Whenever there isn’t enough light present to make a picture, the flash on your camera will probably pop up so that you will have enough to make a “proper” exposure. (If you use your camera on AUTO).
Isn’t this great? If there isn’t enough light, light gets added automatically! What could be better?
The problem comes with the kind of light these pop up flashes provide. If your unit is attached to your camera, it is called an “on-camera” flash. If the unit is part of the camera, it's called a "built-in flash." And, although it will usually light the scene in front of the camera, the light it makes is:
• Harsh
• Direct
• Specular
• Comes from camera position
• Doesn’t light the background
• Usually is not strong enough for specialized uses
What makes the light harsh?
1. It is aimed directly at your subject
2. It is of very short duration
3. It is not diffused or bounced
It casts harsh shadows on every other part of the subject
What makes it direct?
1. It is coming from the camera position
2. It is not changeable
3. It produces a very flat type of light which simply
lights the subject
What makes it specular?
1. The flash on the camera is usually quite small
compared to the subject
2. It acts as a “point” light source
3. It causes bad reflections on shiny objects and even
on people’s faces
4. It will cause “red eye” which is really the
reflection of the retina in a person’s eye because
the flash point is so close to the axis of the lens
itself
How To Begin Using Your
Speedlight Properly!
By William Lulow