Learning how to use slow-sync flash; first vs. second curtain

[padrepaul77]

Hi all,

Just found the show and wanted to post on the forum for a bit of advice. I shoot nature, landscape and street a lot, and some sports indoors, and love night photography, but haven't done much with people. I was looking for advice on how to get solid night shots using the slow-sync flash; specifically first vs. rear curtain or dragging the shutter a bit for nice background shots. Below are a couple of shots I took where I got a little bit of blur; sometimes it's nice to show movement, but in these cases I just wanted a nice background on the image, no blur. It's first curtain, just on the "slow sync" setting (or night scene mode shot setting on the camera); but in hindisight maybe a tripod and second-curtain setting would have been the way to go.

Thanks for the suggestions. Photo one: Slow Sync, front curtain. Photo 2 of the guitarists; ISO 3200, no flash; Photo three, one from last year that is rear curtain I believe, with a tripod. Third photo could have been better with the performer off-center and me getting lower, but I think from a crispness standpoint its a little better.