Thoughts on Flash Photography
Derek Smith • 18 January 2023
White Angel
Photo By: Derek Smith
Clock 1
Photo By: Derek Smith
Clock 2
Photo By: Derek Smith
Bounce Card
Photo By: Derek Smith
We all know that light is an essential element of a photograph, and when light levels are low, adding flash lighting can be an aid to a successful image, permitting higher shutter speeds, and lower ISO settings.
Managing light from flash can at times be problematic, photographers can very well struggle with camera settings, and managing the power output of the flash unit.
In a studio environment where a subject is relatively static, an off-camera flash unit in a large soft box, mounted on a stand, can be positioned above, and slightly in front of the subject, the soft box creates a soft wraparound light effect. The first task is to set the camera to shoot in “Manual”, choose the lowest ISO setting (usually 100, 160, or 200 depending on camera). Then adjust the aperture to a mid-range value, personally I find that f/8 suits my camera and lenses. The final camera step is to adjust the shutter speed to remove any ambient light in the room, a test shot taken in this way should show a black screen, the lighting will be supplied by the flash unit only. Once the camera is set to the optimum settings, DO NOT adjust anything on the camera, all that remains is to switch the flash unit on, and adjust the power output until the test shots give the correct exposure, I suggest starting at perhaps 1/8 power, then adjust the power up or down until the exposure looks correct on the test shots. The image of the model Angel demonstrates what can be achieved.
In a more dynamic photographic environment such as a wedding, a social event, party, or a family gathering in a house, where the subject(s) can be moving around a flash unit on a stand is simply not a practical solution. On-camera flash can be your saviour in this situation but can be more difficult to control the light from the flash, the biggest pitfall is the unflattering “deer in the headlights” lighting effect where the power of the uncontrolled flash gives a very defined overexposed image.
As an example, look at these two images of a clock, both are taken at the same camera settings, shutter speed 1/180 (camera flash sync speed for the Fuji X-T20), ISO f/2, and ISO 200, and with the flash set for TTL, the first very obviously shows evidence of the use of flash with blown-out highlights, the second image has more controlled lighting. What then has changed? The camera settings are exactly the same, the distance from the subject remains the same, and I used the same Fuji XF 35mm prime lens in both instances, the difference then is that instead of pointing the flash head directly at the subject, I have swiveled the speedlight flash head around to point up at the ceiling, the light bounces off the white painted ceiling and gives that softer light on the clock. This technique of bouncing the light, can also work by swiveling the speedlight head to a nearby wall, or any reflective surface. One drawback of this method is that when photographing a person, the eyes may look dark, if this is the case pop out the bounce card on the speedlight flash head which just adds a little light into the eyes to create a catchlight.
Flash lighting can also be used in daylight to photograph a person in bright sunshine against a bright sky, but this requires a different technique, known as High Speed Sync (HSS). Assume for a moment that you would like to take a portrait at an aperture at f/1.8, for subject isolation, and a blurred background, setting the exposure for the ambient light of the sky leaves the subject looking underexposed, now if you have a camera, and flash unit compatible for using HSS, the shutter speed can be raised from the standard flash sync speed (varies by camera body / manufacturer 1/60 – 1/250) to something like 1/4000, maintaining the ambient light of the sky, with the flash correctly lighting your subject, a couple of test shots will need to be taken to assess how much flash power is needed to correctly expose the subject.
Tips on buying a hot shoe mounted flash speedlight – ensure the light is compatible for your camera make / model, a swivel head provides more options, as does a “bounce card”, and some cheaper models may not have the option of High Speed Sync.
Louth Photographic Society
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", there was a very high-quality entry in both competitions and judge Mike Bennett had quite a job on his hands scoring the entries. Well, done to Dave Turner for first place in the Objects in the Air and Tony Gaskins for first place in the Open. All the results are on our website. This week, Wednesday 30th September, our speaker will be Lee Dixon from Cleethorpes Camera Club showing us his natural history, Creative and many other photographs he has taken. It will be the first time Lee has shown his photographs at our club. If anyone else wants to enter PDI's in the 2027 N&EMPF Exhibition, the deadline is this Wednesday at midnight. Harry is still taking entries for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight from Camera" (unedited .jpg), and "Open", to be held on Wednesday 7th October. Regards Graham
At the meeting last night Mike Bennett judged our competition with the categories of “Objects in the Air”, and “Open”. The standard of entries was excellent, and it gave Mike a tough task of judging the images, Mike gave some very good critique of the images displayed, the feedback helps members to develop compositional skills. Dave Turner was awarded first place for his image of the “Tiger Club Display Team” in the “Objects in the Air” category. Tony Gaskins was awarded first place for his image of the “Spectacular Rustgill” in the “Open” category.
