Flash Basics

Rob — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:31:46 GMT

Flash Basics

(brought to you by QuickPro Camera Guides)

As you learn to notice the way that light affects your photos, you’ll find that compensation for poor lighting is often needed, whether it’s outdoors in backlight light, or indoors with poor ambient light. Your camera’s built-in flash is a fast, easy, and convenient way to get the light you need to take properly exposed pictures even in poor lighting conditions.

Using your flash will allow you to use a fast shutter speed and a smaller aperture (so that everything is in focus) without having to use a higher ISO. When you’re using your flash at an indoor family event, you can use low ISO’s ranging from 100 to 400 and get properly exposed pictures with very little noise.

Taking pictures outdoors is also an idea time to use your flash. Since it is not common to shoot subjects in direct sunlight due to squinting, shooting under a shade tree and using a flash can provide adequate lighting. Night time also provides an ideal time to use your flash. If you are outdoors after sunset your flash can be a helpful tool for adequate lighting.

When shooting in different settings, keep in mind that the built-in flash on your digital camera has a range. Flash range refers to the distance where your flash is the most effective. Most built-in flashes have a range of approximately 3.5 to 14 feet. Stay within the recommended distance if you want your subject to be properly exposed. Check your camera manual for your camera’s flash range. Knowing this range can help you decide how close or how far to position yourself from the subject. If you are in the audience in a large auditorium, try moving closer to the stage in the aisle to put your flash to use.

Aside from turning manual flash mode on or off your camera offers two more flash modes. These modes are auto flash mode and auto red-eye reduction mode.

When you manually turn your flash on it can compensate for backlight of a subject when normally auto flash would detect the brightness of the backlight itself. Taking pictures with window light is a good example of when you will want to turn your flash off.

In auto flash mode your camera will do all the work for you. When your flash is in auto mode, the camera senses the lighting conditions and “decides” whether or not to fire the flash.

The auto red-eye reduction flash mode is the same as the auto flash mode, but fires a very small “pre-flash” before the photo is taken to help reduce red-eye in your subject. This flash mode is useful for occasions where you’ll be photographing people with very little ambient light.

Assignments

Attend an event held indoors such as a birthday, a family event, or a holiday gathering. Take pictures without your flash. Then, use your flash in auto flash mode during this same situation. Compare the images with a flash to the ones without a flash and you will notice that your camera’s flash will provide compensation and your pictures will appear more in focus with less noise.

Position subjects under a tree. Take a few pictures without using your camera’s built in flash and some using the flash. Notice the difference in shadows across the subject’s features when the flash is not used.

Position a group of people in a location where a flash is necessary, (in a shady area, indoors, or at night.) Place your subjects far apart from each other and take a few shots with the flash on. Now, position your subjects close together using the flash. Note the difference the flash makes with the position of the subjects.

Most importantly, experiment with the different flash modes in different scenarios. You will begin to feel comfortable and know when your camera’s built-in flash is necessary and for what situations.

Flash Basics

PhotoBurbia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:08:28 GMT

Flash Basics

(brought to you by QuickPro Camera Guides)

Aside from turning manual flash mode on or off your camera offers two more flash modes. These modes are auto flash mode and auto red-eye reduction mode.

When you manually turn your flash on can compensate for backlight of a subject when normally auto flash would detect the brightness of the backlight itself. Taking pictures with window light is a good example of when you will want to turn your flash off.

In auto flash mode your camera will do all the work for you. When your flash is in auto mode, the camera senses the lighting conditions and “decides” whether or not to fire the flash.

Assignments

Attend an event held indoors such as a birthday, a family event, or a holiday gathering. Take pictures without your flash. Then, use your flash in auto flash mode during this same situation. Compare the images with a flash to the ones without a flash and you will notice that your camera’s flash will provide compensation and your pictures will appear more in focus with less noise.

Position subjects under a tree. Take a few pictures without using your camera’s built in flash and some using the flash. Notice the difference in shadows across the subject’s features when the flash is not used.

Position a group of people in a location where a flash is necessary, (in a shady area, indoors, or at night.) Place your subjects far apart from each other and take a few shots with the flash on. Now, position your subjects close together using the flash. Note the difference the flash makes with the position of the subjects.

Most importantly, experiment with the different flash modes in different scenarios. You will begin to feel comfortable and know when your camera’s built-in flash is necessary and for what situations.