What are the different types of flash in photography?
The two main types of flash are built-in camera flashes and external flashes.
Built-in camera flashes are internal flashes that come with the camera. Often they are on the side of the camera near the lens and sometimes they pop out on top of the camera. Though convenient, these types of flashes tend to point directly towards the subject and can produce harsh contrast and hard shadows.
External flashes are attached via a hot shoe or a cold shoe and PC sync cable. These can make your shooting experience more bulky but the upside is that you can be more purposeful and creative when it comes to flash photography. Most external flash units can be tilted, allowing you to bounce the light in certain angles, and creating a soft and pleasing effect. Another benefit is that you can change the intensity of the flash to suit your needs.
There are also older types of flash, such as a flashbulb which was mostly used for rangefinder cameras. These were single-use bulbs that were lit to illuminate the subject. The downside was that you needed to change the bulb for every shot.
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What is the maximum distance to be from my subject when using a flash?
For most basic camera flashes a maximum of three meters should allow you to still get a good exposure.
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What is the minimum distance to be from my subject when using a flash?
For most basic camera flashes a minimum distance of one meter, or approximately your arm’s length, should be enough to get a good exposure.
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How to use a flash creatively?
Besides using a flash to brighten up dark scenes, you can also use it in more creative ways by trying it in day time, changing the direction of the light, using slower shutter speeds, or even adding color with the colorsplashing technique.
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What is a PC sync cable for a flash?
A PC sync cable is a versatile cable that enables you to connect any external speedlight flash to a camera.
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In what situations should I use a flash?
The most straightforward time to use a flash is when you have a lack of light in a scene, but beyond this you may also want to use a flash in other difficult lighting situations or as a creative choice.
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How do I attach a flash to my film camera?
Depending on the camera, you can attach a flash with either a hot shoe, a flash bracket, or a side attachment.
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What is a hot shoe?
A hot shoe is a mount on top of a camera that facilitates the transmission of electronic signals between the camera and its accessory.
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What is the difference between an in-camera flash and an external flash?
As the names suggest, an in-camera flash is built into the camera itself while an external flash has to be attached. Besides this, portability and creative control are two other factors that differentiate them.