Good Morning All, Last week at the club we watched the N&EMPF PDI Exhibition for 2026, it was a very good evening viewing very high standard images from all over the East Midlands. Dave Turner and I did manage to get images accepted; there is a full report on our website. This week, Wednesday 23rd September, we will hold our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", please send entries to Harry by midnight tonight. Harry is also accepting images for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight out of the Camera (only resizing permitted)" and "Open". Regards Graham
Members were shown the 2026 N&EMPF PDI Exhibition video last night with all of the accepted PDI images in the first part, and after the break the awarded PDI images. There were some stunning images on view, and Louth was successful in having 3 PDI images accepted, Graham Harrison with his image of a Stonechat, and Dave Turner with his portrait of Paul Rudd, and his monochrome image of Kings Cross railway station "Going Down". Overall it was a good inspirational evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club members had 15 minutes to show what they had done over the summer. It was a very interesting evening with eight members taking part. There were many locations on show and as usual some excellent photography. There is a full report on our blog. This week, Wednesday 16th September, we will be showing the N&EMPF exhibition, this is part one showing all the PDI's that were accepted. This is the highest standard of photography we as individuals take part in as a club. Members sent around 50 entries but only 3 were accepted. If you are inspired to enter the 2027 Exhibition after seeing the show, I send the clubs entries and I can give you more information. Closing date is the end of September. The Maximum size for N&EMPF is 1600 x 1200 3MB sRGB Harry is still taking entries for the monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry did ask about what can be accepted, and we couldn't really say as long as it's an object in the Air. The best way is to look up the definition of an object first. Harry is also accepting entries for the Local and Open competition in October. Robin is going to judge the Open competition, does anyone fancy judging the "Straight from the camera" category? Regards Graham
The Louth Photographic Society has returned after the summer break. It was an incredible return, with members providing us with some stunning images from over the summer break. A full, and varied smorgasbord of well executed photos, many of us visited Whitby, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and further north images from Staithes, and Sandbanks. Tony showed us his long exposure minimalist calming coastal scenes, from the Lincolnshire coast, and Whitby.. Chris brought us some beautiful photos taken of local churches, many of which many of us have never seen. Now I’ve never really seen the attraction of an expensive Leica camera, but when Mark showed his photos from his visit to the German Leica factory in Wetzlar, I now understand, camera bodies, and lenses milled from solid blocks of aluminium, hand polished, hand finished lens glass, and textured leather applied to the camera body, not a robot in sight, just craftsmen, and women making a superb photographic instrument. Sue brought us “pink” ladies driving tractors to raise money for cancer research. Last but definitely not least Richard showed his monochrome, and infrared images of trees, his compositions, and photographic eye bring these tree studies to life, we appreciate them even if some judges don’t understand. Many thanks to all of those members who contributed.
Good Morning All We spent last week on the Isle of Wight visiting many of the attractions. This week, Wednesday 9th September, we are back at the club with 15-minute PDI shows of what you did during the summer break, I have Derek Smith, Tony Gaskins, Harry Kerman, Chris Birchmore and Richard Hildred on the list, if I have missed you off, please let me know. I should be there but could be late as away playing golf. Harry is taking entries for the September PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry will miss the October local competition but will sort the entries out for us, The competition categories will be "Local-Not Edited" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so could do with two volunteers to judge. The local competition is a .jpeg photograph taken and straight from the camera, no cropping, or post processing etc, like the old days taken no more than 25 miles from St James church. Regards Graham
On Bank Holiday Monday I visited the Props, and Pistons Event at the East Kirkby Aviation centre. The event was well attended, with a good selection of various vehicles on display. The Avro Lancaster “Just Jane” was on display and did a couple of taxiing runs, so great to hear the Rolls Royce Merlin engines roar into life, also taxiing was the DeHavilland Mosquito aircraft, the “wooden wonder”. The first flypast was from the Hawker Hurricane, and the Supermarine Spitfire, I didn’t manage to capture any acceptable photos of these iconic aircraft, as they were too small and fast for me. Later in the afternoon the second flypast aircraft was the American Martin B26 Marauder, as this was larger, and slower I did manage to take some photos as it flew overhead. The weather was kind, and I had a very enjoyable day out.
Good Morning All I was having my lunchbreak on the Wolds last week and spotted this tree in a field next to me, it does give the impression it's looking at you. I hope you're all enjoying the summer break, time does fly by and it's time to get ready for returning to the club on the 9th of September. We start with mini lecture, 15 minutes on what you have been doing over the summer. If you want to take part, please email me and we will see how many we have. The September PDI competition is coming up as well on the 23 rd of September, Objects in the air and open, Harry will now start taking your entries, three entries in each subject with an (R) after one of them to be removed if there are too many entries. Derek sent the N&EMPF Exhibition entry forms out; I will again act as organiser for our club. The standard is very high so it's one for your best PDI's. We will view some last year's PDI's that made the grade on the 16 th of September. Regards Graham
NELPS organised an outing to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, there was some confusion with opening times, and a few of us arrived to find the gates closed, we went for a coffee!! Once inside and parked up we were welcomed by the volunteer staff, and began to take some photos around the site. A Grimsby trolleybus was running this morning, this bus had been painstakingly restored from a bare chassis, with great attention to detail, even down to sourcing the original moquette fabric to upholster the seats, it was great to be able to ride in a trolleybus again. Trolleybuses have a particular nostalgic memory for me, I lived in Uxbridge, on the outskirts of London, and the 607 trolleybus route ran past the end of my road, with a usual frequency of 5 minute intervals the buses were a common sight gliding along the main road. The 607 route was one of the longest in the country 11 miles to Shepherds Bush, taking about an hour for the journey. The trolleybus was whisper quiet, comfortable, and pollution free, and I took several trips on these. In comparison the conventional London bus the “RT” was not as quiet for longer journeys. The London trolleybuses, and eventually the London “RT” buses, were replaced with the iconic diesel fuelled Routemaster “RM” bus. I had an enjoyable visit, and many thanks to NELPS for organising the outing.
