Set the camera to under expose the ambient by 1 to 2 stops and set the flash to under expose by -1 to -2 1/3 stops (some in shutter priority and some in manual mode). Checked the histogram to make sure I wasn't blowing any of the primary color channels and if I was (usually the red channel) then I'd under expose by a little more. In most of these shots there's just enough flash to keep from losing detail in the shadows. Tried to stay at F8 and at least 1/640 of a second (too much wind).
With EOS 450D, it should be 1/250s. John must've been using High sync speed with his flash.
Excellent series John. One nitpick though, I don't really like that pure blue background in the 4th image, the shade looks unnatural. I'm guessing it's the sky?
@n0b0: Odd that you don't like that shade of blue -the sky takes on many different shades during the day.
@ Kenny: I was using high speed sync (max sync speed with the 40D is 1/250). I can get away with HSS because I'm just using enough flash to keep the details from getting lost in the shadows. I do occasionally get motion blur induces by the HSS, but it would be worse to shoot at 1/250 and get robbed by the wind.
I think #1 is a female Red Veined Darter and #5 is a female Keeled Skimmer. I didn't get many frames of the skimmer because this guy was to her right on that same grape vine and when he moved she bolted...
Dalantech wrote:
@n0b0: Odd that you don't like that shade of blue -the sky takes on many different shades during the day.
I don't think I've ever seen shade of blue like that in the sky. Two possible reasons; one, southern sky has different shades of blue or two, I just never notice it.
n0b0 wrote:
I don't think I've ever seen shade of blue like that in the sky. Two possible reasons; one, southern sky has different shades of blue or two, I just never notice it.
You've probably never noticed -seriously. You have to train yourself to see how the quality of the light effects the color of the objects around you. I actually think it's easier for women than it is for us men because their eyes are designed to be more sensitive to color, while ours are designed to be more sensitive to light (we have better night vision). It's funny: the Mrs. and I were recently watching Shrek III and she was amazed at the detail in the computer graphics and I was watching how the light was changing the colors as the sun was getting low on the horizon and the shadows...
