Exposure Comp - Speedlite - Help: I'm trying to learn or understand appropriate use of exposure compensation while using speedlite (ETTL). I see that I can change the speedlite the...

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

I'm trying to learn or understand appropriate use of exposure compensation while using speedlite (ETTL). I see that I can change the speedlite the same as changing exposure compensation, but, not sure what that "exactly" means. If I up exposure +1/3 and lower speedlite -1/3 does that simply mean "0" compensation?

Appreciate some help understanding this?

RegisG

Photocraig

To answer the question, yes, this should yield normal exposure. Flash Light--in any form has a harsh hard appearance, especially when bare and close to the human (especially) subject. That's why we like to modify it and balance the lighting with ambient, indoor or out. And the ability to do that is with flash compensation. Light modifiers like snoots and softboxes, Stofen, plastic covers, etc, do that too.

So, it is an automatic control method to balance your exposure. So, maybe try different mixes to see what works for your scene.

The great benefit is the LCD on the camera that will give you instant feedback to help you set up your lighting to fit. And avoid that ultra shiny forehead and red eye look that makes your $2k DSLR/Speelight rig look line the green drugstore disposable.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Exposure compensation adjusts the ambient light exposure. Flash exposure compensation adjusts the ETT-L for the speed light exposure. Adjusting one up and one down equally will not result in 0 compensation. The ability to adjust each separately allows the photographer to balance the two exposures to achieve his or her desired look.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

How are you using the speedlight? As fill for outdoor portraiture? For close-up photography? For macro-photography? In full sun? Open shade? Deep shade?

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

Nikonian72 wrote:

How are you using the speedlight? As fill for outdoor portraiture? For close-up photography? For macro-photography? In full sun? Open shade? Deep shade?

Well, initially bouncing indoors as fill and a little macro but that has peaked my interest in learning what help it might bring. You've just opened a few more doors for me to explore.

Thanks all for the explanations so far. I'm not quite there on when/where to adjust flash as opposed to exposure. Perhaps I can find tutorials somewhere or someone will clear that up for me.

Again, thank you all,
RegisG

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

RegisG wrote:

Well, initially bouncing indoors as fill and a little macro but that has peaked my interest in learning what help it might bring. You've just opened a few more doors for me to explore.

Thanks all for the explanations so far. I'm not quite there on when/where to adjust flash as opposed to exposure. Perhaps I can find tutorials somewhere or someone will clear that up for me.

Again, thank you all,
RegisG

Yes...the best flash tutorials on the planet.

www.strobist.com

Start with Lighting 101...that should keep you busy for a month or two.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

rpavich wrote:

Yes...the best flash tutorials on the planet.

www.strobist.com

Start with Lighting 101...that should keep you busy for a month or two.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Actually it is http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

I love the site.

JohnCl Loc: Central Arizona

rpavich wrote:

Yes...the best flash tutorials on the planet.

www.strobist.com

Start with Lighting 101...that should keep you busy for a month or two.

Regis

Thanks for the reference to strobist.com. I can use that too!

John

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

RegisG wrote:

I'm trying to learn or understand appropriate use of exposure compensation while using speedlite (ETTL). I see that I can change the speedlite the same as changing exposure compensation, but, not sure what that "exactly" means. If I up exposure +1/3 and lower speedlite -1/3 does that simply mean "0" compensation?

Appreciate some help understanding this?

RegisG

RegisG,

To put it in simple terms, if you are setting up your camera and Speedlight to work in ETTL, your set-up will perform better in Program Mode. In PM the camera will meter for the overall exposure to include the bright background. When you press the shutter the camera will expose with the shutter for the background, and the flash will expose for the foreground.

If you leave the flash compensation at 0, and set the camera compensation to -.63Ev, the shutter will trip and expose for the background and the flash will expose normally for the foreground. This really helps when photographing subjects indoors with a large picture window in the back.

Because you will have instant feedback in the camera LCD panel, you will be able to make any small adjustments to the original settings. If the light from the picture window is too bright you can adjust the camera Ev to -1.33, and the flash will remain the same.

Michael G

mikedent Loc: Florida

Does this advice still apply if we want to use Aperture priority?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

RegisG wrote:

I'm trying to learn or understand appropriate use of exposure compensation while using speedlite (ETTL). I see that I can change the speedlite the same as changing exposure compensation, but, not sure what that "exactly" means. If I up exposure +1/3 and lower speedlite -1/3 does that simply mean "0" compensation?

Appreciate some help understanding this?

RegisG

A "hands on" exercise might just help: Set camera to correct exposure on Manual and fill the frame with a gray card. (A tripod helps to keep framing consistent.) Make sample exposures adjusting the flash compensation as you go. Document & verify results visually and using histogram.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

mikedent wrote:

Does this advice still apply if we want to use Aperture priority?

mikedent,

No.

Using Aperture Priority (Av) will lock the aperture opening at a predefined value, this will cause other variables to change. You could have a situation where the light from the window is much too bright for the flash to shutter sync speed to correctly expose the background, or foreground. Imagine, you have preset the ISO to 400, Av=f/16, and you are no longer in PM. The window light is 4 stops over exposed. What is the camera going to change to correctly expose the background, and not over expose the foreground?

If you are going to use Av then consider going full manual and test your various manual settings for a proper exposure. The external flash should still control the foreground exposure.

Michael G

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

A "hands on" exercise might just help: Set camera to correct exposure on Manual and fill the frame with a gray card. (A tripod helps to keep framing consistent.) Make sample exposures adjusting the flash compensation as you go. Document & verify results visually and using histogram.

Great! I think that I will put this together and learn.

Thanks to all for the help.
RegisG

mikedent Loc: Florida

Armadillo wrote:

mikedent, br br No. br br Using Aperture Priorit... (show quote)

Thanks- you guys have so much knowledge to share. Still confusing but next time I will try Program mode and see what happens.

Photocraig

This is a great exercise right out of Photo 1. Some Portrait classes actually have Mannequin heads @ 18% gray for students to set up their lighting with or without different color wigs. With DSLR's and the LCD instant feedback, flash photography, with a few exercises like this one can be self taught--and learned and internalized an intuitive!