[johnnyho0530]

Dear All,

I did change to use DSLR D70s this year and I'm try to use it for Christmas. But usually I can't do it well when I need to photo both background and people. I did read some of the article that we need to check the background light balance then ask the people stand in the darker side with a big contract then.. using flash to balance it...

Actually... I don't understand how to do it!! I'm really a new user, please advise.

[wtfgary]

It is not that tough.

I am not D70s user but I think D70s does have 2nd curtain function. Turn that on, reasonable aperature, focus on the person, around 1 second shutter, shoot with flash and it shall be OK.

[johnnyho0530]

Thanks.... Yep.. I hear people say "curtain"... and I didn't know what is it..?Please advise. Sorry for my stupid questions.

[wtfgary]

Johnny, I am sure you haven't clearly read the user guide : ). Spend sometime to read it and I am sure it says things better than I do.

[neongtr]

check the F value, I read somewhere said that the low the F value (high F number, eg F5 - F8), the fore ground (people) and back ground (buliding) would both become clear (in focus). However, you need long exposure time (1S+) to allow more light to be captured.
I did some pic in cave, you can have a look, http://ctlai.blogspot.com

if I have not mistaken, the curtain function is to allow the shutter to open up to capture the image then the flash turns on to 'balance' the overall light source.

tripod is a must when taken these type of pic

[tyuen]

You can try to use flash under slow shutter speed.

If your background is dark, your flash may not have sufficient power to light them up. In such case, you have to use a slower speed to expose the background. As you will be using a slow shutter speed, a tripod is required

The flash is to light up your subject. I suppose that you are using auto flash. Let it handle the exposure level for your subjects (or you can adjust the flash exposure compensation yourself).

If you shoot at a slow shutter speed with flash, when will the flash fire? Will it fire when you press the shutter button (curtain open)? Or will it fire at the end of your exposure (curtain closed)? The first case is called first curtain flash sync. while the latter is called second curtain flash sync. (or rear curtain flash sync.) You can control it by selecting in the menu function. wtfgary asked you to use second curtain flash to cause lesser confusion to your subjects. Anyway, slow sync. flash is some fun.

[johnnyho0530]

Really. Thanks for your help... since I didn't know many of the team.. which cause me a lots of problem...
Thanks for your help.