What Are The External Flash Settings For Indoor Photography?.
External Flash Settings for Indoor Photography: A Beginner's Guide
Introduction
External flashes can be a great way to improve your indoor photography. They can help you to light your subjects evenly, reduce shadows, and create more dynamic and interesting images. However, using an external flash can be tricky at first, and it's important to understand the different settings and how they affect your photos.
In this article, we'll introduce you to the basics of external flash settings for indoor photography. We'll cover topics such as:
- Flash power: How to adjust the brightness of your flash to avoid overexposure and underexposure.
- Bounce flash: How to bounce your flash off of walls and ceilings to create softer, more natural-looking light.
- Diffusers and softboxes: How to use diffusers and softboxes to soften the light from your flash and reduce harsh shadows.
- Flash sync speed: What is flash sync speed and how to set it correctly.
- E-TTL metering: How to use E-TTL metering to automatically adjust the power of your flash for each shot.
We'll also provide some tips and tricks for using an external flash for indoor portraits, group photos, and event photography.
Flash Power
One of the most important settings to understand when using an external flash is flash power. Flash power controls the brightness of your flash output. It's important to adjust the flash power appropriately to avoid overexposure and underexposure.
Overexposure occurs when too much light hits the camera's sensor, resulting in a white or washed-out image. Underexposure occurs when too little light hits the camera's sensor, resulting in a dark or underexposed image.
To avoid overexposure and underexposure, it's important to start with a low flash power setting and increase it gradually until you achieve the desired exposure. You can test the exposure by taking a few test shots and reviewing them on the back of your camera's LCD screen.
Bounce Flash
Bounce flash is a technique where you bounce the light from your flash off of a wall or ceiling before it reaches your subject. This creates softer, more natural-looking light than direct flash.
To use bounce flash, simply tilt your flash head up so that the light bounces off of a wall or ceiling. The angle of the bounce will affect the softness of the light. A higher bounce angle will produce softer light.
Diffusers and Softboxes
Diffusers and softboxes are accessories that can be used to soften the light from your flash and reduce harsh shadows.
A diffuser is a piece of translucent plastic that fits over the front of your flash head. It scatters the light from the flash, creating a softer and more even light.
A softbox is a larger diffuser that creates a softer and more directional light. Softboxes are often used for portrait photography.
Flash Sync Speed
Flash sync speed is the maximum shutter speed that you can use with flash without getting blackout in your images. Blackout occurs when the shutter closes before the flash has a chance to fire fully.
To avoid blackout, you need to set your shutter speed to be equal to or slower than the flash sync speed of your camera. You can find the flash sync speed of your camera in your camera's manual.
E-TTL Metering
E-TTL metering is a system that automatically adjusts the power of your flash for each shot. This makes it easy to achieve accurate exposure, even in challenging lighting conditions.
To use E-TTL metering, simply set your camera's metering mode to E-TTL. Your camera will then automatically adjust the flash power based on the ambient light level and the distance to your subject.
Tips and Tricks for Using an External Flash for Indoor Photography
Here are a few tips and tricks for using an external flash for indoor photography:
- Use bounce flash to create softer, more natural-looking light.
- Use a diffuser or softbox to further soften the light from your flash and reduce harsh shadows.
- Experiment with different flash power settings to achieve the desired exposure.
- Be sure to set your shutter speed to be equal to or slower than the flash sync speed of your camera.
- Use E-TTL metering to automatically adjust the power of your flash for each shot.
Here are some specific tips for using an external flash for different types of indoor photography:
Indoor Portraits
For indoor portraits, you'll want to use a soft light source. This will help to reduce harsh shadows and create a more flattering look for your subject.
A good way to achieve soft light is to use bounce flash or a diffuser. You can also use a softbox, but this can be more difficult to use in small spaces.
Indoor Group Photos
For indoor group photos, you'll want to use a flash power setting that is