Flash question - first and second curtain settings.

[Mr Felix]

Hi folks,

I read a couple of the "second curtain" postings by Tonym and jeffde.

I have a 430 speedlight - as per my other post - and am going to mess about with second curtain sync.

Why?

Well I have done a bit of "light painting" and it is fun.

But I know I asked before but am wanting to re-check I am not expecting the wrong results. I seem to be doing a lot of that recently with just about everything.

"Normally" the shutter opens, the flash goes "pop!" (TTL metering) and controls the amount of "POP" because of the TTL metering. Then the shutter closes.

On second curtain, the shutter opens, (tic tic tic) then the flash goes "POP" just before the shutter closes.

So I was thinking:

Dark environment, compose subject/person, set flash to second curtain, set it for about 30 second exposure, press THE BUTTON.

Get the red/green/what ever small lights, and wave them around the subject. No need for a soft white light lighting it up all the time.

Then after about 20 seconds, turn the lights off, and scarpa out of the scene.
Let the flash go "POP" and voila! You have a picture akin to how we were doing it at middle head.

Is that right?

I shall try myself anyway, but was wanting to discuss it to see if anyone else has thought of doing this too.

Thanks.

[ameerat42]

Mr Felix. That should work, but while you're at it, also try an ordinary 30 sec exposure with flash. Looking
forward to the results.
Am.

[Warbler]

Try these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le4ylJmJGJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjC-rjmTxBo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgnci8MH4sE

The last fits your description.

[Mr Felix]

Thanks very much to both of you.

Interesting videos on youtube.

SHALL post once I have done the shots.

[Warbler]

No problem Mr Felix. Use this technique quite a bit with sparklers at weddings. Cheesy, but popular.

[geoffsta]

Thanks guys... Great subject. Nice videos as well.