I have no idea if this is of interest to anyone at all.
Back in the past, I used to do a fair amount of event photography at work, documenting what was essentially expense-paid drunken nights out.
I wasn't a great fan of the first attempts, with auto mode and flash, which exposed what was close (usually glaringly) with a dark, featureless background, so I used this technique that toned down the anger of the flash, made the lighting look more natural and also brought in detail in the background.
I don't happen to be at an event, so used this indoors.
Basically, manual mode is your friend here. Wide aperture, high ISO and relatively slow shutter. The flash does all the work in freezing the action in the foreground, so you don't need ultra steady hands or a tripod.
These first two photos are in Auto mode at 200ISO and f/4.5, the camera has chosen 1/60. The flash is doing all of the heavy lifting.
DSCF0092 by Pete, on Flickr
DSCF0096 by Pete, on Flickr
Boosting the ISO to 1250ISO and manual shutter speed of 1/30, the only thing that's automatic is the flash
DSCF0091 by Pete, on Flickr
DSCF0093 by Pete, on Flickr
So there's more ambient and a more natural looking shot (at least in my opinion).
And compared with a photos from my iPhone 17Pro (f/1.8 ISO 800, 1/40 - full auto mode)
Untitled by Pete, on Flickr
Back in the past, I used to do a fair amount of event photography at work, documenting what was essentially expense-paid drunken nights out.
I wasn't a great fan of the first attempts, with auto mode and flash, which exposed what was close (usually glaringly) with a dark, featureless background, so I used this technique that toned down the anger of the flash, made the lighting look more natural and also brought in detail in the background.
I don't happen to be at an event, so used this indoors.
Basically, manual mode is your friend here. Wide aperture, high ISO and relatively slow shutter. The flash does all the work in freezing the action in the foreground, so you don't need ultra steady hands or a tripod.
These first two photos are in Auto mode at 200ISO and f/4.5, the camera has chosen 1/60. The flash is doing all of the heavy lifting.
DSCF0092 by Pete, on FlickrDSCF0096 by Pete, on FlickrBoosting the ISO to 1250ISO and manual shutter speed of 1/30, the only thing that's automatic is the flash
DSCF0091 by Pete, on FlickrDSCF0093 by Pete, on FlickrSo there's more ambient and a more natural looking shot (at least in my opinion).
And compared with a photos from my iPhone 17Pro (f/1.8 ISO 800, 1/40 - full auto mode)
Untitled by Pete, on Flickr