Adjustable flash units make balancing light output simple.
A scene that is only partially lit by available light, such as that pouring through an open window or gleaming through a tree's branches, can be difficult to shoot. On the one hand, you wish to preserve the ambient light to create a natural looking mood within the photo. On the other hand, you want the details of your subject to be visible, not lost in murky shadow. By balancing the output of your flash source, you'll capture the essence of the setting while also preserving subject detail.
Instructions
1. Mount the adjustable flash unit on your camera's accessory shoe and switch it on. The term "hot shoe" refers to the electrical linkage point on the mount that allows the flash to sync with the shutter.
2. Adjust your camera's ISO setting to 400. ISO refers to the camera sensor's sensitivity to light, and 400 is a practical setting for indoor or unevenly lit scenes.
3. Turn the mode dial on the top of your camera body to "A" or "Av" to access aperture priority mode. This mode allows you to set the size of the lens opening while the camera selects a reciprocal shutter speed (and flash sync speed). Set the lens opening to f/8.
4. Point your camera at the subject to meter the amount of available light. The recommended shutter speed will be displayed on your camera's LCD screen --- ensure that it is within the range of your flash unit's sync speeds. Most digital SLR cameras allow flash sync for speeds from 1/15 to 1/1000 of a second, sometimes faster.
5. Decrease your flash's light output by programming it for a wider f-stop. If you have selected f/8, your flash setting should be set for f/5.6. Because the flash thinks your lens opening is wider than it actually is, it produces a weaker burst of light. This lights your subject sufficiently without overwhelming the natural light source.
6. Take several test shots. If your subject is not sufficiently lit, change your flash setting to f/11 --- this results in brighter output. If your subject is too bright, step your flash setting down to f/4 for a weaker output.
Tags: your flash, your camera, your subject, flash setting, flash sync
