when to flash?

13 years 4 months ago #7896 by ErnieL
I am unsure when to use my flash when taking outdoor pictures. When I think I need it things look too bright, but too dark if I dont. What am I doing incorrect?


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13 years 4 months ago - 13 years 4 months ago #7913 by Screamin Scott
It helps to use the flash for "fill" lighting...Look in your cameras manual & see if this is available for your onboard flash. If not, invest in a good external one (once again, if your camera can mount one)...Fill flash is good for getting good exposure when the light source is directly behind your subject. It allso helps to get your flash off of the camera as you get more natural looking shots. that way...Are you shooting with a DSLR? or a point & shoot camera?

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

Photo Comments
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13 years 4 months ago #8099 by Joves
I have to agree with Scott. When the subject is heavily back lit or the backround is. Or the subject is lit from one side to balance out the light on the darker side, this is where you need the flash off camera. As an example this shot I took of a butterfly.

THe lighter part of the backround was blowing totally out, with the flash it balanced. Another example is when you are shooing near a window from a dark area. This one the image in the window was white so I used the flash just enough to get the view outside the window and preserve the shadows from the sun exposing the back. Also I metered off the widow frame to get a happy medium for the difference between the ligh and dark but, exposed on the darkside. Ignore the circles those show some noise from my sensor, I used at another forum to show what noise looked like.


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