Attaching a flash to one’s camera has been and still seems to be a hot topic of discussion that was going on long before I got serious about photography in the 1970s.
I remember being confused, well actually, really confused when I first got into photography and read everything, I could find trying to understand how a flash attached to my camera’s hot-shoe worked, and why adding light from a flash (on and off camera) could be used to enhance my photography.
Flashes at that time produced a constant amount of light no matter how close the subject was. I learned other than using a telephoto lens and moving away from my subject the best way to reduce the amount of light on the subject was to select a smaller aperture. But the smaller aperture increased the depth of field, and it was impossible to get that soft background on those occasions where I had to use a flash on camera
The most frequent way of controlling flash power was to use exotic technology like placing a white handkerchief or a translucent soap holder over the flash.
I was excited when later flash development included light measuring sensors in the flash that read the light reflected back from the subject and shut off the flash when a predetermined amount was reached.
Then TTL (through-the-lens) flash came along and small-computerized sensors in the camera controlled the flash. The reflected light was read by the camera, making the lens focal length, the aperture, and the distance all part of the exposure equation.
Today’s hot-shoe connected flash is nothing short of amazing, giving photographers absolute control over the flash.
Subtracting light intended for the subject no longer needs some translucent material placed over the flash head.
Using devices like white cloth or cups and bounce cards with a TTL flash have become all about softening or diffusing the light on our subjects instead of only reducing it on the whole scene.
The modern flash or Speedlight as they are now called, easily controls power output and can be comfortably used with wireless off-camera technology.
The flash can be connected with wireless triggers off-camera to allow the photographer to point the flash toward the subject at flattering angles without time consuming calculations.
A photographer can easily select the exposure in camera or dial the flash power output up or down. It is now so simple to reduce or increase the ambient exposure while maintaining or brightening the subject alone for more natural looking photographs than it was with early flash photography.
When I began using a flash it changed the quality of my photography. I no longer had to rely on ambient light, and I began to notice my subjects had more “pop” than those without the flash and I was pleased at being able to fill unflattering shadows coming from overhead lighting and reduce deep shadows caused by sunlight.
The modern speedlight flash gives a photographer control over the quality of light and is easy to use one or several flash units off-camera. Photographers should no longer think of a flash as only for brightening up subjects in a darkened room.
Stay safe and be creative. These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net.
