Listers, I need some advice on flash compensation. Most of the photos I've ever made have been shot in existing light or available darkness. (Fast primes, baby.) Flash, for me, has largely been happy-snaps-only. I want to experiment with flash photography, beginning with fill flash. I want to lighten in shadows and otherwise lift the veil of darkness, but I'd like the use of the flash to be as subtle as possible. My Nikon F100 has no dedicated flash compensation commands. Neither does my flash, though it does have a 1/16th setting. The camera does, of course, have exposure compensation. Here's my plan for on-camera fill flash. Tell me where I'm going wrong. (Note: I want to start the experimenting with the flash on-camera.) 1) Place flash on camera. Put small white card on back side of flash; hold in place with rubber bands. Tilt flash head up about 45 degrees. 2) Select manual mode. Meter the subject manually and set exposure. 3) Dial in negative exposure compensation--say -1/2, -1, and -1 1/2 or -1/3, -2/3, and -1 1/3--to back the flash off. 4) Expect properly exposed images, with subject brighter to varying degrees than background. And: 1) Place flash on camera. Put small white card on back side of flash; hold in place with rubber bands. Tilt flash head up about 45 degrees. 2) Set to manual mode. Meter the subject manually and set exposure. 3) Set flash to 1/16th. 4) Expect properly exposed images, with subject slightly brighter than background. --John ===== J Mason Charlottesville, Virginia >>New! Democracy of Speed, a Photo Documentary Project: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ds8s/john-m/john-m.html _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! http://vote.yahoo.com
