| I've been asked should I use my camera flash when | | | | Consider the days when I started out studying to be |
| taking photos outside and under the following | | | | a young photographer at the age 13/14, the camera |
| conditions the answer is YES. | | | | was a medium format size roll film camera, image size |
| If you're shooting a portrait or close up where the | | | | 6x6cm. and the film size was 120 black and white |
| subject fills the frame completely and your shooting | | | | negative. |
| in bright sunlight where the person is partly back-lit, | | | | There was NO built-in camera flash, in fact there was |
| the answer is most definitely yes! | | | | no electronic flash, period. I use to own a flash gun |
| It will bring the image to life by making it stand out | | | | that used flash bulbs, which I attached to the camera |
| against the background, it will also light up the face | | | | with the flash sync cable plugged into the camera |
| helping to remove unwanted shadows and adding a | | | | bulb flash socket. The flash bulb was like a light bulb |
| sparkle to the eyes. | | | | in size which you screwed into the flash guns bulb |
| You see, when you are shooting pictures of people | | | | holder directly in front of the large flash reflector. |
| where the majority of the light is from behind or | | | | The bulb was filled with magnesium wire and when |
| where the sun is reflected off water, without your | | | | you fired the shutter the batteries in the flash gun |
| flash turned on their face will be too dark . | | | | would ignite the magnesium in the flash bulb and |
| The same applies when the sun is casting a shadow | | | | create a flash. The flash bulb was covered with a |
| across the face but with the use of your flash, you | | | | protective layer of plastic to prevent it from |
| can eliminate dark shadows from the eyes and nose | | | | exploding and I seem to remember that most times |
| and create a better result which will please the most | | | | it was successful in doing so, but on the odd |
| discerning critic. In affect this also helps to soften the | | | | occasion it would explode... quite an alarming |
| face and in some cases helping to hide wrinkles, but | | | | experience. It was a good idea not to work too |
| remember you cant please everyone. | | | | close to the subject! |
| Which reminds me of the story of the wrinkled old | | | | Back in the early fifties, it was quite an undertaking |
| Woman that had her picture taken by the local | | | | to shoot any event. But I was busy studying |
| portrait photographer and even after the | | | | photography at school and in my spare time and was |
| photographer spent hours retouching her picture he | | | | learning the basics. |
| still couldn't remove all her wrinkles. When she saw | | | | Soon the early electronic flash guns started to arrive |
| the picture she complained saying to the | | | | on the market and I remember that they had huge |
| photographer, "This picture doesn't do me justice," he | | | | power-packs that you carried on your shoulder via a |
| said "Madam you don't need justice you need mercy." | | | | shoulder strap. Also flash guns were starting to get |
| Why then, does you camera take a dark picture | | | | popular with novice photographers, with smaller size |
| when the subject is back-lit, you see the camera will | | | | flash bulbs and then later the smaller electronic flash |
| be fooled by the bright back-lit surroundings and set | | | | guns. |
| the exposure to cope with the bright conditions only | | | | What does this mean to you, very little I expect but |
| allowing the face to appear dark, but with your flash | | | | it may be of some interest to those of who might |
| turned on you end up with the perfect picture every | | | | be of the same age as I was then, to know how far |
| time, so much so that your friends will ask how you | | | | we have advanced. Just think for a moment and |
| did it. Also remember to use flash when bright | | | | supposing you are 14 years of age now, how far |
| sunlight is casting shadows over the subjects face, | | | | things would have advanced when you get to be my |
| even if the conditions are not back-lit, it will also add | | | | age... |
| a sparkle to the eyes. | | | | But you know, the same conditions apply when |
| By using your flash or turning flash on, you will fill-in | | | | shooting an image if your in a 'professional mode', I |
| the shadow areas making your picture much more | | | | mean careful composition of you picture, correct |
| pleasing. | | | | exposure and lighting and although with the advance |
| Photographers please note, the best time of the day | | | | of digital cameras the technology has changed, the |
| to shoot people is about two hours before sunset or | | | | above mentioned facts apply and are still as relevant |
| two hours after sunrise, when the shadows are long | | | | to day as they ever were, plus the added advantage |
| and the light is soft and warm in color, especially by | | | | of your computer and the ability of digital |
| the ocean. It's no wonder that professional fashion | | | | manipulation. |
| photographers shoot around this time of day. | | | | |