What went wrong here?

[ltilley]

I was using my digital rebel on program mode with the flash. I chose to use flash for fill in purposes, but a few of the shots came out blinding like this one....

Does anyone know what happened and how I can prevent this. I prefer to use the program mode for casual purposes and family snapshots so I don't miss any action while adjusting the settings. But I definately don't want to see more of this.

Thanks in advance!

[another view]

Digital + Flash = Headaches

Well, often enough. I guess I would have used Manual exposure mode at the highest flash sync speed (not sure what that is for your camera but it will be in the instruction manual). I would have set the ISO at 100 or 200 and used the aperture needed for the daylight exposure. Then, set the flash to underexpose one stop (pretty normal starting point for fill flash exposure).

If you shoot the flash in non-TTL auto mode, this can be set by using one stop of aperture larger than what you're telling the flash you're using. For example, say the sync speed is 1/250 and you're at ISO100. I'll guess that the aperture would be about f8 for the daylight exposure. Set the flash at f5.6 and it will underexpose one stop. This usually ends up with a more natural looking exposure than having fill flash as bright as the daylight exposure.

It takes time to set the camera this way but it can be done quickly with practice. Take a test shot and make sure the settings are where you want them. Then, you're all set until light conditions change.

[ltilley]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to try out a few of these suggestions. I also noticed that it wasn't in full program mode, but in aperature priority... which was not my intention.

And as I looked at the photo parameters... at the 5.6 aperature it happened to be set at, most shots were taken at 1/500 - but the two or three blinding ones were oddly at 1/60. Some mis-read by the meter I guess.

Now I know why I prefer to manual set my exposures. Just when I'm taking day to day family snapshots I don't make the effort. I guess I should.

Again, I really appreciate those suggestions. Probably about time I learned to play with those.

I love her expression... anyone have ideas how I can fix this digitally? (I don't mind if anyone wants to play with the image themselves and repost.) THANKS again in advance.