Learning to use flash in low light settings for me has been a sequence of trial and error. Too bright, not bright enough, too much light on my subject, too obvious that the light is bounced on the side, etc. Here are some shots I took last night using my Sony Alpha 100, 28mm lense, ISO 400, varying apertures between 4.0-2.0, and manual flash settings at 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. The shots that seemed to produce the best quality used the bounce from the ceiling, slightly tilted back one step. Here's a few examples:
Bridget was suprisingly not as difficult to shoot as she had been in the past. These were taken at 28mm, F4, SS 1/15, ISO 400. She was in complete darkness in our bedroom for these shots. The only light reflecting on her was that from the front room down the hall way (in the direction she's pointing) and the bounce flash.
Tweazer tends to be a simple and easy subject to capture. These were both shot at 28mm, F4, ISO 400. The colors in his face are bright and sharp. This was shot in our front room, with dim ceiling lighting above us, at 11pm.
Humphrey's eyes look extremely dramatic in this shot at 28mm, ISO 400, F2, SS 1/60. He is usually easy to photograph as well due to his light coloring.
Jpeg has proved to be the most difficult so far. She doesn't like the camera which is not extremely helpful when one wants a picture of her, not to mention all the dark colors she has. This was taken at ISO 400, SS 1/60, F2 as well but the intensity of the flash was much brighter at a possible 1/4 or 1/8.
Tweazer tends to be a simple and easy subject to capture. These were both shot at 28mm, F4, ISO 400. The colors in his face are bright and sharp. This was shot in our front room, with dim ceiling lighting above us, at 11pm.
Humphrey's eyes look extremely dramatic in this shot at 28mm, ISO 400, F2, SS 1/60. He is usually easy to photograph as well due to his light coloring.
Jpeg has proved to be the most difficult so far. She doesn't like the camera which is not extremely helpful when one wants a picture of her, not to mention all the dark colors she has. This was taken at ISO 400, SS 1/60, F2 as well but the intensity of the flash was much brighter at a possible 1/4 or 1/8.
