some more off camera speedlight pictures

[Sean Setters]

The shots look relatively well exposed (my guess is ETTL was working for you). But I'm not really a fan of the shadows being created by the bare speedlight. Typically speaking, light coming from a window (which your shot sort-of mimics) would present a much larger lightsource than what is indicated by the shadows in your shot. A softbox, umbrella, or bedsheet might have been used as a diffusion material or as a material to bounce light off of. This would increase the size of the lightsource relative to your subject and turn those hard-edged shadows into much more pleasing gradients.

Unless you're wanting to recreate a hard-edged look, I'd avoid using bare light sources as my mainlight. You're much more likely to get away with them when used as a rim/hairlight.

[jks_photo]

@sean.. ETTL was on.... I always shoot in AV mode. so I darkened the background 1 stop via exposure comp. then on the flash was set to a zoom of 105mm and shot was taken at around 70mm... I was kind of hoping to limit flash coverage. All I have in terms of a diffuser right now are those lightspheres and they seem to light up the whole place [ which I guess is what theyre supposed to do], but I was kind of looking for a "snooted" flash effect. Not really a fan of bare flash pictures myself but for now it's what my gear affords me. Did order an umbrella though.....

thanks again sean. Well i'm off to practicing again.......hopefully in time I will get better.....