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Flash Photography Tips

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It pays to know when to turn your on-camera flash off. There is nothing that robs a picture of atmosphere quite as much as using on-camera flash at the wrong time.

Most people leave the decision about the use of flash to the camera and don’t even give it a second thought. However, this is one area where automatic functions don’t serve you well. In fact, there are times that you would get a much more appealing photo if you turn the flash off. Though undoubtedly useful, on-camera flash has some serious drawbacks. These are partly due to the positioning of the flash itself (near the lens and pointing straight out), and also due to lack of power. On-camera flash units are too small to put out much light.

The positioning of the flash is the biggest issue. It produces harsh, unflattering light that makes people look like a ‘rabbit caught in the headlights’. It also emphasizes every blemish and wrinkle on a subject’s face. Lastly, it causes red-eye. Furthermore, using flash in low light situations means that none of the existing light in the scene is used, so all atmosphere goes out the window. The background also often comes out too dark.

• Get into the habit of experimenting with flash and flash modes. There are times that you actually want to use flash in bright daylight, for example when your subject is backlit or in shadow (for example under a tree). In low light conditions, it’s best to steady your camera on a tripod, use a slow shutter speed and get the best out of available light. This won’t work for moving subjects though.

• Always remember that your flash will only reach 3 or 4 m (10 -12 ft). Beyond that, there is no point in even turning it on.

• Try turning the flash off when shooting portraits indoors. You need to watch for camera shake, so turn the ISO setting up.

• Experiment with slow-sync flash. This is a special mode that combines a long exposure with a burst of flash; with practice you may find that this works well at parties or social situations indoors. This is because the flash freezes motion, but it preserves much more of the atmosphere of the scene. Just be aware that you still have to hold your camera very still to avoid blurriness. You can read more about flash modes on our flash photography page.

• Never use flash in the following situations: shooting through glass, shooting subjects more than 3m (10 ft) away, photographing scenery at night, in macro mode.

If you found inspiration on our flash digital photography page, feel free to browse the following pages too:

Related Pages

* What is ISO?

* How to Make Sharper Images

* Best of Beginning Photography Tips

Hope you enjoyed our tips on flash photography!

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