Flash Technique

IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
edited May 31, 2011 in Wildlife
I'm having less than stellar results using flash with close-in birds. They seem to be jumping the flash. Is it i-TTL pre-flashes they're reacting to? :scratch I was trying to use shoe mounted flash. Does anyone else notice this?
John :
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.

Comments

  • korandokekorandoke Registered Users Posts: 517 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    I never use a flash in birds

    kind regards,
    korandoke
    Best regards,
    Korandoke
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 29, 2011
    I hear you, but at dusk (when they seem to appear most) I'd like to be able to speed up the shutter.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • korandokekorandoke Registered Users Posts: 517 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    perhaps a D3 high ISO without noise can

    kind regards
    korandoke
    Best regards,
    Korandoke
  • TaDaTaDa Registered Users Posts: 169 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    When I have my flash mounted, it's set to manual with high speed sync. I just set the zoom to 50mm and shoot. Flash doesn't go off until the shutter does.
    My Kit
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  • AllenAllen Registered Users Posts: 10,013 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    I remember a couple years ago we were shooting a rare bird through a closed window. As he focused he lit up the whole window with red flashes. I suggested he turn off any focus assist settings. Flash might also be sending out pre stuff.
    Al - Just a volunteer here having fun
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  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    John, the one thing that I could suggest is put the flash in manual mode and cut the power to around a quarter power and adjust up or down from there. Right now you are hitting them at full power making them jump.

    I have done this in the past and found more control and having them sit there without jumping when the flash goes off. Just a thought for you.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • r3t1awr3ydr3t1awr3yd Registered Users Posts: 1,000 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    I've shot hummingbirds with a flash setup and I always turn off AF-assist. On both the flashes (which I run in manual anyways with no assist) and on the camera (for stalking so no one can see that stupid af-assist light).
    Hi! I'm Wally: website | blog | facebook | IG | scotchNsniff
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Moose Peterson has a pretty good article on using flash for wildlife phtography.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Thanks everybody. I think my problem arises from the iTTL preflashes, as I never use focus assist. I'm going to try two things. One, is to use plain old-fashioned TTL (no preflashes) or manual. The other, to use radio triggers to control off-camera speedlights, again in either TTL or manual. I love the Nikon CLS, but that uses preflashes to control the off-camera units, hence the radio triggers.

    Let's see what happens. C'mon dusk!
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    Thanks everybody. I think my problem arises from the iTTL preflashes, as I never use focus assist. I'm going to try two things. One, is to use plain old-fashioned TTL (no preflashes) or manual. The other, to use radio triggers to control off-camera speedlights, again in either TTL or manual. I love the Nikon CLS, but that uses preflashes to control the off-camera units, hence the radio triggers.

    Let's see what happens. C'mon dusk!

    Let us know how it works out :lurk
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Last winter I decided to try using flash because we had a lot of dull days in the UK and this, combined with iced over water which brought the birds closer to the bank thro' using the only non-iced areas made it seem worth a go.

    I don't remember too many (if any) issues with birds 'jumping' from the pre-flash (E-TTL, Canon) even at fairly close distances - sometimes even closer than mfd (4.5m) when using tubes.

    I've noticed the 'pre-flash jump' more with insects, however - to the extent that I even tried to use it to my advantage to get shots of butterflies that'd just taken off because of it :)


    Nothing special, but one of the shots from last winter - using home made 'better beamer' etc. (1/250, f5, iso200, -1 fec, ettl)
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/pppix/_MG_7351mod.jpg

    pp
    Website

    Flickr
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Great shot Paul.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Another option is move to Florida. With all the light we have here you won't need to use flash.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    Another option is move to Florida. With all the light we have here you won't need to use flash.

    :)

    If we all did that it'd soon get overcrowded and you'd have to put up with us limeys yakkin on about Cricket 'n stuff :)

    Nice weather's ok - but not all the time, imo - I looked forward to the UK murk when working in Africa (4yrs)

    I - thx for comment, btw...

    pp
    Website

    Flickr
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