Need help !

[judybee]

It's not that complicated. Re flash sync speeds, all you need to know is that you should not use a camera shutter speed faster than your flash's max sync speed, which depending on the model will be 1/200 or 1/250.

Flash exposure is controlled by aperture. You can also control the power output of the flash.

You can also control the amount of light by increasing or decreasing the position of the flash in relation to the subject.

When I shoot models I baseline at 1/16th and f/5.6 on the lens, and adjust from there.

Thanks John, that is very helpful.

[bigdazzler]

I would shoot this in manual, ISO100, 1/125th and chimp aperture to suit (or meter with a light meter if you have one) flash at 1/4 power is a good starting point and gives you room to move.

1/125 is also a good base shutter speed, because it allows you to increase the shutter to kill ambient light (only up to your sync speed of course !!), or drag the shutter to burn in more ambient.

I almost always start my off camera flash stuff at ISO100, 1/125th, and flashes at 1/4 or 1/2 power. Then use a Sekonic to meter out the working aperture, or chimp my histogram and screen if Ive forgotten the meter .. which happens a lot

[NikonNellie]

Thanks Darren for those settings they will be a good starting point for the next time I shoot with a flash. Most of the times I have used a flash I think that I have just fluked getting good light and not understanding why I am achieving positive results. It's not until I have made a silly mistake like this that I realise I have just been lucky and that I need to really think about what I want to achieve. e.g how much ambient light do I want in this image.
I have noted that I get much better results when I set the flash manually rather than using TTL.

[maccaroneski]

Darren I would go so far as to say when you're starting out, start at 1/200th, f5.6 and flash at 1/16th.

I found that taking the ambient light out of the equation when you're starting out is a little easier - one less thing to worry about - and then once you're comfortable with getting the exposure from the flash right, have a think about including ambient light.

[bigdazzler]

fair comment too ......

At 5.6 you just gotta be mindful of DOF too. This is of course dependant on focal length, and distance to subject as well. At 1/4 or 1/2 power your usually at around f11-f16ish (depending on distance of course) so youre almost guaranteed sharpness across the frame. Of course if you want blurry bits, like Nellies shot, 5.6 would be just about bang on