Wow! After all this time I thought that you would at least know the answer to your question.   

Wokeh... here goes:

When you fire a flash, your camera meters your exposure of the subject based on the flash. Thus this will result in a properly exposed subject while disregarding the ambient exposure. Normally this ends up with the subject exposed properly but the background is dark - typical PnS flash usage scenario ler...

If you meter for the ambient and expose for that, the flash will then overexpose your subject.

So, when using flash you need to remember to balance for the ambient light. That's what sifu albnok always tells people. Don't just crank up your flash's power.

To solve the background dark issue, trying using a higher ISO and/or slower shutter speed to capture more of the ambient light. Your flash will expose the subject properly but let the slower shutter speed take in more light for the ambient and you will get a more balanced exposure overall.

When shooting under sunlight, adjust the flash power so that if will fill in the shadows but not overexpose the subject.

Like I always say - Get back to the basics and learn about lighting and aperture and shutter speed and what not and you will be able to figure all these things out by yourself. Fancy gears will do nuts to teach you things like these. No matter how many L or CZ or G lenses you have you will not be able to solve issues like this if you don't know your basics. 

Seng_Kiat, there are usually THREE situations. Turn off your flash and set the exposure in manual mode so the meter says 0. This is the same as Slow Sync Flash mode really.

A) subject and background are equally lit

You don't need to use flash for this, but you can, to add a bit of fill light to bring out the catchlights in the eyes. You can use TTL for this.

B) subject is darker, background is brighter (sunsets, subjects in shade)

Use a flash on camera in TTL.

C) subject is brighter, background is darker (spotlights, gigs)

Use wireless flash, point the flash at the background and set it to TTL. Use a fast enough shutter speed to make sure the subject is not overexposed.

hanafinoor, should be RM8500 or so. Not sure if it still comes with the VG-C90AM and 4 GB CF card or not. Do let us know, I haven't asked around recently!

I believe that particular shot was done with a large light source (ie: strobes with softbox)

Anyway, I always take manual exposure approach for this kind of picture (look at my photo samples at http://flickr.com/fakhrainms)

Set your camera to maximum sync speed (1/250s on a700/900 without SS, 1/160s on a100/200/300/350 without SS).
Adjust the ISO and aperture to get the background exposure that you want.
Set your flash to direct flash and fire. Most of the time bounce mode will not give enough power output to overpower the ambient. You can use TTL, but I personally prefer manual power adjustment on the flash.

Remember, you can't use faster shutter speed if you want your flash to sync. HSS mode is useless in this matter due to low power output the flash will produce. And if you use higher ISO, you will risk blowing the whole exposure.
If your setting forces you to use small aperture like F16 or so, most probably the small portable flash is not enough. That is why many professional photographers work with big lights outdoor.

A large silver reflector will make things easier I suppose. Heheh.

hi all...currently im using A200....planning to upgrade to A700..how much it will cost to buy new A700 now?? any shop can recommended??

last but not least... testing 40D with COBRAAAA!! coz albnok got that hotshoe converter (alpha-to-iso)

hello alpha user.
i just wan ask 1 question about lense.
i wan buy 75-300 i see at 1st page sony price 450-550.
and minolta 1k+++ with big beercan.
wat means big beercan?someone pliss explain to me.

guys a noob qtion pls help me.
i wan to add my flickr signature at tis forum but wen i copy and paste the HTML, the tag not appearing.

mcline_007: got your cam adi?

seng_kiat: getting used to ur baby?

seng kiat...i got same like u...wait my turnnnnnnnnn    

seng_kiat: #4 seems to have a theme...the rest are just random shots..
i realized u put i am small as the title, perhaps u can add in some big-@ss flower behind ur smaller flower to create that story?
.just my 2 cents.

moo: WTH! I can strobe wei...bird park this weekend..anyone?

its ok..we learn together ..so this week apa macam?

75300 super LONGwei...because he has 50mm,1750 only:)...

seng_kiat, you are from Kuala Besut??

cjlai: i know that girl

seng_kiat: mine posting ur EXIF? what aperture do u use and handheld or tripod?