Camera Question

[IntrepidStu]

When Ive taken photos in the woods (in daylight), They look like it is the middle of the night. The subject appears OK but the background is totally black. I think I may have used the flash.
I want to be able to take a snapshot of the missus doing normal camp things (action shot) but also want the trees and light in the background.

Also, What is slow syncro?? and could it help me??

Cheers guys.
Stu

 

[chris_r]

You need to increase your ISO, the sensitivity of the digital film, so you can maintain a fast shutter speed whilst allowing a good amount of light to create the image, and turn off your flash. The down side to this is that the image will appear a little more grainy.

Slow syn allows the shutter to stay open for longer after the flash fires. This allows it to gather more light from the background to form the exposure, but the down side is that the longer shutter speed will most likely give you a blurred image.

 

[singteck]

Use rear curtain sync is best for this kind of shots if you are going to use flash.

The point you need to understand is the camera will meter with the flash by default. In this case, the background will not be exposed properly. I use a manual camera so I can only teach you the manual way. Meter with the flash and set the aperture of the lense, Then meter without the flash for the background and set the shutter speed with that aperture. That should sort the background out for you.

If you have an automatic camera with TTL flash, then just set the aperture and shutter speed manually without the flash and the turn the flash on.

The front curtain sync and back curtain sync does that automatically.

singteck

 

[Rebel]

Hmm, sounds like your camera is exposing for the brightest part of the picture. This means you get a beautifully exposed sky but silhouettes on the landscape. I won't bore you with the technicalities of why this is so but maybe I can give some tips on how to overcome the problem.

I don't know how advanced your camera is but if it is possible with your model what you need to do (after choosing your subject) is point your camera down so that the sky or other bright light isn't visible in the viewfinder/LCD display. Now slightly depress the shutter release button and hold it (without actually firing it).

Next aim your camera so that the picture you want is now in the viewfinder/display with all the sky and sunlight and press the shutter. With many cameras this will give you the correct exposure as the meter will have taken its reading from the darker objects rather than the bright ones.

Some cameras may have a slightly different method of locking the exposure settings so you might have to refer to the manual to see how yours works (if it is even possible on your model).

As for using flash, unless you've got a pro flash then you aren't going to light up anything unless it is really close up. The flash may well come on automatically but this can usually be switched off. Even if it does fire it shouldn't make your pictures come out underexposed (not the foreground at least), the worst it usually does is make the light look unnatural.

Slow sync flash is only going to help if you know what your are doing. Try reading this page, it's fairly clear without too much jargon or technospeak.

http://www.photographysavvy.com/beginners-tips/making-the-most-of-automatic-flash.php