flashes and ?

hschlessphoto

I've always considered getting a flash, but I've never had a full understanding of their use and advantages in anything other than indoor sports. How else are they used? I'm thinking of something like the SB-600 (I have a nikon D50). What uses do i have for it? I shoot a lot of different things, so dont be afraid of being too general or specific.

thanks again to those who answer:bow :bow

rjpat

check out strobist for anything and everything about small flashes

ziggy53

While direct flash has somewhat limited applications, indirect and off-camera flash has broad applications in both primary and fill lighting situations.

I agree that the Strobist is a great source of information. Check also the postings of our own Pathfinder and others for wonderful tips and examples of compact flash usage.

To get you started:

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=70003
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=49999
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=4266
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=26957

pathfinder

Photography is "writing with light".

If the existing light is poor quality, too low, too dark, too contrasty, too harsh, or too flat, then, if you cannot add or modify the lighting in some way, your images will be just as the lighting.

When you can add light - and a small portable battery powered speedlight is an easily carried, powerful, very controllable light source, "available light" is the light YOU make available.

You can create and alter the existing lighting to be much more flattering for your subjects. You can blast away the harsh contrasty lighting of direct sunlight. You can bring light and wash away darkness. YOU can emphasize that which you want the viewer to look at, and you can de-emphasize that which you want the viewer to ignore. Think of the role of lighting at a good stage production. The light follows the action and the players.

Almost nothing will improve the quality of you images, like a good understanding of the use of lighting, and this definitely includes small speedlites. One of the tricks is to get the flash OFF THE CAMERA. Once you make this leap of faith, good things will follow.

On camera flash has much less useability - it can help decrease contrast in sunlight images by its use a fill flash, and this is valuable. But off camera it is even better.

I carry a Canon Speedlite and an IR off camera controller in my backpack routinely.