Shooting with an In Camera Flash
Has anyone noticed how there has been a real anti-flash vibe going around recently in the digital photography sphere? I’m seeing it in books, websites, forums and even from manufacturers of cameras themselves with the recent release of loads of cameras that would rather push ISO up very high than use a flash.
While I would totally agree that flash photography can blow out a shot with it’s harsh light - there are times where there’s no getting around using it and where (when used correctly) it can actually ‘make’ a shot.
My preference with flash photography is to have dedicated flash that is either on a hotshoe, flash bracket or off camera - however there are plenty of times when all you’ve got at your disposal is the in camera flash. 99% of all cameras have them - so perhaps it’s time we thought about how to get the best results from them.
Here are a few tips:
1. Get In Close
The main limitation of built in flash units is their power. Whereas external flash units have their own dedicated power source and can be quite large - a built in flash shares it’s power with your camera’s other components and it’s generally quite a bit smaller.
Knowing this should drive you to get in close enough to your subject for the flash to have some impact (usually within 2-3 meters). If you can’t get in close (for example if you’re at a rock concert and are sitting in the back row) you’ll probably achieve better results by turning your flash off and bumping up the ISO setting.
2. Try Slow Sync Flash
Another limitation with in built flash units is that they can produce quite harsh results that mean any other ambient light in a scene is lost. This is partly because the light they produce is unable to be directed/bounced indirectly onto your subject.
One way around this is to use Slow Sync Flash. You can read about this technique in our tutorial on the topic - but in short it involves choosing a slower shutter speed and firing the flash while the shutter is open.
3. Diffuse or Direct Your Flash DIY style
I’ve already alluded to the problem of not being able to diffuse the light produced by a fixed flash unit - however one technique that some inventive photographers use is to take a Do It Yourself approach and create their own diffusers.
Some photographers I know always have a roll of semi-opaque adhesive tape in their camera bag to put over their flash. This doesn’t stop the flash’s light but diffuses it.
Other friends take a little piece of white card with them which they put in front of their flash to bounce it up or sideways.
Using these techniques might mean you need to play with exposure compensation (you’ll probably want to increase exposure by a stop or two) as your camera won’t be aware that you’re taking some of the power out of it’s light.
4. Fill-in Flash
Don’t just use your flash when it’s dark. Often when shooting outdoors a flash can really lift an image up a notch - particularly when photographing a subject with strong backlighting or one with harsh downward light. A fill in flash lights up shadowy areas. Read more about Fill Flash.
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April 10th, 2007 at 9:05 am
“Has anyone noticed how there has been a real anti-flash vibe going around recently in the digital photography sphere?”
Don’t tell me you haven’t seen Strobist.com, Darren. :P
April 10th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I agree, I have been heavily against flash in most cases, however, when I do a shoot with really strong back light, I need to fill the subjects face with light, I usually use a piece of white cardboard, but when that is not an option, flash is a good ally, however, one has to be careful, nobody likes those pictures where people look like they are ghosts!
April 10th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
best flash tip i ever heard:
when using an in-built flash, make sure that any shots you take have the flash above the lense (especially portrait/full body shots)… otherwise you highlight the subjects groin/chest (depending on how close you are).
April 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Can’t remember where I saw it but awhile ago I got the tip to use a coffee filter (held on by rubber band) to diffuse the built in flash. I’ve been doing that ever since and the results are surprisingly good. As a matter of fact I did a birthday party for my cousins kid at a Chuck E. Cheese recently and somehow left my 580 at home. The coffee filter saved me and the photos!
April 10th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
I went through a phase of being extremely anti-flash, but in the last few months, especially since switching exclusively to shooting RAW, I’ve been using flash a *lot*.
I shoot lots of gigs in crappy clubs and with clearance from the band I’ll take some with flash so at least I know I’ve got some usable pics! The best ones tend to be late on in the gig and shot with a zoom so that they’re close-up, without any annoying wall-shadow and with the beads of sweat picked out by the flash.
Also very useful is the “portrait” auto-mode for the paprazzi shots (fans with band members and so on) after the show.
Examples on my flickr stream.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
For those with an EOS camera this is a great reference:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index.html
April 11th, 2007 at 2:39 am
Are there any good guides as to what lens one should buy for a Canon EOS 30D, it seems to be quite a daunting task, considering the price. Any suggestions or guides out there?
April 12th, 2007 at 6:41 am
I think the reason that people have been very anti-flash of late is two fold:
1) The built-in flashes on cameras generally suck. They’re too close to the lens and they (with occasional exception) give harsh, direct light. That said, I know a very good wedding photographer who reckons that the built-in flash of DSLRs these days are pretty good, for when all else fails.
2) Getting good flash lighting right is difficult. Like, really difficult. Manufacturers know this, which is why they’d prefer to push the ISO instead.
That said, there are times when using a flash is simply the best approach. I often use my flashgun, even on a lovely day, because catchlights in a subjects eyes can make a photo. So yes, embrace your flash, but learn how it behaves, learn how to control it and treat it like that loyal dog which occasionally goes barmy and kills next door’s cat.
April 12th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Donovan: When it comes to buying lenses, nobody can tell you what to buy. There are no “best” lenses for a camera, because it depends entirely on what you intend to do with them. Think about what you’ll be shooting, and from that decide what focal length you’ll need, whether IS/VR/whatever will help you, whether you need a wide aperture for lots of light and so on and then look up the options available to you. L-series glass is always (in my experience at least) awesome, but it comes at a price. But whatever your decision, remember this: it’s no good buying a top of the range camera if the glass you put in front of it isn’t up to the job. All the megapixels in the world can’t rescue the crap light that your lens passes through. Your lens is the most important part of your camera. Don’t be afraid to invest wisely.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Has anyone ever thought of this….?
meter your flash output at 20ft, 15ft, 10ft and then 5ft.
make sure your meter and distance are at exact f stops or either +1/3 on the high side and -2/3 on the low side.
Set your flash to MANUAL 1/1 before you start the “On Camera Flash Calibration technique” Then fire away!
Then you may want to use something called “A GREY CARD” remember those? anyone still remember that a camera can’t see color temp without some help from the person squeezing the trigger and a piece of grey paper…duhhh!!!
after that is done…do it all over again with a diffuser.
write all of this info down…memorize it…apply it…
GO A BUY A LIGHT AND FLASH METER IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CONTROL YOUR FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.NEVER, NEVER,NEVER USE YOUR LCD SCREEN AS A LIGHT METER…
AND START BECOMMING A ” REAL PHOTOGRAPHER”
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Hello, I have a one question. I have a cheap camera with a bult-in flash, when should I use the flash?
Can I use flash on an overcast day when photographing a car about 5-10 metres away? Thats what I am doing soon. Or shoud i inly use the flash when all day light has nearly gone??
thank you all.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Try using a cut up piece of used fabric softener sheet as a diffuser, it might give you what you’re looking for.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
whew! for a while there i thought i was the only one who used flash. now i won’t feel quite so guilty. Thanks for all the tips guys.