…The light in a photo falls into one of two different categories, fill or key.…Now, I'm not just talking about the light from a flash but any kind of light.…Fill light is light that serves to fill in…shadows to create a more even exposure for example.…Look at the light on this girl's face.…It's completely even and soft.…There are no dark shadows under her eyes, or under her chin.…This was shot in a narrow street where the light was bouncing around so…much that it just created this really nice fill light that wrapped…around everything in the scene and created that even fill that eliminates shadows.…
Yes, there are shadows in the corner of the frame, but…those are the result of the vignette that I added in post-production.…A fill light does not define the subject of the image.…It is simply there to help brighten darker…shadows on the subject, and throughout the scene.…A key light is a light that serves specifically to…illuminate your subject.…Here, a bright shaft of light in an alley is shining directly on my subject.…
Author
Released
12/13/2013Fortunately, it isn't difficult to get great results from flash, and in this course, photographer, author, and teacher Ben Long details the concepts and techniques behind effective lighting with flash. Ben starts with fundamentals that build on exposure principles taught in other installments of Foundations of Photography—simple techniques that improve the results from a camera's built-in flash. He then focuses on fill flash techniques and on using flash as a key light. The course also explores topics ranging from bouncing and syncing flash to shooting with one or more off-camera flash units.
- How flash works
- Balancing ambient light and flash
- Understanding flash ranges and modes
- When to use fill flash
- Using an external flash
- Bouncing flash to improve light
- Building up multiple flash images
- Purchasing a flash
Skill Level Intermediate
Duration
Views
Related Courses
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Lighting with Flash: The Basics
with David Hobby1h 50m Intermediate
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 31s
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1. Flash Fundamentals
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Exposure revisited2m 22s
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How flash works2m 12s
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Understanding flash range2m 47s
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Understanding flash modes5m 16s
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Flash sync options3m 2s
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2. Fill Flash to Balance Exposure
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When to use fill flash1m 39s
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3. Flash as a Key Light
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Why use an external flash?3m 34s
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Flash zoom1m 45s
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Taking the flash off camera5m 35s
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Using a softbox5m 3s
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Flash and white balance1m 7s
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4. Advanced Flash Scenarios
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Using slow sync with flash8m 50s
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Rear-curtain sync11m 53s
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Working with manual flash10m 44s
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5. Shooting with Multiple Flash Units
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6. Considerations for Purchasing a Flash
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Guide number considerations3m 13s
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Shopping recommendations3m 10s
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Conclusion
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Next steps42s
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Video: Fill and key light with flash