Toby shot using HSS

Having recently purchased a Metz 44 af-2, and inspired by Nigel's excellent flash guide manual, I decided to have a play with high speed sync.

Now, my only willing model is Toby, who just about managed to stay still long enough. Windy conditions and Spaniel ears don't exactly mix

All with the 70 Ltd.

1


ISO200, f5.6 @1/320

2


ISO200, f5.6 @1/320

3


ISO200, f6.3 @ 1/640

4


ISO200, f5.6 @1/320

All good fun, as well as a steep learning curve.

Regards
Adrian

Wow, they've worked really well! You've got control of that bright glaring sky, and with an aperture wide enough that has given a nice OOF look to the background .....plus your subject is nicely exposed and brought out by the flash. They are classic HSS examples , nice work, I'm very pleased the technique has been useful for you .

Adrian,
Nice shots, hope you got the model release form signed, and paid him well.

Regards
Malcombe

Great shots, hope you paid your model in treats.

Well done Toby, and you too Adrian. I love the last one, really nice shot.

Spaniels and their ears.....don't get me started !

Impressive results..... Well done Adrian

Wow, fantastic shots and what a model. The wind and the ears mix all too well!

Which menu option do you set on the camera to allow HSS? I've watched a video about using this on another brand beginning with N which shows a star against the sync speed in the camera's menu option when HSS is achievable with a compatible flash gun but cannot find anything similar on any of my Pentax's.
I'd like to try it but I'm failing at the first hurdle!

You don't. Set camera to manual and flash synch to HS. There are probably other ways, but I use manual for flash exposures.

John

Ah, so Pentax's are cleverer than that other brand beginning with N and don't need it. I'll try that. Thanks.
I see the HS only kicks in when you go above the camera's sync speed. That explains why I wasn't seeing HS on the flash display even though it was set. I'd have thought if you'd set it it would display it but not bother using it until it became necessary. Confusingly implemented on my 360 if I may so so.

If you set HSS on the flash unit you will be able to select a shutter speed above the X-sync speed. If you select a speed at or below X-sync you will see the HSS change on the flash unit to non HSS mode, at least on the Pentax dedicated units.

Thanks, I can see that now. I was setting HS but it wasn't displaying it.

A great entertaining series - he seems very well-behaved. He looks quite streamlined in number 2, and number 3 is a hoot!

Cheers.
Philip

Thanks; I must convey how useful your excellent flash guide has been so far, it's been a huge help in what is a steep learning curve (and I'm sure will continue to be a big help).


On the Metz (44 af-2 anyhow), once a shutter speed slower than x-sync is selected, then HSS kicks in automatically (using either M, TV or TAV modes).

If you haven't read Nigel's Pentax flash guide, then I would highly recommend this as it truly is excellent.

Toby was indeed well behaved, and has been well rewarded He has even posed for another "shoot" a few days ago, so a few more images to come again!

Thanks all for the kind comments.

Yes, the Pentax flashes behave the same way, flicking automatically into and out of HS Sync mode as you cycle the shutter 'speed' up and down around the max-sync figure. So long as the sync mode is set to 'HS' this will occur, which is very handy in changing light (say the sun was coming and going behind the clouds) .... then you have to juggle the ambient exposure a bit, and the nice thing is you can leave the flash and sync mode to just get on with it.

I'm not sure if Metz flashes are different, but the Pentax ones offer only P-TTL mode for HSS operation .... This is fine for me, as managing manual flash power control during HSS shooting is a further complication that is best done without.

Again, well done here Adrian ... for me, the real treat with these shots is the well controlled and balanced lighting, which has allowed both aspects of your images (ie the backgrounds and the subject) to be correctly lit and exposed. Without flash then one or the other would have been a compromise.