Understanding Flash Photography - 101

A flash is often one of the first tools photographers rely on in low-light situations. Cameras usually come with automatic flash settings, but an external flash opens up more creative possibilities and control.

But what about external flash? That is what this article will go over, how to use an external flash. Additional articles will go over different types of flashes, choosing the right flash, off-camera flashes, fill flashes, and using multiple flashes.

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Why Should You Use an External Flash?

External flashes are great for when you are away from light or there is low light. Areas may include outdoors, low light areas in the city, or rooms with little light. Flashes give you the opportunity to shoot in areas you would otherwise not be able to get any light.

• Night outdoors: "External flashes illuminate subjects in pitch-black environments, allowing for sharp, bright images even when natural light is non-existent."
• Fast-moving subjects: "Flash can freeze motion in fast-paced action shots, ensuring crisp images of subjects like athletes or wildlife."
• Reducing shadows

Popular Flash Photography Brands

Popular flash brands include Canon, Sony, and Nikon, which create their own flashes, as well as third-party options like Godox, Profoto, Yongnuo, Metz, and Elinchrom.

These external flashes are often on top of the metal part of your camera, the hot shoe flash or speed light. The metal part communicates from the flash to your camera. There are also ring flashes that are used for macro photography or fashion photoshoots. There may also be off-camera flashes that are triggered by a wireless system or remote.

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Common Terms – Add Brief Explanations

• TTL Flash - Through the Lens: a metering system where flash output is automatically adjusted based on the camera's internal light metering.
• HSS (High-Speed Sync) - Allows the flash to go off even with high shutter speeds.
• Fresnel Lens
• Master Flash - The primary remote flash.
• Slave Flash - Secondary flash that follows the master flash.

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Investing in Camera Flash Photography

You've already invested in a camera, lenses, and maybe even a tripod. So, why invest in a flash? Because it’s an essential tool that will significantly enhance your photography in low-light and creative scenarios.

Make sure before you purchase them online that you buy appropriate batteries as well. Most times they take double AAs or triple AAAs.

Personally, I currently have a Yongnuo speedlite YN560 IV.

Let's take a look at a camera flash. This is the Godox TT520II. This is a random flash I picked from Amazon. Right off the bat, I can tell that the flash swivels down to look forward. There is a battery compartment on the side. There is also a simple settings screen.

Specs

• Rotates 90 degrees vertically and 270 degrees horizontally.
• Fresnel Lens (This diffuses the light)
• Power supply: 4 AA Alkaline Batteries
• Flash modes: M, S1, S2
• Flash time: 1/300s - 1/2000s
• Color Temperature: 5600 ± 200 Kelvin

Flash time is important because it shows how fast the flash can go off.

Check the Godox TT520II Flash on Amazon

These are hot shoe mount examples, on the amazon page.

Common Flash Challenges and Fixes

The best settings that will make it easy to get a hang of flash is not auto exposure, contrary to popular belief. There are three things that will change drastically when you put on a flash: exposure and white balance, shutter speed. Having a good understanding of exposure is essential for flash.

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Exposure Issues: If you are on auto exposure, the camera will expose for the current lighting. This will not include the light from the flash. Auto exposure and flash create an automatic bright or overexposed image.

Fix: One way is to change your camera mode from automatic to flash. Another way is to manually underexpose the image to allow for a balanced exposure once the flash goes off.

White Balance Issues: Automatic white balance won’t account for the flash, which may cause blue or yellow color casts.

Fix: Change the white balance from auto to flash mode to help balance the color temperature of the light.

Shutter Speed Too Fast: If half of your photo is completely dark, it may be because your shutter speed is too fast for the flash to sync.

Fix: Slow down the shutter speed to sync with the flash.

Image courtesy of Reddit

How Do I Diffuse My Flashes?

Once your flash settings are correct and the image is lit up, you may find that everything is too bright or washed out. This is where diffusers come in. Flashes often come with a Fresnel piece to slide in front of the camera to spread the light more evenly.

Other options include Fresnel diffusers and softboxes, which are used specifically for flashes to create softer, more balanced light.

Conclusion

Flashes can be used in many different scenarios for getting more light in your image. Flashes also have some important changes in your camera settings that you should make a note of. They come in many varieties, so the next step is finding the right setup and subject for your flash photography.