Which One

[drewphotograph]

Hi all,

I shot 2 photos. The first one, i shot it without using flash & I did some white balance correction, since the source of light was yellowish.

The second one, I shot it with flash. I compensate the flash for -2/3. No white balance correction on the photo, I just use AWB from the camera.

Which one do you think is better than the other one? and why?
to be honest, i prefer the first one because i like the photo which is brighter than the second one.

It's kinda hard to use flash...

anyway, thank you for helping me

[ChowChi-Ching]

I prefer the second one, because the subject of you photo is obviousely the people. The first pic with just the lighting in the back creates a shadow on their faces and really makes them not the main focus.......
But with the flash working as fill flash it really brings out everyones faces and makes them more the subject.
The light in the background is really too bright in both pictures though and is a strong distraction for me......

[AgingEyes]

I personally prefer ambient light so I'd choose the first one. Just needs to open up some shadows in the first photo. However, because your white balance done to the first photo might have been overdone a bit to make it no longer looks like what it was in the actual scene, the second one is better in that regard.

I don't know if you can fix that overblown on the wall.

[gahspidy]

I prefer your second with the fill flash. The other has their faces too dark. The fill flash looks like flash though. Do you have a Diffuser? Did you try bouncing the flash off the ceiling? These things might have given the flash a more natural effect.

[Herriot]

IMO, of the two, the lighting in the second helps to show your subjects to the greatest extent so it would be my choice. Interesting to see how the poses have changed and some figures rearranged, not to mention the cushion in the foreground moving from one side of the room to the other, in that sense, they work quite well together.

[Frog]

second one because the faces are lit better with the fill flash.

[MB1]

IMO, of the two, the lighting in the second helps to show your subjects to the greatest extent so it would be my choice. Interesting to see how the poses have changed and some figures rearranged, not to mention the cushion in the foreground moving from one side of the room to the other, in that sense, they work quite well together.

I was thinking that using the two together would be a lot of fun.

If I had to pick it would be the second image for the better light on their faces.

BTW it isn't all that easy to shoot such a large group indoors so you did good with both.

[drewphotograph]

I have PP the second photo, and i really like the result, i added more fill light so the face looks brighter.
Thank you for helping me and give me some constructive input.

I attached the photo with this.. Thanks a lot.

[freedom1500]

You did really well... for a group shot with so many people. I've been experimenting with flash a lot recently so let me share some of that wisdom with you.
Obviously the shot is done, but next time:
1. if your camera/flash allows it, point your flash head towards the ceiling and use bounce flash---that'll really fill in the shadows nicely.
2. remove the bright lamp from the background as it creates a very bright, almost blinding (blown) spot in the shot; place it next to your right shoulder and keep it aimed at the ceiling; this will also fill in the shadows instead of creating a strong backlight. (With this technique alone, you might not need to use a flash at all.)
3. use the Manual setting on your camera (if your camera allows it); this way, you can control (balance) the amount of natural light vs flash.
Good luck and thanks for sharing.
Robert

[drewphotograph]

3. use the Manual setting on your camera (if your camera allows it); this way, you can control (balance) the amount of natural light vs flash.
Good luck and thanks for sharing.
Robert

hm. my camera is Rebel XTi (Canon's entry lvl D-SLR), is there any feature like that to control the amount of natural light vs flash?