sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Neil Van Niekerk has an excellent book on on camera flash. He also has a a website. With lots of information on flash photography.
https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Flash-Techniques-Portrait-Photography/dp/1608959538/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2E21B704VKY8F&keywords=neil+van+niekerk&qid=1660564468&sprefix=Neil+van%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-2

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Start by watching this YouTube video. It’s for indoor flash but works well with outdoor too.
https://youtu.be/wLeaX_WXUJ8

And this one for outdoor flash is a good one too.
https://youtu.be/vEnAhkL0i38

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

https://neilvn.com/tangents/how-to-make-your-on-camera-flash-not-look-like-on-camera-flash/

Excellent information and his approaches have helped me so much!

Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

I've had this combo for years..quite happily . Have you read both manuals? If usually use TTL, bounce, and the wide angle pull-out to bounce plus the other small plastic diffuser that came with the flash. There are also several bounce attachments on the market and small softboxes. You must check your aperture settings to calculate the distance, but the TTL is great. It's best to use manual mode and keep shutter under 250, and be careful that your ambient light is lower than your flash settings, unless you're using flash for fill.
Good luck! I just switched to the mirrorless Z50 which is great in low light, and I've been shooting my new Great-Grandson without a flash, with great results!

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Look here Everything you need to know.
https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

There’s 102 and 103 as well after you master 101.

Hip Coyote

In suggest that you consider not enacting random strategies when dealing with flash. There are a few options to strategically approach the subject. First is strobist.com. He has a free class on there that is excellent. Next is a guy by name of Tim Payne on Facebook who runs the speed light and strobe fundamentals page where they do off camera flash. They use the grey card method, which if you have time, is easy and works quite well.

I just looked on YouTube and there are hundreds of videos as well.

What I can say is I struggle a bit as well simply because I don’t practice all that much AND most of my photography is not some set up thing. I am at a family event, need to get a shot and move on. But understanding the fundamentals, such as bounce, use of diffuser, what aperture and SS control helps. But those two sites are a good place to start.

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

Start simple and avoid too much-advanced theory and techniques and technobabble. That all comes later once you know how to use your flas MANUALLY.

Your flash has a GUIDE NUMBER of 125 at ISO 100 (In FEET not meters)

Turn off all automatic features on your camera and flash- MANUAL! Full power!



You need to learn to guestimate distances. With some practice, you will learn to master BASIC flas exposure for your equipment. Modifiers and more sophisticated bounce methods are important but first, learn basic operations for direct flash and the other methods can be added as required.



See your zoom setting at 35mm- this will give you even coverage for direct flash.

You divide the distance in feet in the guide number to determine your f/stop. Rather than doing the math for each shot, set up a small chart and you will eventually memorize it.

Ft. f/

6 20

8 16

10 12.5

12 10

15 8

20 6.3

These setting will s work in an average size room with light-coloured walls and celings. Simply open up 2-stops for bounce techniques.

This should get you well into the ballpark. If exposures are consistently under or overexposed- adjust your guide number accordingly.

For closeer shots or if your lens does not stop down to f/22 etc, cut to half power and lose a stop.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I haven't seen how you use the flash.

Is it in through-the-lens mode? If not, it is all guess work.
What mode is the camera in? - I use Manual, ss at the camera's fastest flash sync, lens wide open, ISO at 400
Do you use flash exposure compensation to fine tune?

Nicholas J DeSciose

Why manual? Go to your instruction Manuals for both the camera and the flash. And you have very good equipment just figure out how to use it correctly. And then experiment

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

I use TTL, manual, 1/250, ISO 400.........no flash compensation. Thanks to all of you for your feedback.

Mustang1

A great suggestion:
Set your 7100 in Shutter Mode.
Set the shutter speed at 1/200th sec.
Set the ISO at 100.

Set your SB-800 flash in Manual Mode at 1/32 power and reverse bounce at 45°. The flash will bounce off of the rear wall and ceiling. (I like wide angle in the flash for full coverage).

1/32 power is a midpoint. Increase or decrease flash output as needed.

You have the finest flash. This is a great indoor technique. Fire away!

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Seems like you are using reasonable settings. The built-in flash may not be powerful enough if the subject isn't close. I would have to see examples of over or under exposed shots (be sure to "store original" so we can see the EXIF data) to judge better.

sxrich

I shoot events with a d7100 and d750. Sb700. I also use a Gary Fong Lightsphere (original, non-collapsible). I always bounce the flash regardless of ceiling height to include fill flash outside. Please - no lectures on bouncing outside. Set your metering to Matrix which will give you TTL-BL (TTL - balanced lighting). Don't use spot metering. I usually go with manual, 1/200, f-2.8 to 5.6 depending on situation. Now, I do adjust flash power from the camera (flash button) as TTL isn't always accurate and most times is a little hot, I'm down .7 stop to start. I do turn on my "blinkies". I can't afford to blow highlights in a wedding dress. I'm usually at iso 200-400. Depending on distance to subject, I'll go iso 800. I never point my flash directly at a subject. This approach has worked for me. Here are some pics, inside and outside fill flash.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks for sharing your photos and information, Rich, I really appreciate it.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

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