As soon as you hold a camera in your hands for the first time, the same thing often happens: you press the shutter button, and the little flash pops up on top of the body and overexposes your subject. At exactly this point, many people ask themselves when flash is actually useful. In this guide, I'll show you in which situations additional light truly improves image quality, where it tends to do more harm than good, and how to quickly tell whether you should use the flash. The focus is particularly on shooting in the dark as well as fill lighting in strong backlight or harsh shadows.
The video is only loaded from YouTube when you play it – data (including your IP address) is then transmitted to YouTube/Google. More in the privacy policy
Key Takeaways
- The built-in flash is a very small light source directly above the lens and usually delivers unattractive, flat results.
- On the brightest day, a flash is generally not necessary, because modern cameras have a large dynamic range.
- A fill flash is worthwhile above all in strong backlight and harsh shadows, when your subject would otherwise be too dark.
- In the dark, a flash is an option, but a higher ISO value is often the gentler alternative.
- Every flash changes the light in the image. So decide consciously whether you want this change.
- The range of a hot-shoe flash is limited. For landscapes or distant subjects, it hardly helps.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Regard the built-in flash as a last resort
The flash that sits on top of many cameras and smartphones is a tiny light source located exactly on the camera axis. The result is harsh shadows directly behind the subject, a flat face with no depth, and often red eyes. Especially with portraits, this quickly looks unnatural. You should therefore avoid the built-in flash whenever possible. If it is really dark and you absolutely need light, an external hot-shoe flash that can be aimed from the side or from above is almost always the better choice.
Step 2: Skip the flash in bright daylight
Many photographers use flash even in brilliant sunshine because the subject seems too dark in the shade. But in most cases, you don't need to. Modern cameras have a surprisingly large dynamic range and can capture differences in brightness well. With a suitable exposure and a bit of a feel for the direction of the light, you can usually manage without a flash. This not only saves you time, but also prevents you from constantly having to keep an eye on an additional source of error.
Step 3: Use fill flash in backlight
Fill flash is the classic case in which flash actually improves the shot. If the sun is behind your subject or harsh light falls from above, the face lies in shadow while the background shines brightly. A flash that hits the subject from the front or slightly from the side balances out this difference. It's important to keep the flash power low. If you set the flash too strong, the picture quickly looks flashed and artificial. A subtle use, on the other hand, looks as though the subject is simply well lit. If you don't have a flash with you, a reflector can also bounce the light back.
Step 4: Realistically assess the additional effort
Every flash adds another value to your settings. Besides aperture, ISO, and shutter speed, you now also have to control the flash power, and the flash has to fire reliably and expose correctly. Especially in the beginning, this can quickly become overwhelming. Particularly in hectic situations such as weddings, reportage, or family shoots, where you have to pay attention to people, timing, and composition at the same time, it is often wiser to do without the flash. One example is a picture that was deliberately taken without flash. The missing fill light could easily be added later in image editing.
Step 5: In the dark, weigh flash against high ISO
Darkness alone is not a compelling reason to use flash. With a high ISO value, good results can be achieved even in low light. However, you don't have to crank the ISO all the way up just to make out something on the sensor. The flash becomes useful when fast movement and difficult lighting conditions come together, for example during a bridal dance in a dimly lit venue. But keep in mind: the flash changes the mood. If the natural atmosphere is important to you, it's better to raise the ISO value a little.
Step 6: Recognizing the Limits of Flash in Landscapes
There are situations in which a flash simply does nothing. A mountain that is several hundred meters high and wide cannot be illuminated with a flash. Even powerful floodlights would only cover a small portion. In such cases, you should leave the flash off and work with the camera and exposure instead. Simply firing the flash into nothingness brings neither light nor better pictures.
Step 7: Keeping the Range of Your Flash in Mind
The hot-shoe flash also has a limited range. It is designed to illuminate subjects well at a distance of about two to five meters, sometimes a little more, sometimes less, depending on its power. At concerts or events where the subject is ten or twenty meters away, the power of typical hot-shoe flashes is not sufficient. Therefore, plan ahead of time how far away the subject will be and whether the flash has any chance at all.
Step 8: Using the Flash Consciously and with Foresight
The most important step is the conscious decision. Before every shot, ask yourself whether the flash is really necessary or whether you are only using it because it happens to be switched on. If there is enough light, or you can work with natural light, it is better to leave the flash off, because it is an additional variable that can quickly ruin a situation. In the studio, on the other hand, you have to use flash, because there is no other light available there anyway. Outdoors, however, the following applies: especially with backlight, shadows, and darkness, a purposefully used flash decides the result.
Summary – Using Flash Correctly: When Flashing Makes Sense
Flash is not an automatic function, but a tool that you should use purposefully. Avoid the built-in flash, do without it when there is enough daylight, and use fill flash primarily with backlight and harsh shadows. In darkness, you weigh flash against a high ISO value and always keep the limited range in mind. With this attitude, you will over time develop a feel for when artificial light improves your picture and when it only complicates the situation.
FAQ
Should I always use flash in broad daylight?No, on the brightest day a flash is usually not necessary, since modern cameras have a large dynamic range and subjects can often be well exposed even without additional light.
When is a fill flash worthwhile?A fill flash is worthwhile primarily with strong backlight or harsh shadows, when your subject would be much too dark without additional light. Set the flash power low so that the picture looks natural.
Is the built-in flash suitable for good photos?The built-in flash sits very close to the camera axis and is a tiny light source, which is why it usually produces harsh shadows and flat faces. For better results, an external hot-shoe flash is the better choice.
Can I do without flash in darkness?Yes, in darkness you can work with a higher ISO value. The flash is mainly useful when fast movement and difficult lighting conditions coincide.
How far does a hot-shoe flash reach?A typical hot-shoe flash illuminates subjects well at a distance of about two to five meters. At greater distances, such as at concerts, its power is generally not sufficient.
Can I illuminate landscapes with a flash?No, landscapes are far too large for a flash. Even powerful light sources only cover a small portion, so you should do without the flash for landscapes.
Does a flash always change the picture?Yes, every flash changes the light in some way. If you want to preserve the original lighting mood, you should rather do without the flash and raise the ISO value slightly.
