Tip of The Day: 7 Strategies for Avoiding Flash Blow Out

The problem that point and shoot camera owners face when it comes to using flash to light a scene is that many point and shoot cameras offer a photographer much less control over how powerful the flash is and what direction the light is pointed. But you don’t have to live with photos like this one. Below are 7 tips for point-and-shoot users (and DSLR users who want to use their on-camera flash)

1) Take a Step Back. One of the simplest ways to decrease the impact of the light coming from your flash is to put a little more distance between you and your subject. Stepping back from your subject doesn’t mean that you can’t fill the frame, just zoom in or crop the photo later.

2) Diffuse It. Limit the amount of light coming from your flash by using a dedicated flash diffuser or a coffee filter, tissue or semi opaque cellotape (just remember to use something white so you don’t change the color cast of your photo)

3) Redirect It. Dedicated flash users can swivel their flashes to bounce them off other surfaces But point-and-shoot users hack their flashes to do the same by taking a small piece of white card and putting it at an angle in front of the flash so that the flash is redirected up onto the ceiling of the room (or even sideways onto a wall).

4) Night Mode. Most point-and-shoot digital cameras have an option on their dial called night mode. This mode tells the camera to use a technique called slow sync flash, which basically means taking a shot with a slower shutter speed while still shooting the flash. This means that you get a little more ambient light from the scene while still freezing the action with the flash.

5) Decrease Flash Output. Some point-and-shoot cameras have the ability to tell the camera just how much flash you want it to use (check your camera’s manual to see if you have it). If you do, dial back your flash output by a stop or two to see what impact it has. It might take a little experimentation to get the setting just right but it can help you end up with much more natural shots.

6) Add Light. This one could get you kicked out of the party, but getting a little more light on the scene is another pretty obvious way to help the situation. It could simply mean moving your subjects to a better lit position near a lamp. Another way to increase the impact of ambient light on a subject is to think about reflective light. For example photographing someone standing next to a white wall as opposed to a black wall will mean that any ambient light in the room will be bounced onto them.

7) ISO, Shutter Speeds and Aperture. One last way to decrease the impact has on a scene is to tweak some of your camera’s exposure settings - particularly those that impact how the camera treats light like ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

Not all point-and-shoot digital cameras have the ability impact all (or any) of these settings. Check your manual - particularly to see if your camera has Aperture or Shutter Speed Priority Modes.

Adapted from Digital Photography School

Comments

[Photographyvoter.com]

Tips for preventing those ugly flash blow-outs caused by common simple mistakes.