speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Your shutter speed regulates how much ambient light there will be in your picture and only the shutter speed!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

...true as long as the aperture remains constant...and ISO is fixed too...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

More on this subject found here ...... https://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/dragging-the-shutter/

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That is true as well, even if you change the aperture or ISO, it is only the shutter speed that regulates the ambient light in flash photography, period!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I think you would need to explain this belief to me that only the shutter speed controls the ambient light level. If I set my shutter speed to 1/125 and my aperture to f/2.8 I am going to get much more ambient light than if I set the shutter speed to 1/125 and the aperture to f/16. The shutter speed only controls the ambient light if ISO and aperture remain unchanged, right... Perhaps we are arguing the same point...but in my mind if shutter speed and ISO remain constant then aperture controls the ambient light. Likewise if shutter speed and aperture were constant then ISO would control the ambient light level.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

https://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/dragging-the-shutter/ TTL vs manual flash does make a difference, see weblink which I have attached.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The aperture only controls the DOF, although by using a larger one, you can make the flash appear a bit more bright, but it will not affect the ambient light, as that can only be done with the shutter speed. You can also extend the reach of your flash by using a higher ISO, but that again does not affect the ambient light. In flash photography one has always to deal with two exposures for each image, one for the ambient, and one for the flash,, and the shutter speed regulates the ambient (how long the sensor is exposed to the ambient light). The flash duration is only about 1/800,or 1/1000 of second, so well too short, that the shutter speed would make any difference here, so you use aperture and/or ISO to regulate your flash output , but if you want more ambient or less ambient in your picture, you have to do that with your shutter speed!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I can agree with you that we are dealing with two exposures, ambient light and the flash. Beyond that I think we, or at least I, have become confused about what mode is being used for each of those exposures. So, I don't see much point in going on with the discussion unless we laid out those parameters. I recommended a baseline shutter speed, aperture and ISO for the OP and suggested he use ETTL assuming his flash has that ability. I think that is the easy way for him to get started and some decent results. Certainly if one is shooting in Av mode it is only going to allow shutter speed to be changed assuming ISO is fixed. ETTL will do the most to give a proper exposure versus using manual model flash.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I would recommend getting a used copy of Syl Arena's 'Speedliter's Handbook: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-to-Craft-Light-with-Canon-Speedlites/142627043748?epid=80505165&hash=item21353bf9a4:g:eNsAAOSwEEBaNPTh

It's based on Canon equipment and covers the principles very well.

Ambient light is based on exposure without additional artificial light, which includes all the elements of exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, with all of their different attributes. Adding flash brings in a complete additional set of variables. It is much more than shutter speed, however in a simplistic sense it could be thought of in that manner.

Surely it is about how one balances two different exposure paradigms? Ambient and additional light?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Well, I don't think TTL flash photography is the way to start, as it is somewhat complicated, while shooting flash in manual is easy, with repeatable results, so much better suited to start with!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Shooting manual flash is fairly easy if you have a flash to subject distance that is relatively constant. If the flash and subject are static it allows the photographer to move around. But it is best metered with a handheld meter in my experience. I believe ETTL flash is much easier for most people because you can set the camera and the flash will take care of the flash exposure. Very easy, and if you and the subjects and flash are moving relative to each other such as with a flash mounted on the camera it is much easier than manually adjusting flash output in my experience.

I guess you could try to explain to me why you think manual flash is easier but I am somewhat afraid to ask... Maybe we should conduct a poll to see where people start with flash. Most consumer cameras seem to use ETTL flash that pops up when needed without asking the shooter to adjust the flash exposure... To me that implies ease of use...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

quote=speters]Well, I don't think TTL flash photography is the way to start, as it is somewhat complicated, while shooting flash in manual is easy, with repeatable results, so much better suited to start with![/quote]

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Manual flash has fewer parameters, but it requires knowledge that many people do not have. ETTL is more complicated, but the camera/flash combination hides the complexity while managing the exposures, which is much simpler for most people while delivering superior and more consistent results. In most circumstances ETTL is far easier to use than a manual flash set up.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Aren't the flash parameters the same...just handled differently if using manual flash vs ETTL decisions made primarily by the camera? I guess you would recommend ETTL then for the beginner in flash...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

If addressed to me, then in today's world of automated equipment then I would recommend ETTL. I can use manual flash, still have flash units from the 1970s/80s that work well, even with remote radio triggers, which typically means manual. I wouldn't put them on my digital cameras although the voltages seem OK. However, in an environment which is largely automated I find it much easier and more effective to learn how to control the automation. So yes I would recommend ETTL, but I would also recommend learning what the automation actually does, which takes time and effort.

In the Canon world I highly recommend Syl Arena's Speedliter's Handbook. It has helped me get much more out of my equipment while learning about the possibilities and how to control the sophisticated capabilities available. I started with DSLRs with a basic EOS T3i, which is still pretty capable. Combined with a 580 EX II it did very well. Combined with 3 580s and a transmitter very effective results can be achieved. I can see manual being OK in a very controlled studio environment, but for today's beginner where automation is everywhere, then that is the norm and where I would start.

On the other hand, all of our vehicles are stick shifts. I certainly believe that learning how to use manual flash is worthwhile. I would start with what each individual is familiar with.