Thursday, July 29, 2010

Flash Photography Is Really Simple

By Joe Kidson

When the light is dim and you need to take a good picture of something or someone, you need camera flash units for the purpose. These are units that provide a flash when you click your camera to light up the subject and surrounding area. In this way, the light focuses on the subject and you're able to get a better picture which is clear and bright despite the dark.

You can't use conventional units with pocket cameras or instant cameras. These are not suitable for the high precision equipment of a unit such as this. They are also not designed to have added external units connected to them. Hence camera flash units are best paired with digital cameras or standalone cameras.

Camera flash units are mounted on digital cameras that don't come with independent or in-built flash units. These units are fairly effective for lighting a large area whether indoors or outdoors. It's best to use this when you're taking pictures indoors because the lack of lighting can make your pictures appear dim and lose focus.

If you are using and externally mounted flash unit you will also find that the harsh light of flash degrades your images. The way to resolve this problem is quite simple. Most external flashes have swivel heads allowing you to alter the angle of the flash head. By pointing up towards the ceiling and bouncing the light off ceiling it also diffuses the harshness of the flash. There is one little issue that may hinder this technique and that is the color of the ceiling.

It is a good idea, to understand what "Flash Sync Speed" is. This is the fastest shutter speed you can use, when the whole sensor is exposed to the flash's pulse. If your camera shutter speed is higher, you will see an uninvited black line running across your shots.

You can start by popping your built-in-flash and start firing, making sure that your shutter speed is slower than your Flash Sync Speed. Your camera flash meter will balance the exposure for you, so that you can concentrate on your subject and composition.

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