cony25

I have an external flash, was taking pictures on Saturday night. Pictures came overexposed most of the time, I kept lowering the power, but nothing worked. What was I doing wrong?
Just couldn't get the flash to have a natural-looking picture taken.

Hip Coyote

An example photo depicting what you are talking about will help...otherwise it would only be guessing as to what transpired.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You know the drill. If you have a technical 'why' question about equipment and / or image results, you need to provide an actual example for the discussion. That should be an un-edited JPEG, stored as a file attachment.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

They can be any number of causes but a post of the problematic images and the EXIF data will lead to a better troubleshoot and remedy. -Don't forget to check the {save the original" box or EXIF day will not be accessible.

Some of the possible reasons are: You may be depending on a TTL exposure control mode that is not properly set or the flash not dedicated to your camera model and manual settig will be required. This may require a flas meter or knowing how to apply the guide number and making a series of tests. It could be that even with the lowest power setting, the flash is still vastly overexposing so you may need to reduce your ISO setting or your aperture.

I don't know if your complaint is due to overexposure or an unnatural result due to faulty flash technique. Just taking the flash off the camera does no automatically proved "natural" results. You have to place the light properly or use the bounce of modification techniques to simulate natural lighting.

Without a picture and the accompanying data, all of this is simply guesswork.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

If you are adjusting "levels" I believe you are not using ETTL, or Electronic-Thru-The-Lens control which is an automatic exposure control. I use ETTL and an Exposure Compensation (EC) of -1½ or so to get the exposure I want. I do have to adjust the EC depending on subject.

uhaas2009

It’s a guessing game. It could be wrong camera settings ( shutter speed, aperture, ISO) flash to close to subject, output of flash wrong set......you can use your flash as fill in light or as your main light.....it’s easier to take some lessons.....

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Did you have the camera set to any setting other than manual? In A (aperture) the camera is going to open up to try to capture the image in what it sees as a dark room. The flash will overpower that setting. Also, what ISO did you use, how was the +/_ set. All these things could factor in. If you are using TTL and have a setting of wide area focus and are shooting against a dark background or of someone or object with nothing behind them for a distance, the flash will try to illuminate the entire area. You need to spot meter on the subject you want properly exposed.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Yup! That is called subject failure. Yet another possibility but without a picture and the data it's still a guessing game with 20+ questions. Maybe the camera and the flas are set properly but one of those sites is in need of repair- who knows?! We don't know if the shots were made indoors or outside and what the level of ambient light factored into the exposure.

The model of flas s not noted. There is no mention of the guide number suggested by the manufacturer of the flash. If you know the guide number, a basic test can be made to, at least, get you in the ballpark.

To the OP-- If this is a REAL question to which you expect a REAL answer, just post a picture with the EXIF data!

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

s others stated you need to post a photo (store original) and also identify the model ID of the flash. I have a Yongnuo flash made to synch with Canon and a Canon 80D. When set for ETTL the flash automatically provides the correct exposure whether direct, bounced or thru a diffuser.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I think there are a couple of questions that need to be asked before we even see an example photograph:

Is this a TTL flash intended to interface with your camera?
If so, do you know that it has the proper Canon interface?
If so, is it set to the correct mode?
If not, is it set to the proper "self-contained" auto mode, with your camera set to the corresponding ISO and aperture?

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

We don't even know which YN flash the OP used. I use YN460s, a totally manual flash, no TTL, but I nail my exposures by adjusting the aperture and/or flash power.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Don't you Just love it when we tell the OP we need more info to help them, and they don't respond?

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

It word be a sound kinda unwritten policy, that when a picture and data are requested from the getgo, all the guesswork should stop until the questioner complies.

Sometimes an answer can be formulated from the description of the issue but in this and many other cases, there are too many possibilities.

Many of the diagnoses put forth may be right and the OP may have corrected the problem- It would be nice if the OP said something. Common courtesy.