Photography 101

A Beginner’s Guide to
Flash Photography
Modifying the Light of Flash–

Before we begin our lesson, let us take a look back to our topics covered in the past 24 months. (It is recalled that the first issue of this topic – “A Beginner’s Guide to Flash Photography” came out on October 30, 2007).  So far, we have discussed in great detail every operating mode and many special features of the portable electronic flash that a budding photographer must know. With the awesome features and versatility of today’s current models, it is agreeable to say that this portable lighting gear is the most advanced gadget you covet next to digital camera.

Benjamin Rivera

State of the art as it may, yet true blooded artist-photographers realized that the light emitted by the electronic flash is not exactly the kind of lighting they yearn for. This ‘state-of-the-art gadget’ must still be improved in order to suit the quality of light the artist-photographers need. To fully understand their dilemma, we provided a list below:

1.       The sharp and hard characteristic of emitted light of the electronic flash is not very well suited to use in portrait and other special application work.

2.       The light of flash owing to its sharp and harsh quality has never been perfect to use in all shooting condition. Shooting with flash on very high contrast subject forces the photographer to compromise with exposure. These conditions often result in noisy deep shadows and wash-out highlights.

3.       Even with a good external flash unit (one with a tilt/swivel head) at best, it could only provide illumination that is blasted, flat looking – essentially similar to point-and-shoot photos.

4.       At a color temperature of 550 degrees Kelvin, its color is balanced for most subject, but may not be the best quality suited for – in terms of capturing warm skin tones desired by portrait photographers.

 With these observations, smart photographers modify the quality of the light coming from their shoe-mount flash units and make huge improvement of their images. And there it goes, it was learned that the dilemma can be solved with two solutions: Problems 1, 2, and 3 can be solved by  diffusing the light of flash; problem number 4 can be settled by employing  colored plastic gel and/or colored filters.

Light Modifiers

Basically, a light modifier is anything that alters the light coming from the flash unit, either in form or in color. Normally, it is an accessory designed to work with hot shoe-mounted external flash units for DSLRs (or studio AC mains powered strobe). Photographers needing softer and more evenly lit flash photos look to a specific group of light modifiers known as diffusers.

DIFFUSER - The simplest and most basic form of diffusion is to use a tilting-head flash. It allows the flash head of the unit to be pointed upward or sideways to bounce light off of the ceiling or wall. The bounced light from the ceiling or wall provides a soft light illumination to the subject – thereby giving soft shadows.

Other diffusers are flash accessories that promise similar or even better results than the basic bouncing method – working in conjunction with external flash units to diffuse the light up, and be dispersed evenly. Some diffusers are also designed to provide bounce-like results outdoors, in rooms with high ceilings, or anywhere else that traditional flash bouncing is not possible.

Light modifiers designed for shoe mount strobes have been among the fastest growing types of photographic accessories for the past few years. Different models and make are now available in our local stores. For better appreciation, here are few models lifted from the net for the readers’ reference.

Light modifiers change the quality or color of the light.

• Gels  - are used to adjust the lights color temperature and/or hue

Soft-boxes - increase the area or size of the light, thus softening it.

• Umbrella -  acts as a highly portable, though less efficient, soft-boxes.

• Snoot -  is an attachment to reduce the width of the beam.

• Diffusers - are used with portable flash either supplied, or purchased separately .

• Reflectors - reflect the light and are the most ubiquitous light-modifiers. They are often used for fill and are the only light modifiers which can be used with available light photography. Reflectors can be matt or silver, and can be colored to alter the white balance of the subject.

For comments, suggestions, and contributions, please call 5278121 local 384 or 5253085 or e-mail at rivera.benjie@gmail.com