Flash Modes Explained Simply
Your camera’s built in flash is very handy. In the auto setting, the camera can usually work out when a scene needs a flash and fires it for you. The camera doesn’t always ‘get it right’ though, so sometimes it’s better to set your camera to a specific flash mode.
Auto Flash Mode |
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In Auto mode, the flash fires whenever the camera senses that the light is too dim to take without additional light. When there’s enough light, the flash won’t fire. |
Red Eye Reduction Mode |
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 This mode helps to reduce the red eye effect that happens when the flash is too close to the lens, and the subject’s pupils are wide open. The light from the flash enters the eyes, bounces off the red retina and comes back into the camera giving that annoying red eye look.
What the Red Eye Reduction flash does is shine a light on the subject before the shot is taken to close the pupils a bit. This means less light gets into the eyes and back to the camera, and thus reduces the red eye effect. The pre-flash comes as either a series of quick flashes, or a bright light that lingers for a few seconds. So if you’re taking photos at night, and have your subjects looking directly at the camera then make sure you turn on the Red Eye Reduction mode. Warn your subject first too - the pre flashes can be a bit disconcerting if people aren’t expecting them, and they tend to look away (which ruins the shot). Note that Red Eye Reduction does not eliminate the red eye, but just reduces it. The best way to eliminate it is to either move your flash further away from the lens, or swivel the flash so it bounces off a white wall or ceiling before reaching your subject. |
Fill Flash |
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Use Fill Flash for times when there is ample light, but you’d like to ‘fill in’ any shadows or dark spots that could be on the subject. It’s perfect when you have your subject’s back facing the sun. The surrounding scene will be well lit, but your subject’s face will be in shadow and relatively dark. Firing the fill flash will eliminate most of this. |
Slow Sync Flash |
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 Usually when the flash fires, the camera also increases the shutter speed. The flash gives off such bright light, that you only need a split second expo sure to capture the image. What Slow Sync flash does is fire the flash, but keeps the shutter open for longer.
When would this be useful? When you want to show a low light background as well as your foreground subject in the image. The foreground subject is lit by the flash, and the background is then captured by the long exposure time. Make sure you keep your camera and everything in your image still while the shutter is open or you’ll get a blurry image, special effects like this example image. |
No Flash |
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This will disable the flash on your camera. This mode is most useful when you’re in a situation where you can’t use a flash (like concerts or museums) but still want to take an image. Be careful when using this mode, as the camera will extend the shutter time to compensate for the lower light. You might also need a tripod to steady the camera while the shutter is open. |
Other Flash Types |
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More advanced flash types include: Rear Curtain Sync - fires the flash just before the shutter closes (rather than just after it opens) |
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thank you soo much you information is a saving grace
December 28, 2006 @ 9:23 am
Your most wonderful tips make photography come alive for me and renewed my interest. Thanks.
January 18, 2007 @ 4:05 am
Thank you for the tipps! they are great!
Just as a side-note: The Image under “slow sync” is also taken with the option “Rear Curtain Sync”
If you’re using long exposures additionally to the flash, the “motion blur” will point in the wrong direction.
January 31, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
Thanks a lot for the tips…made a lot of difference with the way i handle my built-in flash…thanks.
March 8, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
I wish my cam has all these modes. There are some very useful. But i still prefere to shoot without a flash if it is possible to put my cam on sth to keep it steady.
March 18, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
I sometimes use a slave on an off camera flash to light-up dark areas of the scene, and this works well for me.
March 20, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Your tips on flash usuage were great and thans for everything
March 21, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Yesterday I was hired to shoot a group of knitted Afghans (shawls) for a client. Each shawl was arranged by the client, but I made several changes in the arrangement according to what I was seeing in the viewfinder. Composition is everything in photography. Afterward, the client called me to thank me for a good job. Seeing is so important. I saw things which needed correcting in the composition which the client could not see. Let’s learn to SEE!
April 16, 2007 @ 3:15 am
Thanks for your tips. I use flas “synk” cabel. Flash and camera distance is about two metric (7 ft) look like that http://rauhanranta.net/Kuva9.html
April 23, 2007 @ 4:13 am
To eliminate Red Eye keep the flash 12 inches above the lens. If you can bounce the flash even better. Red eye is the Blood in the eye, the flash lights up the eye and reflects the red back, blood color. The problem with the red eye reduction is it flashes many times, gives the subject time to close their eyes, not good. Another thing is camera jitter, it is caused when the shutrer speed slows down, say 60th of a second and you take the photo, but you move the camera. It blurs the photo. To soften the light when photographing, put a cloth over the flash it softens the flash and give a softer effect on the portrait. Have fun keep practicing. Jim
May 24, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
I hope you will continue writing your valuable tips! They make all the difference for newcomers to digital photography, and moreover, helps them to discover what they may want to expect from their NEXT camera! So many interesting functions which one simply does not know about as a beginner.
May 26, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
thanks for your continuous support.tips are creating interest for beginners like me.
June 3, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Thanks for everything.Your coaching on Digital photography is excellent fo a beginner like me.
July 9, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Hello David,
Thank you so much for this tip on Flash. I’ve just bought a SB600 and still learning how to use it. This tip has somehow made it easier. Thanks again.
July 15, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
Thanks David.. i lost my camera manual book.. so now i know where to use right flash..
August 6, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
David, Thank You Thank You. I refer to your secrets every time I go out shooting. I have not received a tip in a long time. I could still use them if you have some
August 12, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Thank you very much
August 12, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
Yes, You’ve helped me made an important decision. The flash issue always stood in my way to make photography my full time hobby. Thanx for all your precious tips and advice.
August 13, 2007 @ 3:45 am
thanks for your continuous support.
August 18, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
thank for ur tips on flash.its very much helpfull.
August 25, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Dear David, thank you for your hints. Most of them are very usefull. Please explain how to take picture of the moon with point and shoot camera. My camera refuses to focus on it. My camera is a Panasonic DMC-LZ5. Thank you. Nick.
October 27, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Thank you for the tipps! they are great!
November 19, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
I’m using Canon 580EX II. Is there any tips that you want to share?
December 21, 2007 @ 3:42 am
I too am using a Canon 580 EXII. I’ve received wonderful advice from a DVD by Blue Crane Digital: Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX/430EX. I also found the following canon site to be particularly helpful: http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
January 10, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
Dave , just to let you know that I still look forward to your ’secrets’, and that you are not wasting your time with me.Many thanks.
John Hill
February 10, 2008 @ 4:57 am
Thanks a lot for your flash tips!!
They really helped me when I was taking my pics. 
March 1, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
I’ve just bought a new flash unit.. and your tips really help me to get a nice picture using flash.. thank you david..
March 25, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Thanks for the lessons this ‘newby’ might otherwise take years to learn.
April 5, 2008 @ 12:19 am
Dave,
Good information on the complexities of flash photography…Thanks again for sharing…
May 12, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
thanks david, those were some really helpful tips, that had never struck me before.
May 17, 2008 @ 5:40 am
hi i dont’t know how you do it ,but evrything you say is like magic ,it does wonders for me thankx a lot
regards
sinqobile (south africa)
July 28, 2008 @ 7:02 am
I have used everything you have said, your tips are invaluable.
Thanks and stay well David you make photography fun.
August 1, 2008 @ 8:33 am
I love your tips and would like to print them for later reference, but with all the comments in the end, too much to print out….Is there some way to get just the tips from you…Thank you
August 10, 2008 @ 1:58 am