Flash Photography
What Is Flash Photography?
Like the name implies, flash photography is photography using a flash. The primary purpose of flash photography is to illuminate a dark scene. It’s thus used when indoors or when ambient light outside is not enough. Although most people use flash photography for this reason, it has other uses as well.
A photographer can, for instance, use it when capturing moving subjects or changing the quality of the light. This can enhance photographs or give dramatic effect where it’s needed.
Flash photography is versatile and can be used in several forms of photography, from portraiture, fashion, real estat, and wildlife photography.
Types of Flashes
There are a large variety of flashes available on the market today. They are commonly built into the camera, but more advanced flashes are external units which fit to the hot shoe of the camera.
Most of these advanced flashes offer adjustable intensity and duration of the flash. This enables the photographer to adjust the flash according to their needs and the subject they’re working with. Many also have the choice of remote triggering where the flash can be triggered away from the camera.
Besides the flashes mentioned above, there are also many specialized flashes available. These include:
• Ring flashes which fit to the lens of the camera and reduces shadows in macro photography.
• High speed flashes that flashes many times in a short duration. These flashes are used in science or by engineers.
• Multi-flash systems that flash light from different directions and is used in technical or medical imagery.
• Standalone units such as strobe flashes that is used in studio photography.
There are also some techniques, with some accessories, that flash photographers use. Some ways are:
• Soft boxes, which diffuse the light, taking away the harshness and making it softer.
• Fill flash, which is used to supplement light in darker areas of the frame.
• Bounce flash where the photographer directs the flash at a reflective surface like an umbrella. In this way it can serve as a fill flash or to supply ambient lighting.
Besides these there are several other techniques and tools available like manually-triggered flash, colored gels, and strobing. With all the tools available, the possibilities with flash photography are endless.
In the articles below, read about Flash Photography tips, tutorials and news.
Using Continuous Lights For A Simple Glamour Portrait
Using continuous lights for portraiture is a great way to learn lighting. Plus it’s a throw back to the old Hollywood glamour days!
DIY: Build a Simple Ring Light Using LED Strips and a Frisbee For Around $30
Photographers tend to have a love/hate relationship with ring lights. While ring lights may be great for some situations, in others, it may look completely dreadful. So why spend a couple hundred dollars on one when you can just rig one together for around $30?
DIY Diffusion Panels: How To Make A Good One For $30
One of the best DIY diffusion panels I've seen, and all the materials required are inexpensive but good, and the time requirement is small. It's a great idea for those who need spares, or anyone starting out.
A Simple Way to Change the Color of the Sky in Camera
Have you ever been excited to photograph someone around sunset only to discover that Mother Nature wasn’t playing nice? Instead of a beautiful sunset, you were dealt a grey drab sky as your backdrop. There is a way and it’s actually quite simple to pull off.
In Broad Daylight: Flash in the Sun with High-Speed Sync
High-speed sync flash opens up entirely new realms of opportunity. It’s not inexpensive to do, but it’s an invaluable option in my photography toolkit that sets me apart from other photographers.
Which Nikon Hotshoe Flash Should You Buy? SB900, SB910, or SB700? – Q&A
Question Ever since Nikon made the SB900 to replace the SB800, every professional and/or experienced photographer (note that the two ...
Which Is Most Important: The Lighting, The Lens, or The Camera?
Our recent post on the SLR Lounge Facebook wall has sparked an amazing conversation: Which is the most important photo equipment: The camera, the lens, or the lighting gear? Check out what people are saying...
Light Writing | Get Creative with Long Exposures
The first thing you learn about photography is how it is all about the light. A good photograph starts with ...
Graslon Prodigy & Insight Review: Soft Lighting for Speedlight
Basic Information Product Name: Prodigy and Insight Company: Graslon Cost: $89.95 and $62.95 Website/Purchase: www.graslon.com Subject: Speedlight modifier Speedlights ...
