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Dark Exposures
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Hi, I am really a beginner here.I have a nikon D70s and along with a SB 800 flashlight I have difficult problems in achieving a good exposure under low lighting. I had to take photos the other evening at a prize giving and was under pressure as I tried different settings to get a good photo but they all end up ‘dark’ exposures. What Am I doing wrong.What are the most suitable settings for indoors. I’ve attached one of my images.Be greatful for any help.
Thanks
Damian
Hi Damien,
Welcome to the site first of all.
In relation to your gear, it’s better than mine for a start, have you read and understood the manuals? If not, Read The Manual. If you don’t understand terms then google them. The SB800 can be quite a complex beast but allows great control.
This image looks about right without the flash being overbearing on the front subject, the people in the background are going to be harder to light. (see -the inverse square law – in relation to light travelling over distance) Are you using the flash diffusion cap (white cover that goes over the top of the flash, for highest intensity it should not be used ) Have you tried bouncing the flash off a ceiling for more even dispersion?
Without knowing your camera and flash settings it is very hard to say what you should change??? For lower light conditions reduce your shutter speed (1/60 sec)-(this shouldn’t need to be this low if you are using flash, any lower and you will get camera shake unless you are using a tripod), increase your aperture (lower f-stop number), increase ISO setting (introduces grain/noise into image)
Hope this helps
C
P.S. search the site for advice on embedding your images properly,
have a d70s and use and sb600 on it before – one potential problem may be the you have “BL” on the flash which is balanced light – the flash tries to balance the exposure with the ambient light and can often give you under exposed main subject if the background is dark. Check the instructions on how to turn of the “BL” function off until you get used to using the flash (on the SB600 you press the mode button and it toggles on an off . I would use Auto or P or A mode until you get used to it – the flash will break your heart before it makes your day !
its worth getting a book on flash photography if you want get the most out of your flash
Hi Damian,
I just downloaded the shot to have a look at the Exif data to see if I could figure out what went wrong.
From the settings I see that you were in Shutter Priority Mode and the speed was 1/15th of a second with an aperture of f4.5. The Exif says the flash did fire and the catchlights in the subjects eyes indicates that the flash was point directly at them.
This is a significantly underexposed shot. The focal length isn’t too big so you weren’t too far from the subjects. I suspect that the Flash Exposure Compensation is set to a high minus amount. There’s 2 places you can check this. On the D70s press the flash pop-up button on the left of the camera (as it’s pointing away from you). Keep it pressed in a look at the top LCD. If you see any number other than 0.0 (I suspect it could be -2.0 or more) move the front dial until you see 0.0. Now the camera is telling the flash to fire at normal strength.
The second place it could be is on the SB800 itself. With the flash turned on and placed on the hotshoe press the SEL button. You should see 0EV in the top right hand corner. If you see any other number (like-1 1/3) press the plus or minus buttons until you get back to 0EV.
Hope one of these solves the problem,
cheers
Dave
Thanks Guys for taking the time out to answer to my question,great knowledge among you.
Cookster : I did have the diffuser cap on, would that have been the difference in lighting up my subject and what I ended with ??
Gaffo : I wouldn’t have studied my flash too greatly but when I went to look at it , it is in the mode RPT and going through the modes I see BL coming up beside the TTL on one of the modes. I presume I should have it in the TTL (only)mode for most of my pics.
Dave : Again thanks for your efforts in taking down the photo. I had tried it in auto P and A as well without any success.Exposure compensation was at zero but I was messing around with that as well , not sure it’s setting for this photo.Checked on the Flashlight and it is showing 0ev ,but again I have been in the wrong mode so I wonder is that where my problem is.Are these 2 points a critical factor inmy under exposure
1. Wrong mode selected on Flashlight,set at RPT – Should it be set at TTL for example.
2. Diffuser Cap left on.Thanks
Damiandifuser cap won’t be an issue
I think that your mode is the Issue
Use TTL most of the time and TTL BL – if you want to try and balance the main subject with the background without doing anything manually. Try dialing in +or- compensattion on the flash to get the type of pic you are looking for
RPT is feature i am not familiar with but you can find it on youtube
Hello,
Im a begginer at photography as well but very passionate :)
i have a question.
i have a Nikon D90 with a Sb600 and when i was shooting a girl i dont know why i couldnt change a shutter speed.
I would appreciate your help.
Thank you
Sylwia
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