Motorsport 1

[Marko]

Keep in mind that cameras and flashes are fairly stupid things, all the do is take an average (18% grey) and feed you back an average based on that grey.

And because cameras are blind, if the average was based on predominantly white or black tones (instead of a mix of tones as most scenes are likely to contain) the average will be wrong. (too dark or too light)

Then it's up to you the photographer to correct (and hopefully notice in the future before you click the shutter) this exposure by adding or subtracting from it.

In the case of fill flash if the fill flash is too bright go to minus 1 or minus 2 or even minus 3 or more. For outdoor shooting my usual fill flash setting will be at around minus 2.... But it depends on the subject, the distance from camera and the available light at the time of the shot.

Hope that helps - Marko

[Yisehaq]

Thank you so much Marko,

Keep in mind that cameras and flashes are fairly stupid things, all the do is take an average (18% grey) and feed you back an average based on that grey.

And because cameras are blind, if the average was based on predominantly white or black tones (instead of a mix of tones as most scenes are likely to contain) the average will be wrong. (too dark or too light)

Then it's up to you the photographer to correct (and hopefully notice in the future before you click the shutter) this exposure by adding or subtracting from it.

Unfortunately, I have to remind myself time and time again on that.

In the case of fill flash if the fill flash is too bright go to minus 1 or minus 2 or even minus 3 or more. For outdoor shooting my usual fill flash setting will be at around minus 2.... But it depends on the subject, the distance from camera and the available light at the time of the shot.

Hope that helps - Marko

That is what my practice on this subjects thought me last weekend.

[Marko]

My pleasure Yisehaq - but just so it's crystal clear my minus 2 is 100% NOT etched in stone.

It totally depends on the quality of the ambient light....I should have stated that first actually.

IF the ambient light is really harsh (like high noon) then my fill flash will NOT be set to minus 2. It will likely be much closer to zero compensation. For MY shooting style though, I'm less likely to go out in that harsh light so for me somewhere close to minus 2 usually makes sense for the subjects i tend to use fill flash on.

[Yisehaq]

Well noted. Marko!

[Mad Aussie]

Good work Yisehaq. I've shot thousands of this type of photo and a good flash is a must. Don't be afraid to use the flash more strongly either. My intention was to light up the face and eyes, even behind helmets and glasses. My purpose was to sell the photos back to the competitors, which I did, so their faces were important.

[Yisehaq]

Thanks MA.

I've shot thousands of this type of photo and a good flash is a must. Don't be afraid to use the flash more strongly either. My intention was to light up the face and eyes, even behind helmets and glasses.

I presume, you need much more power of flash to show the faces. Wouldn't that have effects on the other part of the subject? If possible could you upload on example with the Exif? I really would appreciate if I can get to show the faces too.

[Mad Aussie]

In bright light like you had there, it would take ALOT of flash to ruin other parts of the photo. In most cases the flash wouldn't be strong enough to out do what the sun was doing. Looking at the shadows I see under the helmet and on the clothes etc I can see that more flash would have been fine and lit up those faces better.

I'll look though my old shots from an event with some bright sun and see what I can find.