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Fill flash: Lighting up a sunny day
Summary: Flash photography on a sunny day can brighten shadow areas and compensate for less than perfect lighting situations. Valuable information inside the camera manual can shed new light on a shadowy situation.
With digital camera in hand, the photographer asked his two friends to
move a bit closer to each other as they sat at a table on the covered
patio. With bright eyes and million dollar smiles, the photographer
snapped their photo.
The result, a perfectly exposed background with vivid color. The two smiling friends … silhouettes.
The
photographer accepted a bit of unsolicited but friendly advice to use
the built-in flash on his next exposure. The results…perfection!
A brighter and better light
Using
a camera flash on a sunny day in not an instinctive reaction for most
photographers. This “fill flash” technique, that balances the bright
light of the background and the darker shadows in the foreground, can
give a photographer the creative and technical expertise of a
professional.
Nearly all digital cameras and newer film
cameras are equipped with built-in flash. The manuals or user guides
for those cameras explain in relatively simple terms how to use the
flash modes. READ the manuals.
Most point and shoot or compact
cameras have at least two flash modes. Choosing an auto-flash mode
means the camera will automatically activate the flash to fill in areas
like shadows when there is not enough light. A second flash option will
allow the photographer, in a true creative moment, to manually turn on
the flash to add light to a scene like the shadowed cart photo on the right.
These creative decisions let you have control and influence to make better quality photographs.
A natural look
Using
flash in bright sunlight with the subject in full sun is often
advisable. The direct overhead sun, throughout the mid-afternoon casts
harsh shadows. The “raccoon eyes” effect in portraits is unflattering.
Using
the built-in flash on the proper setting will allow you to add light to the shadowed
areas in the eye sockets. That same flash will illuminate shadowed
areas under visors and caps as well.
The intuitive capabilities of the camera’s sophisticated exposure system will insure a quality image with a natural look.
No substitute for quality
The
use of the built-in flash often makes a photograph technically possible
despite the harsh
light. Technology has enabled photographers to overcome austere
lighting conditions in a creative manner. A wisecracking photo
instructor once descirbed available light as all of the lighting gear
he could carry. That instructor would surely embrace today's technical
advances that provide lightweight lighting options.
Keys to success:
• Use the“fill-flash” technique
• Read the camera manual
• Make creative decisions
• Utilize the camera’s technical potential
Still,
there is no substitute for the natural light. However, if you must photograph in extreme lighting
conditions, use the camera’s technical aspects to your advantage.
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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 Michael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
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