flash photography techniques
flash photography techniques
intro page 
natural looking flash
As photographers we’re always looking for perfect light.
And yet, the quality of available light isn’t always ideal. It is rarely perfect.
But I feel that in using flash wisely, I’m able to enhance or over-ride the available light. With careful use of flash, I am more in control of light, and hence the way my photos will look - than if I had just accepted the existing ambient light.
Instead of waiting for perfect light, I use what I have …
and add flash to make the best of the situation.
A few things we need to get out of the way first :
- These pages were originally written to help other photographers who struggle with on-camera flash. But they were also written as a reaction against the snobbery of the purists who insist on using available light only - even when it looks terrible.
- The photos on the next few pages are all from weddings.
However, don’t feel that this only relates to weddings. The techniques here are just as applicable for most fields of photography. It just happens that most of my photography work are weddings, and it was easier for me to find examples from my work. - I own and use both Nikon and Canon systems. I have used, or am currently still using the Nikon D2x, D2H, D200, D100, Canon 1Dmk3, 1Dmk2, 1Dmk2N, and Fuji S2. So the techniques here are, for the most part, system non-specific.
- The photos here were all taken with digital cameras. They are immensely helpful tools in learning about the craft of photography. However, the techniques here are just as valid for film cameras.
- Also, the images here had very little to no Photoshop work done to them. But I did correct the white balance, and fine-tune exposure and contrast for these photos, as part of my general raw workflow.
- I always use my camera in manual exposure mode for very specific reasons. With flash however, I alternate between TTL flash (if either myself or the subject isn’t static), or manual flash, (if the subject is static in relation to the strobe.)
- And finally, when I talk about ‘on-camera flash’, I am not talking about the pop-up flash, but a proper dedicated hot-shoe mounted flash.
translations of the flash photography webpages:
These webpages on flash photography have kindly been translated into other languages as well. Thank you to everyone for their input and hard work on this.
- Chinese - translation by Tom Lan
- Italian - translation by Sandra Luoni
- Polish - translation by Bartosz Jastrzebski
- French - translation by Melina Barrals
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So let’s go … making flash not look like flash
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Please feel free to e-mail me with comments & questions.
Neil van NiekerkIf you feel you need more direct help or instruction with this and other aspects of digital photography, I do present workshops and seminars.
I also offer individual tutoring sessions.If you feel that you have benefited from these webpages, then a small donation via PayPal would be welcome towards the cost of hosting these webpages. Thank you.