Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/03/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Eric, I struggled and struggled with the same problem you are having and finally, finally figured it out. This is what I do (and it works I'm happy to say): Camera set to manual Flash set to manual With ambient light coming from the side: incident meter from bright side of the subject towards the camera place your fill flash (in my case it is a barebulb Quantum T2) wherever you like on the shadow side of the subject measure the flash to subject distance with a tape measure set the flash to your ambient meter f/stop dial down the output of your flash until it matches, in feet or meters, the distance of flash to subject (you can make this last step easy by using a set distance all the time...5', 8', 10' and tying a string of that length to your light stand) This gives a 1:1 lighting ratio For better modeling set the flash one stop less for a 2:1 lighting ratio It's likely that the camera meter will read overexposed but don't worry about that. With light coming from behind the subject incident meter toward the ambient light source place flash wherever you like in front of the subject measure, in feet or meters, the distance from flash to subject (again, a set distance makes this easy) set flash to the metered ambient f/stop power down the flash until it matches the flash to subject distance in feet or meters shoot Keeping the flash output equal to the ambient meter reading gives nice frontal lighting that matches the ambient light. Opening a stop blows out background highlights. If you have a digital camera with manual settings it is very, very easy to set this up and run test shots and see immediately what you're doing. If using film, it is a good idea to make notes as you go along so you know what you've done and the results you've gotten. The following wedding shots (outside) were all done using this system: http://www.whinydogpress.com/wedding1.html Good luck and have fun Lea - ----- Original Message ----- From: "eric korenman" <leica_korenman@hotmail.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 8:20 AM Subject: RE: [Leica] Ambient light + Strobe metering question > I am using completely manual setup with a 320 w/s monolight which I can dial > up/down power ouptut. > I am trying to figure out how to measure flash output with an incident meter > and isolate that measurement from ambient light. Or is this really not a > significant difference in most situations? > > Eric > > > >From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com> > >Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > >To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > >Subject: RE: [Leica] Ambient light + Strobe metering question > >Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 07:23:43 -0500 > > > >Eric, > >If you have a manual flash then the appropriate Fstop for the flash is > >based on distance of the flash to the subject (based on guide number or > >power output of the flash). The drill would be set ambient exposure > >making sure your shutter speed is not higher than the flash synch speed, > >focus, check distance/Fstop on the flash, reset ambient exposure so the > >Fstop corresponds to what the flash needs. This is a lot easier if you > >have a flash with variable power like the old Vivitar 283's or a lot of > >the Metz units. > > > >In the modern age, if you have a TTL flash system, the camera adjusts > >the flash so you get fill without thinking. > > > > > >Don > >dorysrus@mindspring.com > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > >[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of eric > >Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:27 PM > >To: LUG > >Subject: [Leica] Ambient light + Strobe metering question > > > >A photo technique book I was reading has a chapter on using a strobe for > >fill light. > >As an example, the author discussing an ambient lit scene which meters f > >5.6 > >at 1/125 sec > >He then discusses the use of a strobe set to output of 5.6 and varying > >the > >shutter speed to add or subtract ambient light. > > > >Question: > >When shooting outdoors and metering a scene (ambient light + strobe), > >how do > >I > >isolate the f stop output of the strobe? > >Do I meter ambient light, then meter ambient light + strobe and use the > >difference to > >figure my flash output? > >Do I just subtract f stops to figure the flash output? > > > >thanks, > >flash newbie Eric. > >-- > >To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > > > > >-- > >To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > _________________________________________________________________ > Create a Job Alert on MSN Careers and enter for a chance to win $1000! > http://msn.careerbuilder.com/promo/kaday.htm?siteid=CBMSN_1K&sc_extcmp=J S_JASweep_MSNHotm2 > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html