Location Task 4 - Fill Flash

Task 1 - Take a portrait outdoors, with side-lit sun.

1. Determine exposure for sunlit area of subject

1/1000 @ f2.8

 2. Set the aperture of the lens to 1/2 stops below the value of the aperture calculated using GN/distance. Adjust shutter speed to match new exposure.

1/15 @ f22

As an experiment, I took another shot with the aperture as is using the GN/distance equation. I felt like the side of the face that was in shadow was still a little too dark.

1/15 @ f16

However, it seems that my camera screen does not portray the images very accurately, as this second image is far too overexposed. I have noticed that the camera screen does not render the images the same way my laptop screen does, but I'm still learning what the differences actually are so I can start to compensate.

Task 2 - Take a portrait in a shaded area, at 2 meters, flash set to half power.

My flash does not have a half power option - the next level down from full power is 1/4 power. I used my flash at full power for this exercise, as 1/4 did not provide enough light to expose the scene properly.

1. Determine exposure by using GN/distance

1/250 @ f11

2. Take the portrait again, but increase the ambient exposure by 2 stops

1/60 @ f11

3. Retake the portrait increasing the ambient exposure by a further stop of exposure

1/30 @ f11

The 3rd image is my personal favourite from this exercise. I prefer that balance of flash and ambient.

Task 3 - Window light portrait

My flash does not have TTL or flash exposure compensation so I experimented with the "auto" modes - all these modes actually do is reduce the flash power by 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16.

1. Photograph a window light portrait without flash

1/80 @ f2

2. Retake the portrait bouncing flash off the roof on the opposite side to the window

1/80 @ f2.2

The aperture must have got bumped to f2.2 because I have no memory of changing it!! However, the second image (with flash) is much better exposed than the first (without flash.