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Off-Camera Flash (with different ambient exposures) vs Natural Light @ UC Berkeley Campus

Christina Szeto • January 22, 2021

Off-Camera Flash vs Natural Light: 
Photoshoot at the UC Berkeley Campus



Outline:


1) Check out the back of my camera: Learn to balance the ambient and the flash exposure (1:14)
a) Ambient/ background exposure: How to determine?
b) What would happen if I didn’t use a flash?
c) Flash/ subject exposure: How to determine?
d) Be brave to fix anything that doesn't seem right.


2) Natural Light (4:50)
a) Find an open shade
b) Look for any hair light in an open shade
*You have to look for the hair light within an open shade; even if you see hair light but the subject is not in an open shade, it won’t work because the background could have been washed out. 


3) Flash as soft fill light (5:33)
a) I kept the same ambient exposure just like when I was shooting in the natural light.
b) Then I turned on the flash; when a flash is used as a fill light, the power is generally low, say 1/32 or 1/64.
c) The main light is still the natural light; the flash is just there to softly fill any shadow. When the shadow on the subject’s face has been filled, she will look brighter (but not overly bright).
d) Remember, Main light = the boss, Fill light = an intern.

4) Flash as the main light (7:03)
a) I switched off the flash and just focused on the ambient light; I underexposed the ambient.
b) To manipulate the ambient exposure, simply change the camera’s shutter speed. The faster the shutter speed, the dark the ambient and vice versa. 
c) Do not manipulate the ambient exposure by changing the ISO and the aperture because they will also affect the flash exposure.
d) Turn on the flash and adjust the power until the subject is properly exposed.
e) I then tried to further underexpose the ambient light by increasing the shutter speed. Since the flash was on HSS (high speed sync), increasing the shutter speed also means that the flash exposure is lowered. Therefore, I had to raise the flash power to compensate for the increase in shutter speed.
f) The flash power is usually higher in dramatic portrait, say 1/1 (full power) or 1/2.
e) The natural light became the fill light when it was overpowered by the flash, which was promoted to the role of the main light (and became the boss).

***


My equipment:


-Camera: Canon 5D Mark iv; Sony a7iii
-Lens: Canon 85mm F1.4; Sony 24-105mm F4
-Flash: Godox AD600
-Softbox: Glow Ez Lock 36" Octabox


*Photosprouts Photography Workshops* | Instructor-led Workshops in San Francisco
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*Aakriti’s Instagram:
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*Online Workshops:

Color grading: 
http://www.photosprouts.com/colorgrading


Beginner 101 For Photography Newbies: 
https://www.photosprouts.com/beginner101online

The Joy of Flower Photography:
http://www.photosprouts.com/flower


Christina Szeto Photography 
Exquisite Family Photography serving the San Francisco Bay Area
www.christina-photo.com
By Jesse Clark (Soulful Travel) February 6, 2025
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Experiencing Nashville’s culture is as easy as stepping out to enjoy its live music venues, galleries, and southern cuisine, which also provide great content for creative projects. Key highlights for solopreneurs include an inspirational environment fueled by music and arts, the availability of affordable living and workspace options, and a strong community vibe conducive to networking. Portland, Oregon: Eco-Friendly and Entrepreneurial Portland is renowned for its progressive values and a highly supportive environment for independent professionals. The city’s cost of living is manageable, and it scores high on quality of life indices with its focus on sustainability and green living. Numerous coworking spaces and cafes offer not just wifi but a community to engage with. Residential areas in Portland offer a variety of housing, from historic apartments to modern lofts, perfect for short-term stays. 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