Flashguns - an in depth review of how they work, modes and uses.

Using a flashgun

Some Important Basic Points

When using a flash you are taking two separate exposures simultaneously, the flash component and the ambient component.

How the two light components are blended depends on the flash and camera mode you have selected as we shall see.

The position of the flash determines the shadows, their length and position.

Lighting is all about controlling shadows.

Once you have the correct exposure, the exposure that maximises data, that’s the highlights taken care of.

A flash from the cameras position, will give flat shadow-less, ‘flat’ light. as the shadows cast by the light from the flash will fall behind the subject.

Off camera flash will produce visible shadows and give ‘depth’ to your image, there is as much information carried in the shadows as there are in the Highlights. Information about depth, how far away one object is in relation to another object, e.g. how far the nose sticks out and by how much can all be controlled with the angle of the flash to the subject and taking the flash off camera.

The larger the flash size in relation to the subject size will alter the edges of the shadows.

A small flash area will give hard edged shadows.

A large flash area will give softer edges to the shadows.

The closer the flash is to the subject the larger it appears to the subject and shadow edges will be softer. The opposite is also true a flash a distance from the subject will have harder edged shadows.

Soft-boxes and umbrellas are used to make the area of the flash larger.

Light modifiers such as Umbrellas, Soft-boxes, Beauty Dishes etc. should really be called shadow modifiers as they don’t effect the Highlights.

There are only two kinds of light

Direct Light where all the rays of light are parallel, like a torch beam.

And Diffused Light, Light that has been scattered and is hitting the subject from all angles.

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