Flash Photography Exposure Basics

Flash photography is a skill not many try to master. Its like people just don't want to learn it and just muddle through with their camera and flash on auto. I'm here to tell you: its super easy!!! The basics of flash exposure: Shutter speed affects ambient light only ISO and aperture affect ambient light AND flash Flash distance, power, and modifiers all change its output.

When you understand that concept its easy. If you want to adjust the flash change ISO, aperture, flash power or flash distance. If you only want to change the ambient light in the scene then adjust your shutter speed. I have all my students start out in manual exposure mode with the flash on manual too. That way you are controlling the flash and learning how it works, not just getting by.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• photography
• flash
• nikon
• canon
• sb-800
• sb-900
• sb-700

[Zephear]

Great video, but I must say If you use built in flash in CLS if you go slower than 1/320 you're gonna make built in flash affect the exposure.

[GregoryCazillo]

@Zephear Nope, thats not true you can turn off the master flash so it doesn't affect the final photograph with Nikon CLS.

[un1qu3ger]

Hey Greg, thanks for all the great videos - all in plain English but sufficiently elaborate. Having shot for some 2 years with my flash on camera, I'm starting to get interested in off cam flash photography. Basically, there's two "problems" I've encountered: 1. What type (strength) of nd filter to get in order to shoot portraits wide open in day light + flash with a max speed of 1/250. 2. How to trigger the flashes outdoors - since iTTL isn't an issue, one could just get any radio transmitter?

[GregoryCazillo]

@un1qu3ger I'd suggest using Auto FP sync on a Nikon or high speed sync on a Canon. AFAIK both support high shutter speeds with their built in off camera flash triggering systems. Nikon calls it CLS, not sure about Canon.

[soul05extinct]

How do you make a flash trigger another flash without the trigger flash affecting the scene?? if you don't have the nikon CLS system?? thanks..

[GregoryCazillo]

@soul05extinct Buy a set of radio slaves from a company like Pocket Wizard or Quantum.

[botanytube]

I've avoided flash like the plague for years, but just recently bought my first external flash unit. I really needed some help with basic principles and this video has given me that - thanks very much!

[shajint]

fantastic tutorial .. thanks Mr.Greg

[ifithas2be]

Great tutorial, I'm learning so much by watching your videos. Thank you very much.

[dukoduli]

fantastic video, thanks Greg..

[TheYFlyer]

Greg, very nice video. I liked how you showed the affects on ambient light as you adjusted your ISO. It really helps to illustrate this issue.

[h3aDmAsTeR]

@soul05extinct or focus with the built in flash, and the place your hand infront of it, not to light the scene! :P workd for me the last time...

[Zephear]

@GregoryCazillo yes, you can, but it will still affect the exposure slightly. At least that's true with the built-in flash on my D7000. It can easily be seen if you shoot flash reflection in a mirror.

[soul05extinct]

should have thought about that... thanks Mr. Greg.. Cheers..