Electronic Flash in Digital and Film
Photography
ELECTRONIC FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Electronic fl ash, produced by large studio lights or compact units attached to the camera or
as part of the camera itself (on the Hasselblad H camera models) is the most common light
source for digital or fi lm photography. Electronic fl ash produces no heat; the duration of the
fl ash is short, which reduces the danger of blurred images; and the color temperature matches
that of normal daylight so the two can be combined in color photography.
ON-CAMERA FLASH
A fl ash unit built into the camera or mounted directly on the camera offers the greatest
camera mobility in location work. The fl at front lighting is satisfactory for candid and news
photography and for fi ll fl ash work outdoors. The best position for a camera fl ash is directly
above the lens, preferably 6 to 12 in. above the lens at least for indoor work. The higher place-
ment casts the shadows behind and below the people, where they might not be seen, and
also eliminates red eye, the cause of which is illustrated in Figure 18-1. The red eye problem
has been reduced or eliminated in digital work since it can easily be corrected during image
manipulation.
Because fl ash is usually used outdoors as a weak secondary light to fi ll the shaded areas, a
unit right above the lens or built into the camera, produces a completely satisfactory fi ll light
without red eye.
Flash Units
The type and size of the required portable fl ash unit are determined by the amount of light
that is needed and the number of fl ash pictures that need to be taken. A small portable fl ash
with built-in batteries or the unit built into the H cameras produces suffi cient light for fi ll
fl ash pictures of people outdoors since they are usually made at larger apertures to blur the
backgrounds. Such a compact unit is also suffi cient for indoor work within about a 15-foot
(5 m) range. Larger fl ash units are needed to photograph larger groups or room interiors.
18
Summary of Contents for Digital Camera
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Page 2: ...The Hasselblad Manual ...
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Page 166: ...Heidi Niemala Photographed for clothing designer with a 150mm lens ...
Page 167: ...Heidi Niemala Editorial portrait with a 150mm lens ...
Page 168: ...Heidi Niemala Photographed with a 50mm lens during a sand storm at White Sands ...
Page 200: ...Jonathan Exley Lifestyle Designer Kathy Ireland Courtesy of kathyireland com ...
Page 244: ...Marco Grob A make up test shot made with an HC Macro 4 120mm lens on an H camera ...
Page 398: ...Close Up Photography on Film or Digital 383 ...
Page 400: ...Jonathan Singer ...
Page 401: ...Jonathan Singer ...
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