Brisbane Camera Group

Learning to control flash in our photographs is a big challenge and, once mastered, flash can make an enourmous difference to the quality of our images.

This month I have gathered a few how-to articles and gadgets to help us make the most of our on camera flash (that is the small flash built into your camera). These flashes, particularly on newer cameras, may be small but they are very powerful and can be difficult to control. There is less flexibility to adjust the power and direction of the flash, especially when compared to an SLR dedicated flash unit.

But there are still many ways we can make better use of this light source. These tips and tricks will be useful for compact/point and shoot owners, and SLR owners wanting to take full advantage of their on camera flash.

Articles

For an introduction to the basic flash modes available on most modern cameras, check out the feature article The Secret Life of the Flashgun .

For more specific tips and tricks, Darren Rowse from the Digital Photography School offers 7 Strategies for Avoiding Flash Blow Out . He begins with this very sound observation:

A flash should only ever be thought of as a secondary light source. In almost every situation that you will want to photograph there will be some level of existing ambient light. This light is important as it is the natural light of the scene you’re trying to capture. Your flash should be used to supplement existing light rather than as the primary way of lighting a scene. If you use a flash as the primary source of light it will look artificial.

Flash Gadgets

If you are looking for a little extra help, try:

FLASH DIFFUSER

Darren suggests diffusing your on camera flash with tissue paper or semi-opaque tape. For a dedicated solution have a look at the Kast Flash Diffuser ($39). BCG member Diane has one of the nifty units and would be happy to chat about its performance.

METZ 28CS2 DIGITAL FLASHGUN

For those with a little more money to spend, the Metz 28CS2 Digital Slave Flash offers the point and shoot user all the control of a SLR-style dedicated flash unit. The Metz is a wireless external flash powered by AAA batteries which (as the name slave suggests) fires when your on camera flash fires. You can control the position and direction of the flash, and even adjust power through the plus and minus buttons on the back of the unit. The promotional material tells us that it’s designed for digital cameras (so it’s not fooled by pre-flashes) and it's got a learning mode so you can easily train it to synchronize better with your particular camera.

If anyone has tried one of these units, write in and tell us what you think!