Mallard Drake

[Joel Eade]

This was shot in very low light....
1D3
300mm 2.8L + 1.4 TCII
Hand held
580 EXII + Better Beamer ETTL -2 1/3
ISO 1600
f/5.6
1/80

Cleaned up the water and background by cloning out some bright spots. Cropped for composition. Processed with ACR and CS5.

[annmpacheco]

I really like this mallard: crisp with excellent color definition. The drip is extra nice. I would rmove the spot near the eye as it is a bit distracting. And, I would wish for a very different background;but then again the duck probably wouldn't cooperate. Very nice job in low light. TFS

[annmpacheco]

Would someone please explain why the selection of -2 1/2 on ETTL better beamer? Only have used my BB once but I thought if it was low light and 1/80, then why negative ex:2 1/3 rather than a positive number? yikes.... Thanks

[Kerry Perkins]

Ann, the Better Beamer concentrates the flash by focusing the light in a small circle. This results in a ton of light being put on the subject, even at a fair distance. Even when using the BB/flash for primary illumination, as in shooting birds in shade, a negative FEC is required to prevent flooding the subject with light. I don't think I've ever used a positive value for FEC when using the beamer, and I've taken hundreds of shots with it. I typically use -1 2/3 for birds in shade if I am close enough to mostly fill the frame. Remember that the ETTL logic is going to increase the flash output for the darker scenes, where you would be using the BB, so you need to compensate for that as well as the increased output given by the device.

[Tom Redd]

Thanks, Joel for posting this. I am going to start trying to use the BB in situations like this so the instruction from Kerry and others is helpful. I like the water droplets and the HA, I would prefer to see a bit more of the duck's body, for what it is worth.

[annmpacheco]

Thanks Kerry,
I'll try it out . Lots to learn!!!