confused about using 550ex on manual.

[gloria_wright]

i would like to take a portrait at dusk with a short pop of flash on the subject's face and a slow shutter speed for the background.

i'm confused how to do this, though, since i have only used my 550ex speedlite on ttl. i read the instruction manual about using the flash on manual, but found it confusing.

how to i go about shooting the above scenario?

i have a canon 1n and a 550ex speedlite.

thanks.

[pixseal]

There is no need to put the flash into manual mode. Use Av, Tv or M

(camera manual) to get the shutter speed/aperture combination that you

want. (Av and Tv will expose the background correctly, in M mode

that's your responsibility). Using the 550EX in TTL mode, the camera

will control the flash duration to properly expose your nearby

subject. I suggest, however, that you set flash exposure compensation

(FEC) to -1/3 or -2/3.

[preston_merchant]

The only thing I would add is to use partial or spot metering on the

subject's face. Try just shooting this way in full auto mode. You

may get the effect you want. Switch to manual metering and bracket

exposures to be sure.