Flash fill

Thanks, Jamie- I appreciate the tips! This sounds good for small groups but I'll be posing some larger (10-15) groupings. They'd like to have the mountains in the background, so that of course restricts my options as far as sun direction is concerned. Also must be sure that those mountains read. Sun will be coming from the side (with those wonderful shadows!) and strong backlighting. Will be at around 4:00 PM. and probably hot, so time may be very limited. Will be working with one on-camera flash (420EX) I realize that this is not the optimum in equipment for these circumstances, but must work with what I have, and they realize this. I'll of course direct them to some shade for more shots if possible. In the past I've gotten adequate results (with some Photoshop work) with camera exposure comp at -1 to bring down the background that I want to be read, and FEC at +1 shooting at AV priority or TV priority depending...
Just thought there may be more thought food to chew on for this challenge- thanks again for your input!!!

[David_Buzzard]

One thing you have going for you is that you're using mountains as a back drop. They tend to be dark coloured (unless you're in California), and if they're facing away from the sun, then you can probably open up the exposure a 1 to 1.5 stops and get away with it. As for the flash, use your fastest sync speed, turn the flash up as high as it will go, and check it via the rear preview screen. With big groups, I usually use a Metz 60 CT-5 flash on a lightstand for fill, as the shoe mounted flashes are really not powerful enough for filling a group that size in the hot sun.

David Buzzard

[Jamie_Roberts]

Kristen, not to sound harsh or anything, but I'd shoot with the light, not against it, regardless of the mountains [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I know that's impractical, but I just had to say it: I generally hate the "flash against the light" look so popular today.

Having said that, I find--when I have to--that ETTL2 and Canon's latest flashes (580) spot on when I throw a couple of them into a portable umbrella as an "outside" single light source (with the Canon remote trigger--I drop the background exposure as a kind of vignette anyway). The light is nice and soft, and you can still see the background [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Something to try, anyway, but you'd need (at least) another flash and the STE2.

Anyway, the large umbrella I was talking about is an 86" (!) Westcott optical white; best location modifier I ever bought, and keeps people dry too, if need be [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Certainly big enough for most wedding parties; you just need someone to hold it out of shot.

http://www.fjwestcott.com/products/u.../oversized.htm