Should You Always Use a Flash?

Since most cameras these days come with a flash that’s built-in and automatic it doesn’t occur to some amateur photographers that there are times when, although the light is dim, using a flash would simply spoil the photo. Sometimes a flash will create unwelcome shadows, make the subject blink or cause red-eye, though the latter can be remedied fairly easily with software. In some cases, flash is just too harsh, so what other alternatives are there?

Firstly, though you might not think so, flash can be good to use on a sunny day. This is because the brighter the sun, the deeper the shadows that it casts, are. Cameras do not like bright sun and deep shade in the same shot, it confuses them. But when we use flash indoors where the light is dull it often causes a shadow that we don’t want. One way to eliminate this is to use a diffuser of some kind. You can buy one that fits the camera, or try a piece of transparent tape over the lens.

A light reflector is another method of creating enough light so that you don’t need a flash. Those umbrellas that you see around commercial photographers are not just pretty props. They are light reflectors, sending the light provided by a strong lamp onto the subject in such a way as to prevent shadows while providing light. Light, moreover, that is not harsh enough to bleach out those details that need to be included for a great shot. Other light reflectors are white or light gray cardboard sheets or even white clothing. Light reflectors depend on other forms of artificial lighting such as strong or ambient lamps, fluorescent or incandescent lighting to reflect from, and these are readily available indoors.

Natural lighting can be used even though the photo is to be taken indoors. Moving closer to the window is often the simplest and most effective, though be sure the glass isn’t going to reflect into the shot. Sometimes you can simply shine a lamp on a wall nearby. This will act to reflect the light onto the subject without making shadows. Lamps are usually placed to the side of the camera and may be above it or below, depending on the height of the subject.

How much lighting you need also depends on how close you are to the subject. If you are quite close, you will need less than if you are across the room. If you do use flash, remember the subject should remove their glasses and not pose close to reflective surfaces.