| Taking Photos Using Electronic Flash | | | | be quite important. If you are using a wide-angle |
| R. Dodge Woodson | | | | lens with a flash that doesn't offer wide-angle |
| World Photographers Organization | | | | coverage, your photos are not going to be |
| Artificial lighting solutions for modern | | | | satisfactory. |
| photographers have never been so good before. | | | | The same holds true if you are using a standard |
| If you have the time and the money, you can | | | | flash with a telephoto lens. Ask your camera |
| create almost any lighting effect you would ever | | | | dealer to explain the various ranges of any flash |
| want to. Many new cameras have built-in flashes, | | | | you are considering buying. If you look on the |
| but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it | | | | back of the flash unit, you may find markings that |
| comes to electronic flashes and studio lighting. | | | | indicate its range. There should certainly be some |
| Most photographs live and die by their lighting and | | | | documentation pertaining to range in the |
| composition, so lighting is a critical concern for | | | | manufacturer-supplied paperwork that is provided |
| serious photographers. | | | | with a new flash unit. |
| Electronic Flash | | | | If you are buying a high-quality flash, it should be |
| Many photographers, even some professional | | | | capable of handling standard, wide-angle, and |
| ones, don't understand how to use lighting to their | | | | telephoto photography. Adapters are normally |
| best advantage. Average people who buy | | | | placed over the standard flash head to either |
| cameras with built-in flashes assume, incorrectly, | | | | concentrate the beam of light for telephoto shots |
| that the on-board flash is all they need. You can | | | | or to disburse it for wide-angle work. |
| get viewable pictures with a built-in flash, but you | | | | Recycling Time |
| will get few shots that show professional quality. | | | | What is the recycling time for the flash? This is |
| This doesn't mean that you have to spend your | | | | something you can test easily. Put batteries in the |
| entire paycheck for a new flash. A simple, | | | | flash you are looking at and press the test button |
| pocket-size flash that is used off the camera is all | | | | when the unit is ready to fire. Time how long it |
| it takes to make a big difference. | | | | takes for the ready light to come back on. If you |
| You can buy a portable, electronic flash for less | | | | are into high-speed photography with the use of a |
| than $75. Better models cost a bit more. Big, | | | | motor drive, you will need a fast flash to keep up |
| long-range, pro-quality units are much more | | | | with you. Another less-important, but still viable |
| expensive, but you probably don't need anything | | | | consideration is the number of flashes you will get |
| so fancy. If you are willing to spend around $100 | | | | from one set of batteries or from one battery |
| for a new flash, you can certainly start to see | | | | pack. |
| better pictures in the making. | | | | Many dedicated photographers use two |
| Avoiding Red Eye | | | | independent flashes, one on each side of the lens, |
| When using an electronic flash, you must pay | | | | to produce even, shadow-less lighting. This type |
| attention to avoid red eye in your images. To | | | | of lighting is very popular with close-up work, and |
| avoid this consistently, you need a flash that is | | | | it is effective with portraits and other |
| mounted far to the side of or way above your | | | | photography. If you decide to buy two flashes to |
| camera. Many 35mm cameras have a mounting | | | | work together, make sure that they are |
| bracket to hold an independent flash. | | | | compatible with one another. A little peanut slave |
| Unfortunately, these brackets are too close to | | | | (a remote firing device) can be installed on one of |
| the lens to assure that red eye will not be a | | | | the flashes so that both flashes fire |
| problem. Many after-market manufacturers make | | | | simultaneously. Slaves like this can be bought at |
| and sell brackets that can be used with almost | | | | very reasonable costs. Some flash brackets are |
| any 35mm camera to get independent flash units | | | | made to accept two flashes at one time, and this |
| into more desirable locations. | | | | type of arrangement provides high-quality lighting, |
| Types of Flashes | | | | even when low-powered flashes are used. |
| There are different types of flashes available to | | | | Sync Connection |
| you. The least expensive models require manual | | | | One other consideration to keep in mind is |
| selection of exposure settings. This can be a | | | | whether the flash units you buy work with a |
| hit-or-miss proposition unless you own a light | | | | hot-shoe attachment or a sync cord. Your |
| meter that reads for flash photography. Many | | | | camera may not have a hot shoe. If it does have |
| cameras can be equipped with auto-exposure | | | | one, it will be on top of the camera. Some |
| flashes. This type of arrangement is usually best | | | | cameras have flash holders that are not hot |
| for people who are just learning the ropes in flash | | | | shoes. Don't let this fool you. Take your camera |
| photography. You will have to pay more for an | | | | with you when you shop for a flash. Mount the |
| automatic or dedicated flash unit, but the expense | | | | flash and see if it fires when you press the |
| should prove to be worthwhile. Check the articles | | | | shutter button. If it doesn't, either your camera |
| and reviews at World Photographers Organization | | | | isn't hot-shoe equipped or the flash unit isn't. |
| to see if there is any breaking news on electronic | | | | Flashes that don't link automatically with a camera |
| flash units. | | | | through a hot shoe require the use of a sync |
| When you shop for a flash, there are a few | | | | cord. This is simply a cord that runs from a port |
| other features that you may be interested in | | | | on the flash to a port on the camera. Sync cords |
| looking for. Will the flash accept color filters? | | | | usually work fine, but they do get in the way |
| People who enjoy special-effects photography | | | | sometimes. Also, sync connections are sometimes |
| often color their lighting with filters, and you might | | | | loose, resulting in a flash that will not fire. And, |
| like this too. Does the flash head tilt and or | | | | many modern amateur-grade camera bodies are |
| swivel? Experienced photographers know that | | | | no longer equipped with a sync connection port. |
| bouncing light from walls, ceilings, and reflector | | | | You may not use your flash often, but you want |
| cards will produce soft lighting that is pleasing to | | | | it to work well when you do. Buy a good flash |
| the eye. Some inexpensive flash models offer | | | | and use it enough to get to know it and its |
| both a tilt and swivel feature. As a minimum, I | | | | settings. When the time comes for taking flash |
| suggest a model that will allow you to tilt the head | | | | photos, you will be ready. You can always find |
| for bouncing flash. | | | | valuable photography tips and suggestions in the |
| Knowing what the coverage area of a flash is can | | | | online magazine, World Images Today. |