What happened here?
Apr 1, 2015 08:39:17 #
gsc1943
Loc: Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Charleston, SC
Took this photo at a dinner where the guitarist was performing. Used my Sony a77ii with a Tamron 16-300 lens, and a Sony f43 flash for fill. Didn't notice the "shadow" when I glanced at it on the camera, but later it certainly got my attention. Don't think I've seen this before and wonder what happened. Actually kind of like it, but was entirely unintended.
Apr 1, 2015 08:46:55 #
Looks as though it is a shadow from your subject on the curtains directly behind your subject. You should have bounced the flash instead of shooting it straight on...
Apr 1, 2015 08:49:02 #
Apr 1, 2015 08:59:33 #
gsc1943 wrote:
... Didn't notice the "shadow" when I glanced at it on the camera, but later it certainly got my attention. Don't think I've seen this before and wonder what happened. ...
it isn't a shadow.
shadows don't have fret bars
Apr 1, 2015 09:01:48 #
Could also be a multiple exposure image from improper settings. The darker one from the flash & the lighter one from ambient light...
oldtigger wrote:
it isn't a shadow
Apr 1, 2015 09:05:06 #
oldtigger wrote:
it isn't a shadow
Not? Then what is it?
I'm really curious now, because I have had similar effects, but only when I have used a flash, never with ambient light.
This "outline" shadow never happens when I point the flash to the ceiling when shooting, even with the flash mounted on top the camera.
Apr 1, 2015 09:07:20 #
I'm thinking camera shake. Yes, the shadow on the left and around the man's head could be because of flash, but there's also some shadowing or doubling around the fret nuts, although not quite so obvious.
Apr 1, 2015 09:07:29 #
Morning Star wrote:
Not? Then what is it?
I'm really curious now, because I have had similar effects, but only when I have used a flash, never with ambient light.
This "outline" shadow never happens when I point the flash to the ceiling when shooting, even with the flash mounted on top the camera.
I'm really curious now, because I have had similar effects, but only when I have used a flash, never with ambient light.
This "outline" shadow never happens when I point the flash to the ceiling when shooting, even with the flash mounted on top the camera.
dependent on the ratio of ambient too flash and timing of shutter/flash
Apr 1, 2015 09:19:21 #
I have to disagree with the shadow theory and the camera shake theory. I don't know of many cameras that put their flashes under the lens. If the flash were over and left or right then the shadows would show under the subject and not above it. The shadow would also be only on one side or the other and not surrounding/haloing the subject. After looking at the meta data you used 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 which is capable of registering ambient light as well as the flash. Also your shutter speed is still slow enough to capture subject movement. While 1/125 usually freezes motion from a sitting subject it is possible for a subject to give a quick movement and haze the shot and that is my theory. The curtains show no signs of movement, only the subject.
Try using 1/250 second (usual flash synch speed these days) for flash photography and close down the aperture to f8. While your at it, if you're that close for the flash shots then choose ISO 100.
Try using 1/250 second (usual flash synch speed these days) for flash photography and close down the aperture to f8. While your at it, if you're that close for the flash shots then choose ISO 100.
Screamin Scott wrote:
Looks as though it is a shadow from your subject on the curtains directly behind your subject. You should have bounced the flash instead of shooting it straight on...
Apr 1, 2015 09:22:37 #
Appears to be camera shake. I have had this problem without flash shooting in low light at to slow a shutter speed. Increase shutter speed may take care of it. Just my thoughts.
Apr 1, 2015 09:22:57 #
Apr 1, 2015 09:24:25 #
Yeah. When I first looked, I didn't look at the download image. When I did that, I changed my opinion, ergo my 2nd post...
big-guy wrote:
I have to disagree with the shadow theory. I don't... (show quote)
Apr 1, 2015 09:44:42 #
What you have is commonly referred to as ghosting. It occurs when your ambient exposure is strong enough to register an image on the sensor and your shutter speed is very low. You in effect are getting two exposures. The first one is from the flash and is sharp. The second one is from the ambient light and shows motion blur, either on the part of the camera or the subject.
To avoid this in the future, underexpose the ambient sufficiently that your flash becomes the major source of light. Bouncing off the ceiling or wall improves the quality of the light tremendously.
Wedding photographers sometimes emphasize this technique at receptions by shooting dancers at an exposure that renders the ambient light well and using a slow shutter speed. Combining this with a flash unit set on rear curtain synch gives you speed lines. You are getting a blurry ambient exposure finished with a sharp flash exposure. They refer to this as dragging the shutter and gives you a great sense of motion.
To avoid this in the future, underexpose the ambient sufficiently that your flash becomes the major source of light. Bouncing off the ceiling or wall improves the quality of the light tremendously.
Wedding photographers sometimes emphasize this technique at receptions by shooting dancers at an exposure that renders the ambient light well and using a slow shutter speed. Combining this with a flash unit set on rear curtain synch gives you speed lines. You are getting a blurry ambient exposure finished with a sharp flash exposure. They refer to this as dragging the shutter and gives you a great sense of motion.
Apr 1, 2015 13:46:34 #
Subject movement. At 1/125 sec. he must have been playing that guitar enthusiastically :) .
Apr 1, 2015 16:56:16 #
birdpix is right.
But it's not camera shake. It's subject movement.
Look at the curtains and the microphone. Static.
But the singer with his guitar is ghosting.
If it were camera shake, then the entire frame would be affected.
Long ambient exposure + flash freezing the action = the result you see in the image.
(Long in this context is relatively speaking.)
And as birdpix mentioned, some photographers do that deliberately with great results. Especially in dim environments with lights in the distant background and a close subject.
But it's not camera shake. It's subject movement.
Look at the curtains and the microphone. Static.
But the singer with his guitar is ghosting.
If it were camera shake, then the entire frame would be affected.
Long ambient exposure + flash freezing the action = the result you see in the image.
(Long in this context is relatively speaking.)
And as birdpix mentioned, some photographers do that deliberately with great results. Especially in dim environments with lights in the distant background and a close subject.
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