I got a flash. I don’t know how to use a flash. This could be ugly!

 

 

I got this inexpensive Chinese flash that works on Nikon or Canon cameras. It’s only manual. But I figured that would be good because then I’d have to learn what power to set my flash at or suffer ugly consequences.

Be prepared for ugly!

 

 

So here’s what happened. I tried under exposing by a bit and setting the flash at 1/4 power. Nope! Too much light.

 

 

Then I learned about “recycle time”. No point in rapid firing because you get a no flash photo like this. It can’t recycle that fast.

 

 

I’d already learned what “200 sync speed” was. When I tried to fire the flash with the shutter set at 1/400 sec and I got another black photo which I won’t bore you with. But if the shutter is too fast the flash won’t fire and that’s a fact.

 

 

Next I tried the flash at 1/16th power and I got closer for a head shot.

 

 

Then I stopped to pay my model with a dog biscuit.  She charges by the pose.

 

 

ISO100   85mm  f/2.2   1/160 sec    flash 1/16th power

 

 

ISO100   85mm  f/2.2   1/160 sec    flash 1/64th power

 

 

ISO100   85mm  f/2.2   1/160 sec    flash 1/64th power

 

 

 

 

 

Eek, to much light because I got closer but remember to compensate for it.

 

 

ISO 320   85mm  f/2.2   1/160 sec    flash 1/64th power

Now that’s ugly.

 

 

ISO 320   85mm  f/2.2   1/160 sec    flash 1/64th power

So I backed up quite a bit and it was a lot better.