Photography Lights – Using The 2 Types Of Flashes
Though flashes are only one kind of several photography lights, they are also one of the most important. Nearly all modern cameras have a flash built right into the body, and most professional photographers use flash at some point in their careers, if not every day. However, flashes are as varied in their construction, functionality, and accessories, as cameras. Here’s a breakdown on how to get the most out of your flash.
Studio Flash
These are the types of flashes that you see used on fashion shoots. They’re held in place by light stands and need an external power source but are more powerful than in-camera flashes. Studio flashes are super useful photography lights. They can be easily moved around and have their output and duration adjusted so you have complete lighting control over your final image.
First of all, make sure that your flash is firing into a light umbrella or some other type of diffusing contraption. Direct flash is rarely flattering and will overpower your images, so it’s better to pick up a couple of umbrellas and reflectors and use them to “bounce” light onto your subjects. Studio flashes usually have a “modeling” light that will allow you to see the end result of your setup, so you should be able to plot this bouncing fairly well.
And, if you can, keep your subject away from the backdrop so you’ll avoid sharp shadows in your image. You have probably seen pictures where you see a “person shaped” shadow on the wall because the picture was taken with the flash directly center. Finally, use more than one light source. The more photography lights that you have, the more flexible your light becomes and the better your photos will look in beautiful wood picture frames.
Camera Flash
Many cameras are built right into the camera and work on an automated basis. While this is certainly excellent in terms of convenience and cost, automatic flash is often responsible for terrible photographs. However, there are some situations in which the light you need simply isn’t present and studio photography lights are out of the question (think weddings).
Just as with a studio flash, you’re going to want to bounce your flash to make it less harsh if at all possible. When it comes to lighting, think of all the impromptu light reflectors you have around your house like tablecloths, walls, ceilings and white posterboard that will all work great. As a good rule of thumb, you should never rely on a flash as your only light source. The best time to use a flash is to use it to fill in the dark spots and augment the current light that you have. Finally, remember that flashes have an effective range – if your subject is too far away the photo will be underexposed.
Flash photography is a complex subject and requires many years of practice to completely master. If you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, you should consider adding some photography lights to your “photo toolbox.” With the right knowledge and lighting setup you really can make every photograph look like a masterpiece. And that means the more pictures you’ll be able to display in picture frames on the wall.
December 2, 2010
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Posted by Jam Man
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