Fill Flash

Gallery: AvianPosted January 23, 2014258 views10 comments

I commented on a recent image talking about fill flash. I was also asked off line about using fill flash in the field. Thought it would be worthwhile to share a quick image and discuss it here.

Techs on this image:
Canon 50D, 500mm f/4 with 1.4x TC
ISO 400
1/320 @ f/5.6
Canon 580 EX flash at -2

I usually use flash on perched birds like this if I can. It helps tame the background if it is brighter, allows me to fill in shadow detail without destroying the shadows, and created a catchlight. In this example image, I did not clone out the extra catchlight from the flash on purpose just to show a problem it can create. This has a catchlight from the sun and a catchlight from the flash (smaller light lower in the eye) I've posted a crop of the eye so you can see it easier.

With this image captured at 1/320 I had to use High Speed Sync (in Canon terms) since that shutter speed is faster than the camera's flash sync speed. While High Speed Sync decreased the effective range of the flash, flashes like the 580 still have more than enough power to do the job.

I use a Wimberly flash bracket to get the flash up off the lens axis to avoid any eye shine issues, then an off camera flash cord to connect the flash to camera.

Hope this image will create a discussion on using this technique. I think flash is incredibly important in helping with many contrast situations and providing more pleasing images.

Of course I don't use or condone the use of flash on birds at night (like owls).

Thoughts??

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 23, 2014 at 11:20 PM

Here's the close up of the eye showing the two catchlights. The lower one should be cloned out.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 24, 2014 at 6:36 AM

Thanks Keith and lovely image to boot

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 24, 2014 at 7:14 AM

I own a flash, but must confess I've never used it.

I clearly see it's benefits. Thank you for taking the time to post this info. Beautiful bird and image, too! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 24, 2014 at 7:18 AM

Thank you Keith, good image, nice colors.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 24, 2014 at 7:44 AM

Thanks for posting this, Keith, and for your discussion of your technique. I don't use flash currently but can certainly see its utility when it's well used. As I commented to you offline, I find that flashed images often have an unnatural look to me, and I don't find that to be the case here, so I'm glad to learn a little about how you use it. Thanks!

It's a great looking shot of a very challenging subject. comp is excellent.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on January 24, 2014 at 2:43 PM

Nice shot Keith, and as Sharon: I do own a flash as well, and of course use when doing indoor work with people or outdoor for that matter - but so far never have used it on birds. Thanks for sharing your way of working. Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 24, 2014 at 10:06 PM

A very nice image and excellent example of fill flash technique.

I use fill flash very infrequently for birds: more often when I was first experimenting with it; can't recall the last time I bothered. For me, that's the basic problem - I don't like the extra weight and bulk of a flash attached when I'm out walking around looking for subjects. If I did more stationary shooting (from a blind or backyard setup) then I'd likely make this a regular part of my approach.

I think what makes this successful is keeping the fill ratio rather low as the -2 in this example. You don't want the image to looked flashed by using too much power - that's what makes so many fill shots appear unnatural.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 24, 2014 at 10:37 PM

An excellent example, Keith. I haven't tried this setup yet, though you and some others get very good results. I think it's partly because it's more gear to mess with and I have trouble enough getting the settings right with just the camera. My other reason is simply that I've never liked people using flash on me, so I can't imagine the birds like it.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 25, 2014 at 7:31 AM

Great info on the use of flash Keith!
I still struggle at times controlling its use..
I admit there are many times when I know I should use it to fill, and don't.
It's easy to fall back on the natural look excuse I guess

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 25, 2014 at 11:02 AM

Excellent post Keith. In the many times I've had the opportunity to shot in the Tropics fill flash was a must. In fact without it I'd say 90% of my images would not have been possible. If you're shooting in that part of the world sunlight is often obstructed by the canopy, or absent completely, obscured by clouds. Although it was difficult to get my head around initially, once I got comfortable with using the flash as fill lighting I noticed a marked improvement in my results. Thanks for bringing this subject up and highlighting the positive use fill flash can have.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments