Useful Camera Flash Tips

Chances are your camera has a built-in flash. It's that white, square thing on the front that sends out a bright flash of light when you take a photo. At times it can be helpful, but other times can turn the people you are photographing into demonic, red-eyed monsters. When to use the flash on your camera and when to turn it off is a difficult question. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Automatic Mode
Most cameras come with an automatic mode. The processor inside the camera decides the correct exposure for photographs, and if the flash should be used. Often there is an "always on" option for the flash. Until you know the effects of your camera's flash unit leave it set on automatic mode. The camera, most of the time (if you're a beginner), is smarter than you. In a rushed situation let the computer inside do the thinking.

Know the Range
A tiny camera flash isn't going to illuminate the entire inside of the Roman Coliseum. Flashes on compact cameras have an effective range of 10-15 feet. Beyond that, they are of little use. If you can't get close enough to use your flash consider using a slower shutter speed and a tripod to get the shot.

Red Eye
In the photograph of Grandma's birthday party she has wild, red eyes staring out of her otherwise benevolent face. Why? The red eye effect is caused by the light from the flash reflecting off the blood vessels in your subject's eyes. The darker the room the more pronounced the effect. Most cameras now ship with a red eye reduction setting. This function fires a number of pre-flashes before the photo is taken to adjust the subject's eyes. The drawback is that after seeing the first pre-flash Grandma might start eating her birthday cake before the actual photo is taken. Tell the people you photograph to stay still until all the flashes have gone off.

Digital camera, printer, and image editing software often come with a red eye correction functions. This is a good standby to correct the demonic photos of grandmother. Another alternative is to add more light before you take a photograph. Open the curtains, turn on another light, make the area less dark, to stop the red eye effect.

Fill Flash
Why would I use my flash outside, on a sunny day, you ask? Bright sunlight can cause shadows. Using your camera's flash is a way to fill those harsh dark spots with a little extra light. Using flash outdoors can also help improve the saturation and tones of color in an image. I once had a newspaper editor whose maxim was, Flash everything, use it all the time.

Watch Your Batteries
Flashes can be a lifesaver, but can drain your camera's batteries faster than a racing thoroughbred horse. That little white light sucks the life out of your batteries. If you know you'll be taking a lot of flash photographs, come prepared with extra, fully-charged batteries. Your camera should be in your hands, not your handbag because its batteries are dead.

Experiment
One of the great things about digital cameras is the ability to experiment. You can take hundred of photos and see which turn out best. Try different settings. Explore what your camera can do. Know how to use it best in each situation.