shooting wide with flash

[LarryD]

mark, here's the shot i was telling you about: 17mm, 430EX flash, 1/4 sec, f5.6, ISO 800.

[Big Mark]

That's awesome. I still dont get how that works though. I guess the flash "stops" the action in the foreground but diffuses and doesnt light the background, allowing the "shake" to cause the streaking? I'm assuming you didnt use IS on this one? What about that "diffuser" lens (I'm sure there's a more proper term) on the flash, did you use it?

[LarryD]

i use the sto-fen omni bounce at all times.

also, i forgot to tell you -- during the 1/4th of a second that the shutter is open, i rotate the camera about about 15 degrees to the right. that gives it a circular pattern of dragged light.

i don't use any IS lenses.

[Big Mark]

Is there any way to replicate this effect when there's more abiant light? I'm going to a skateboard race this weekend and want to get more motion blur in the background while still having the subject in relative focus.

[LarryD]

Is there any way to replicate this effect when there's more abiant light? I'm going to a skateboard race this weekend and want to get more motion blur in the background while still having the subject in relative focus.

best way for you to do this is to track your subject -- follow them with your lens as they move.

like this:

http://www.the-sports-photographer.com/images/photos/large/track.jpg

the photographer focused in on the vaulter and followed him. he had his shutter open for a fraction of a second as he moved. long enough to get the proper exposure and blur the crowd as he panned left at the same speed of the subject.

[Big Mark]

Here's the best I could do. Thoughts?

[Big Mark]

mark, here's the shot i was telling you about: 17mm, 430EX flash, 1/4 sec, f5.6, ISO 800.

I can't get my 430EX to fire when I put my wide angle lens on. I'm guessing it's just a setting because when I try "24mm" flashes on the back panel of the lens. What gives?