I am going to be out next week doing a portrait in a park an hour before sunset. I plan on bringing a 32" reflector. But I have a feeling flash fill might be needed. That is where I need help/ input/ advice.

I am using a small format digital and I have a canon 430 with a reflector modifier and a softening modifier. Will this work, are there tricks, should I gel it and what color?

Thanks

[brian.austin]

What does "small format digital" mean? Are you using a compact, point & shoot, or referring to a cropped dSLR?

Not sure why you'd need gels. This is fairly easy to set up, especially with eTTL/iTTL on newer flashes. Meter and expose for the background. Set the flash to eTTL/iTTL. Shoot. Adjust power as desired.

With modifiers, I usually bump up the power a bit.

[waple]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

Not sure why you'd need gels.

Wouldn't you need an orange gel to warm the flash so that the model doesn't look cool compared to the warm background?

[Torlough]

brian - XTi - cropped SLR digital.

waple - yes that is what I was thinking

I have a 430 EX so that shouldn't be a problem.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by waple

Wouldn't you need an orange gel to warm the flash so that the model doesn't look cool compared to the warm background?

That image he linked isn't "warmed".

Personally, I've never seen one used. If you want it warmed, bring a couple of big reflectors. 4x8 ft sheets of white tileboard at Home Depot were about $11 last I checked.

[Torlough]

Couple lrg 4x8 reflectors won't happen in this shoot. I am shooing in an NYC park and my permit will limit the # of people and equipment I can bring.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Torlough

Couple lrg 4x8 reflectors won't happen in this shoot. I am shooing in an NYC park and my permit will limit the # of people and equipment I can bring.

If you're worried about color temp, two options:

1. Bring a warming gel for the flash and use it on some shots.
2. Test it prior to the shoot so everything is dialed in.

Personally, I use #2 constantly for new techniques. If I have a paying customer, I'm not using them as a guinea pig.

[Torlough]

yep that is the plan a CTO 1/2 an 1/4.

Not a paying client but I want to get teh shot done in a couple of hours at the most. Including changes.

IMHO I have seen alot fo these shots where the light on the model is too cool for the background and it screams FLASH to me.

[Alfred D.]

When you use light modifiers you shorten the flash' effective distance. Which isn't much begin with, of course. And which is actually dramatic at stopped down apertures...

[Austen]

Don't forget to post back your results !!!



Austen.

[Mark McCall]

The image posted shows the model in neutral color, so If that's the effect you want, I wouldn't gel the flash.

To get the look for the background/sunset, you'll need to underexpose it.

These are tricky shots to recreate.
If I was creating this image, I'd probably use a nuetral density filter to knock down the exposure of the sky, then turn up the flash.

[Torlough]

The way I understand it I need to drag the shutter. I am going to set the F-Stop for the sync of the canon 430 ex flash and then calibrate the speed through the lens for the background. Then play around.

I will also have a bounce, so I shouldn't have a problem. I will be shooting from 5pm to 7pm so I don't know how far much sunset time I will get.

[Mark McCall]

Originally Posted by Torlough

The way I understand it I need to drag the shutter.

Just the opposite.
To recreate the look, you'll need to underexpose the sky. Dragging the shutter will overexpose it.

[Brooks]

Mark,

Nice bike in your avatar!

Is that a Honda Shadow?

[evoryware]

Originally Posted by Torlough

Couple lrg 4x8 reflectors won't happen in this shoot. I am shooing in an NYC park and my permit will limit the # of people and equipment I can bring.

how many people, if I may ask, requires you to get a permit?

[Mark McCall]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Mark,
Nice bike in your avatar!
Is that a Honda Shadow?

You would be correct.
Shadow 1100.
3" pipes, leather bags, police windshield, extra wide road hog 'bars, cruise, leather tank apron.

This summer I'm adding floorboards, crash bar, armrests for Debra, and maybe a trunk.

The guys won't let me ride out front. They complain about the noise. Wussies.

After a year or two, I'll probably trade for a VTX or Springer.
You a biker??

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

You would be correct.
Shadow 1100.
3" pipes, leather bags, police windshield, extra wide road hog 'bars, cruise, leather tank apron.

This summer I'm adding floorboards, crash bar, armrests for Debra, and m