Digital photography

[Snapper]

Ooooooooo. Slow sync flash. Now we're talking!

What this does is give you a reasonably slow shutter speed (so that things blur if they are moving) but then gives a bit of flash to pick-out a more solid set of details.

If you get a good one the results can be wicked.

It's another one of those things that's really difficult to describe in words but easy to illustrate with an image. I'll have a dig around and see if I can find an example.

One tip for this. If you go for slow sync flash also switch on the setting that says 'rear curtain sync'. I won't bore you with the technicalities of why, but do trust me; it will give better results 99 times out of 100.

[Snapper]

Here's a reasonable example of what slow sync flash will do ...





It's a photo of Janine opening a bottle of champagne. The slow shutter speed gives the blurring effect, and then the flash kind of overlays a clear(ish) image that holds everything together. When it works it gives a great feeling of movement and dynamics but at the same time retains a reasonably clear image.

[search66]

That's a great photo. I don't think my camera has the slow-sync... However, it does have a way to decrease the flash intensity.

Actually, my photos are starting to improve thanks to everyones advice. There is a lot of trial and error, and I've been taking 4-5 pictures of the same thing instead of one. Usually, one of the photos will turn out ok (out of the 5).

I'll actually post some photos sometime, maybe by looking at them you can say... "Do this.. don't do this... etc."

[brizzle]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Snapper
Here's a reasonable example of what slow sync flash will do ...

&lt;snip photo out&gt;

It's a photo of Janine opening a bottle of champagne. The slow shutter speed gives the blurring effect, and then the flash kind of overlays a clear(ish) image that holds everything together. When it works it gives a great feeling of movement and dynamics but at the same time retains a reasonably clear image.
[/quote]
Is that kind of like the night flash setting on my camera?
It led to this picture which I kind of like for some reason but didn't come out as I expected it to...



Brizzle

[Snapper]

I think it is Brizzle; it certainly looks like it from the photo. There's a great bit of movement with the people passing in the background. Nice thirds as well mate!

[David and Debra Waters]

What a great line.


Nice thirds!!!

lol David

[search66]

Nice photo. Did you use a flash?

[brizzle]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by search66
Nice photo. Did you use a flash?
[/quote]

No external flash, just the camera's own built in flash.
It was on 'night' setting which flashes to capture the foreground/subject and then stays exposing for a while after the flash to capture the background (or that's my take on it at least)...

Brizzle.

[search66]

Awesome, thanks. I took a bunch of pictures over the weekend, and am still getting frustrated. This was at an indoor dance my wife and I went to. I played with different flashes, exposure and everything; but couldn't nail it down. Most of the time it seemed as though the top 3/4 of the photos I took were fine; but the lower half was washed out. Any suggestions for low-light indoor pictures?

[brizzle]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by search66
Awesome, thanks. I took a bunch of pictures over the weekend, and am still getting frustrated. This was at an indoor dance my wife and I went to. I played with different flashes, exposure and everything; but couldn't nail it down. Most of the time it seemed as though the top 3/4 of the photos I took were fine; but the lower half was washed out. Any suggestions for low-light indoor pictures?
[/quote]

Tricky subject I think.
The best thing for indoor low-light (or outdoor for that matter) is slow shutter speeds. However to slow it down enough you will also need a tripod to keep the camera absolutely steady.

Not sure why the bottom part of the photo's are washed out though.
I use the live histogram on my camera to show if the snap is correctly exposed as best I can so I don't know if your camera has that option?

Maybe Snapper can shed some light (sorry!!) on the subject as he got some great night shots in Florida a couple of months ago.

Brizzle.