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Using Flash For Proper Exposure
Using your digital camera's flash unit in low-light conditions
While digital cameras have certainly made the world of photography a more
enjoyable place, one trouble spot still remains: the difficulty of taking great
pictures in a low-light setting. Knowing how and when to use the flash is
crucial for overcoming this thorny issue.
The biggest problem with low-light photography is blurring due to camera shake -
the slower shutter speeds required to properly
expose your photos make getting
clear, sharply focused images nearly impossible without using a tripod. The
problem is, a tripod might not always be available when you need one.
The answer lies in the effective use of a flash - either the camera's built in
flash unit, or even better an external flash.
Using the flash outdoors
If you are outdoors in a low-light environment, you should first try to use your
digital camera's Nighttime
picture
taking mode. In nighttime mode the camera will adjust its settings for you
and automatically activate the flash unit at the appropriate time.
If you are unhappy with the results using the Nighttime mode, you can
manually set the camera to use Slow Synch Flash. This will result in the
flash unit firing just long enough to light up a subject in the foreground while
keeping the shutter open long enough to gather a bit of the background light as
well.
An outdoor memorial scene without using the flash...
And the same scene with the flash.
Using the flash indoors
Indoor photography under low-light conditions presents an entirely new problem:
White Balance. Before you do anything else you need to make sure your
digital camera is set to the
White Balance
setting that matches the type of lighting in the room.
While an appropriate White Balance adjustment will reduce color problems
due to unnatural light sources, some color cast will still often slip into the image.
If so, try to bring at least some natural lighting into the room by opening
drapes, blinds and doors. Every little bit of natural light will help, often
enough to make a huge difference.
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"Digital Photography Primer"
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