Lighting is one of the most important components in creating a quality photograph. Using flash can enhance your photos, as long as its used correctly. Make the most out of using your flash by following these 7+ tips.
You can use the built-in flash in your camera or an off-camera flash. There are also other types of equipment and props that can help project light from the flash to what you are shooting. Let's take a look on how to best use flash below.
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1. Light your subject indirectly
To light your subject indirectly, use an external flash. Hold the flash a little above your shoulder at a 45 degree angle with your left hand, with the camera in your right hand. This will light up your subject nicely without harsh light or shadows.
To light your subject indirectly, use an external flash. Hold the flash a little above your shoulder at a 45 degree angle with your left hand, with the camera in your right hand. This will light up your subject nicely without harsh light or shadows.
2. Double exposure
Flash photos are double exposures since the flash and ambient light are being used at the same time. Use both to your advantage to produce great photos with ideal lighting conditions. You can use both equally or change their levels around to produce different types of light.
Flash photos are double exposures since the flash and ambient light are being used at the same time. Use both to your advantage to produce great photos with ideal lighting conditions. You can use both equally or change their levels around to produce different types of light.
3. Aperture
Changing the aperture settings will also change the flash and ambient exposure. The aperture can cause the exposure to be darker or lighter, based on how small or wide the aperture is made. Using a larger aperture will allow your flash to reach more using less light and help save your battery life.
Changing the aperture settings will also change the flash and ambient exposure. The aperture can cause the exposure to be darker or lighter, based on how small or wide the aperture is made. Using a larger aperture will allow your flash to reach more using less light and help save your battery life.
4. Ambient light
Use ambient light with your flash to avoid harshly lit scenes. You can use slow sync mode on your flash which will allow your camera to slow down the shutter speed. You can also use manual mode on your camera and adjust the aperture. Then take a meter reading and lower the ISO for a nicely lit shot.
Use ambient light with your flash to avoid harshly lit scenes. You can use slow sync mode on your flash which will allow your camera to slow down the shutter speed. You can also use manual mode on your camera and adjust the aperture. Then take a meter reading and lower the ISO for a nicely lit shot.
5. Walls
Walls are great to bounce light off of for a soft light effect. Point your camera on the subject and the flash toward a wall. Use a wall that is nearby. Use a higher ISO if the wall isn't nearby, since a high ISO will increase how far the flash can stretch.
Walls are great to bounce light off of for a soft light effect. Point your camera on the subject and the flash toward a wall. Use a wall that is nearby. Use a higher ISO if the wall isn't nearby, since a high ISO will increase how far the flash can stretch.
6. Underexposure
Underexpose the flash to make the light look more natural. To do this, make the flash a lower level than the ambient to make it less obvious. Utilize the flash's exposure compensation and set it to a low number. Practice this plenty of times to get the lighting right.
Underexpose the flash to make the light look more natural. To do this, make the flash a lower level than the ambient to make it less obvious. Utilize the flash's exposure compensation and set it to a low number. Practice this plenty of times to get the lighting right.
7. More ISO
Using flash eats up the battery. If you don't use as much light, but use more ISO, this can extend the life of the battery. Keep in mind that using a high ISO increases digital noise that may show up in the shot.
Using flash eats up the battery. If you don't use as much light, but use more ISO, this can extend the life of the battery. Keep in mind that using a high ISO increases digital noise that may show up in the shot.
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8. Color flash
Using flash gives off some color that may not be desirable for your image, so keep this in mind when using flash, as well as the light in your surroundings. Adjust the white balance on your camera and take plenty of test shots to get the color to your liking. You can also use filters to even out the color balance in your shots.
Using flash gives off some color that may not be desirable for your image, so keep this in mind when using flash, as well as the light in your surroundings. Adjust the white balance on your camera and take plenty of test shots to get the color to your liking. You can also use filters to even out the color balance in your shots.