Photographing at night or in low light conditions is a big challenge. When we add a compact camera (point and photograph) to this equation, things get even more complicated.
However, even with a DSLR camera, the photographer must control the use of the flash in these circumstances to prevent the explosion of light.
- But how do you do that?What are the best ways to prevent the camera flash from exploding.
- Whether it has a DSLR or a compact one?.
Discover in this article some strategies to reduce the impact of flash on your photos and have sharper and more dazzling images, even in low light.
We call the flash explosion the effect of excessive illumination on the image, leaving the subject completely white and almost unrecognizable.
This occurs when the flash is too dense in the photo and interferes with photographers’ shots.
Unfortunately, this is a very common effect on photographs. Try searching Flickr for photos at this address. I’m sure you’ll be amazed by the amount of results in your search.
On the other hand, there are techniques, strategies and tricks of photography to avoid such an effect.
Next, I’ve separated 8 strategies to use the camera flash and reduce its effect on your photos. Check out each of the tips and see the result.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the flash should be the secondary light source of the scene, when we abandon this basic principle of photography, the photos can be extremely bright.
Even darker environments have a light source, either a lamp or a window. Take advantage of the low light to your advantage and simply complete with the flash.
If necessary, zoom in on the object or person to be photographed at the main light source. As a result, the risk of camera flash explosion is greatly reduced.
Most photos with excessive flash could be avoided by going back a few steps from the photographer.
This may seem counterintuition, but not getting too close to the subject of photography allows light to diffuse, reducing the amount of light that reaches the subject.
Try to take the photos a little further. To fill all the framing with your subject, zoom in or crop the photo on your computer later.
Flash scattering is very common for experienced photographers, especially those who use dedicated light sources.
In the main photography shops you will find flash diffusers, specific photographic material for this purpose, but when it is not possible to have this accessory at hand, improvise!
Place a piece of white or semi-opaque fabric in front of the flash, reducing the amount of light emitted on the stage and softening for the eyes of the DSLR or compact camera.
Sometimes exposing the subject to direct light is not the best option.
Direct light reception is one of the main causes of the camera flash explosion, especially in compact models that do not provide options for controlling light emission.
In such cases, try working with flash redirection in the scene. Instead of directly illuminating the subject, use reflectors to make the subject more visible in the scene.
In addition to light reflectors, you can also use a small white card on the flash and redirect the light to the ceiling or wall behind the object, for example.
However, the photographer should experiment carefully with this trick, as the result varies greatly depending on the different aspects of the photograph.
Night mode for most cameras isn’t the best choice for clear images, but it’s a good option to make the most of natural light and use the flash just to freeze the scene, as it should.
In night mode, the camera automatically slows down the shutter speed, making it easier for light to enter the image sensor and increasing the time it takes to expose to light.
This setting improves the natural light of the scene and can produce funny photos, especially in places with colorful backlights.
In DSLR, the camera flash has the ability to control the amount of light emitted with each shot. On some compacts, not all, this feature is also available. Refer to your computer’s manual for details.
With this setting, you tell the camera how much light the flash should emit with each shot, which helps control the intensity and density of the camera flash. If your model has this feature, be sure to use it in your photo.
In the first tip on this list, you saw that most places have primary lighting sources, even if they are very few, but what happens when there is no light source?
Well, the best option is to add light to the scene, it’s an obvious trick, but it couldn’t fail.
To do this, use any available light source. External flashes, mobile phone flashes, lamps and other accessories are useful right now.
Although they’re not the most suitable photo-taking equipment, they’re generic characters in difficult times, see how they fit into your photo shoot!
The latest theme in the list will be more useful for more advanced cameras, such as semi and professional models, however, it is still a great option to reduce the effects of the camera flash on your photo.
Learn about your computer’s ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings and study it as much as possible.
Similarly, run frequent tests until you find the perfect configuration. Experimentation is often, in most cases, the best form of learning.
Keep in mind that some of the consequences are the use of these resources, some examples: increased image noise, decreased focus area (depth of field), blur in the scene, etc. , but it’s worth a try, isn’t it??
Now that you’ve learned how to prevent the camera flash from exploding with these tips, discuss your own techniques below to avoid this effect. How do you address this problem in your daily life as a photographer?Share your experiences below!