Flash & Accessory Lighting

The best lighting for photography is natural light. There are times when you want additional light in order to enhance the subject or when you're working in low light situations. This is the time when you want a digital camera with flash. There are two types of flash I frequently use...

Built In Flash

Most cameras today are equipped with built in flash. The built in flash is usually located above the lens and in the corner. Other models have built in flash that pops up on the top of the camera. This is a very cool feature to have, especially when it is dark; however, when I photograph people outside during the day, I like to use the flash because it gives warm color to skin tones and reduces shadows caused by the sun. In all other situations, I opt for natural lighting exclusively.

What's the downside to built in flash? They are usually very small and pose the following issues: red eye in subjects, uneven and harsh lighting, unsightly shadows when the flash is the only source of light, and quickly eats up the power in your camera.

I own a modest point and shoot camera which failed miserably when I tried photographing a night time concert! I was simply too far away from the action and the flash was just too weak. That's when I realized it was time to upgrade to a digital camera that provided...

Off Camera Flash

A camera with off camera flash will solve the problems I stated above. It works well because these models allow you to attach an additional flash unit on the top of the unit. You can use them together or sperate. This feature is offered on high end prosumer products and digital SLR's. They cost a bit more than entry level point and shoots, but when quality matters, you get what you pay for.

Since I wanted to improve my picture taking skills, I chose to get new cameras with a built-in flash that allowed external flash connection.