If you’ve bought a DSLR hoping to take professional-looking pictures indoors, you’re halfway there. Just remember not to use the built-in flash. You might have also heard that a speedlight (external flash unit) will improve your pictures dramatically. Again, you’re halfway there. The other half of the story is how you use these tools. They’re […]
When working with flash, one technique is to bounce it off the walls and ceiling instead of pointing it directly at the subject. This method prevents harsh shadows and hot spots. However, color cast can be a real issue if you’re not careful. As the flash bounces off the walls, the color of the wall […]
We’ve all gone to sporting events and seen the audience cameras flashing two hundred or more yards distant from the action on the field. The truth is that they are all wasting their time and batteries. Sure, they will get some passable pictures, but that will be from the stadium lights. A camera flash cannot […]
Although most photojournalistic wedding photography shoots are done using ambient light, there are situations when the lighting situation might not be ideal for turning out good pictures. That is why judicious use of an external flash plays an important role in assuring great shots and happy clients. A good photojournalist uses the external flash at […]
The concept of using flash in broad daylight confuses a lot of budding photographers. Why use flash when you already have abundant natural light? The answer is simple. While you can’t control natural light directly, you can control artificial lighting. In this video, photographer Zach Gray shares some tips on how to use flash to […]
I spent a sunny afternoon a couple summers ago at a work social function, having fun knocking back a few cold ones, and generally enjoying the company of co-workers I don’t get to see that often. (I’m one of those “telecommuters” working with people three provinces away…) In the crowd was a fellow camera buff, […]
As we all know, photographing children can be very challenging. It is tough enough just to keep them in sharp focus. Who in their right mind would complicate the task even further by adding pets and flash lighting to the mix? You should! Adding the right amount of flash at the correct angle can turn […]
Using cheap gear for a photo shoot doesn’t mean you’ll end up with cheap quality images. You may have some limitations but the end result depends on your skill and how you make use of the tools at your disposal. Photographer Francisco Joel Hernandez demonstrates how you can take great images on a budget using […]
Outdoor flash can be used in a number of ways. Using Flash as the Main Light Source On a dull day, it can be used to simulate sunlight and add contrast to a photograph. In this situation, the flash is the main light source, and its direction should be above and perhaps to one side […]
Flash photography is the use of a camera flash bulb in a variety of possible situations where there doesn’t seem to be enough light. The most common use of flash photography is group portraits at gatherings where there is not enough light to take a satisfactory exposure. But there are many other situations where the […]
