Page 142 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

140 EXPLAINING | EXTERNAL FLASH

FLASH FLASH TECHNIQUES

EFFECTS FREEZING MOVEMENT
The brief burst of light given
off by flash makes it a good
Adding an external flash—often referred way to freeze movement.
Adjusting the power
to as a strobe or speedlite—to your setup changes the length of time
opens a new world of creative possibilities. that the flash is illuminated,
altering the amount of light
External flashes come in a variety of sizes and emitted. Use lower power
specifications, but even the smallest of them settings to freeze the fastest
are more powerful than a camera’s built-in movement, and increase
the ISO or use a larger
flash. The key to buying an external flash is aperture to compensate.
to strike a balance between size, weight,
specification, and cost. Top-of-the-line flashes
are large and heavy, and can make a CSC BOUNCE FLASH
or small DSLR feel very unbalanced when Angling a flash head to
attached to the camera. Smaller flashes may “bounce” the light off a
nearby surface softens
be less powerful but can be just as effective the light, creating a more
once you have mastered how to use them. pleasing effect. The surface
should be neutral in color
to avoid a tint. Bouncing the
flash increases the distance
ADVANTAGES between the subject and
the flash, so increase the
◾ ◾ High position on the camera reduces the risk of red-eye
flash exposure in Manual
◾ ◾ Tilt head makes techniques such as bounce flash possible exposure flash.
◾ ◾ The flash can be fired off-camera for extra lighting options

DISADVANTAGES
COLOR CONTROL
◾ ◾ Bulky and adds weight to a camera bag
Adding a gel to the flash
◾ ◾ Less convenient than a built-in flash alters the color of the light.
◾ ◾ Requires extra sets of batteries This is often done to make
the color temperature of the
flash light the same as that
LIGHT AND SHADE of the ambient light. Gels
are also used to add
Side lighting gives a photo a convincing sense of depth, artificial color and create
as one half of the scene is brightly lit while the other is in particular lighting effects.
shadow. It is this contrast between light and shade that Adding a gel reduces the
makes a photo look three-dimensional. Side lighting can, flash exposure, so you will
however, create too much contrast. This can be fixed by need to increase the power.
using a key light, or accessories such as reflectors.

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