Flash Photography Basics

• every flash photograph is two exposures in one - ambient light exposure and flash exposure.
• fill flash can be used when subject is backlit or side lit to eliminate silhouettes or shadows.
• flash exposure is not affected by the shutter speed.
• flash illumination is dramatically affected by distance.
• your camera measure ambient light and flash illumination separately.
• with automatic flash metering, the flash illumination is measured after the shutter button is pressed, and the flash output is adjusted accordingly.
• every SLR camera with a mechanical shutter box has a maximum flash sync shutter speed.
• harsh lighting, washed out subjects, and red eye can be eliminated by using diffusers and light bouncing.
• it is possible to change the order of when the flash fires using "rear curtain sync."
• removing the flash from the top of the camera helps eliminate red eye and unflattering shadows