Settings to shoot portrait at night with ambient light

[focusHeart]

Hi...i would like to learn the settings used to take night portraits at well lit places like bbq pits..i have to hand hold the camera and take the shots of my friends at different angles. I used Program mode with flash and the image of my friends are well lit but not the surrounding..if i use without flash the whole area is somewhat well lit but my friends' image is blurry. Would be nice if someone can point out to me what i settings i should use...thank you..

 

[catchlights]

use tripod,

set camera to high ISO, slow rear sync speed,

compose, ask your friends to hold still till flash fired, press shutter release button.

you will get the subject and background nicely exposed.

 

[stunna88]

If u handhold using flash, use the 1st curtain (flash fire first) and the background and your friend will be well exposed. However, the background will be blurry due to handshake and lower your flash exposure so that ur friends are not grossly lit.
Best is no nid to use curtain mode, if you have VR or IS juz use normal flash mode, lower the flash exposure by 1 stop maybe and use flash sync of 1/15 or 1/8. I've tried these settings and it works great for me. The subjects are well exposed and the background lighting is well captured.

Hope it helps.

 

[focusHeart]

hi..thanks for sharing...i shall try it out...with the slow rear sync speed and also using the flash sync of 1/15 or 1/8...really appreciate it guys...thank you

 

[Poshua]

What's the difference between TTL flash & manual flash.

I've also problems with nightspot shoots on friends.

I realised I've to set to AF-S single servo to let out a beam so that it can focus on the subject. What other settings should I amend?

 

[allenleonhart]

okkies. ttl means ur exposure and how strong ur flash is is decided by the exposure by what the camera decides.

manual well... u said it urself! its manual. u decide waht uw anna do. some flashes like 430ex II from canon can allow u to decide waht u wanna take based on ur own distance wad so eva. for example some of the flashes have a infra red sensor to decide the exposure and how strong ur flash is

correct me if i'm wrong. i'm not a heavy flash user :x