How can I shoot newborn portraits at very wide apertures with flash near a bright window?
Asked 4/22/2013
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2 answers
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I was photographing a newborn indoors beside bright windows, using a Canon 6D with a 50mm f/1.4 and an off-camera Canon 430EX through an umbrella. At ISO 100 and the camera’s 1/180s sync limit, I was already at 1/64 flash power and around f/1.8. As the ambient light increased, I had to stop down even more. What are the best ways to keep using very wide apertures like f/1.4 or wider in this kind of setup without blowing highlights or exceeding sync speed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
13
You could use an ND filter or even a polarizing filter (which you probably already have) to give yourself another couple of stops.
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
You have a few practical options:
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Cut the light: Add an ND filter (or even a polarizer for some light loss) so you can keep ISO 100 and stay at sync speed while opening the aperture wider.
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Reduce ambient window light: Diffuse or block the window with a sheet/curtain, or reposition the setup.
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Reduce flash output further: Move the flash farther away; doubling the distance cuts the light to about one quarter. You can also bounce it off a wall/ceiling or use a reflector instead of flash if the window light is already good.
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Use high-speed sync (HSS): Your 430EX supports HSS, which lets you use shutter speeds above normal sync speed. That can help you shoot wider apertures, though it reduces effective flash power.
In a window-lit newborn setup, the simplest solutions are usually ND filtration, using a reflector instead of flash, or controlling the window light.
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