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FILL FLASH is where the flash is fired in an already-lit environment. Most amateurs don't think to do this, but fill flash is one of the best (and easiest) ways to deal with a backlit or otherwise poorly lit subject in front of a bright background.
So yes, firing the flash on a sunny day can actually make total sense.
VIDEO TUTORIAL: CONTROLLING FLASH MODES ON THE NIKON D3300
You need to know how to control your flash power, though, and so flash compensation is one of the important features covered in this short video. You must know how to do this!
IMPORTANT NOTE: When using flash, your camera maxes out at 1/200s. This means that when setting up your initial shot (without flash), don't shoot faster than 1/200s. This will ensure that your settings don't change on you once the flash is raised.
PROJECT: FILL FLASH
Your task is to use the external flash (SB-700 Speedlight) as a fill flash in a series of before-and-after images.
How to use the speedlight: >>>READ THIS FIRST<<<.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR SHOTS
1) Choose your scene and compose a shot (with your subject in the frame).
2) Have the subject move out of the frame.
3) Set the camera to M (manual) mode (JPG, not RAW) and expose the scene so the background looks appropriate. We call this "exposing for the background." You must, however, not shoot any faster than 1/200s as the flash will not sync at faster shutter speeds.
4) Without turning on the flash, Take enough shots to decide if the settings are correct.
5) Put the subject back into the frame and take another shot. Your subject should be too dark.
6) Turn on the flash now, set up the angle & reflector the way you want, and take a test shot. Determine whether the flash is under-powered, correctly-powered, or over-powered.
7) Adjust flash compensation on the flash to correct the brightness of your subject.
8) Keep adjusting and shooting until your subject is well-balanced compared to your background!
9) To customize the light direction or to soften the light, bounce the light sideways (or backwards) off a reflector disc and into your subject's face. Try the different textures/covers!
10) When you've achieved the shot you want, repeat the process for three other scenes.
11) Do NOT process your images in Lightroom. You need to be assessed on your ability to use light (flash) to achieve a balanced shot.
12) When handing in your images, be sure to include "no flash" and "flash" versions. This demonstrates your ability to both expose for the background in manual mode (no flash) AND find the right level of flash to properly light your subject.
*** USE FLASH COMPENSATION AS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE PROPER EXPOSURE! ***
SHOT LIST
Since fill flash is most widely used in portraiture, we're going to stick with that for this project. All images are to be portraits of a person or people. No candids, please.
Submit TWO images/locations for this project. Compose your shots so that they are backlit. The purpose of fill flash in this case is to match the strong light coming from the back.
Locations:
- At least one outdoor shot with direct flash (no reflector)
- Optional: one indoor shot (with a window in the background) with reflector
WHEN FINISHED:
1) Weed out your images so you're left with four before/after sets of images.
2) Rename these 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B or something equally easy to follow.
3) Go to Classroom and open up this assignment.
4) Select ADD > File, and upload your eight images directly to Classroom.
5) Open the attached self-evaluation rubric and complete it.
6) Click TURN IN when all of these steps have been completed!
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