Light and flash

Photographer

After completing the course, you will be able to understand the principles of pulsed light, flash and camera settings, and basic light patterns when working with a model.

Course topics:

Features, types, settings

  • Advantages of an external flash
  • In what situations you can’t do without flash and how to choose the right location for shooting
  • Types and characteristics of external flashes
  • What kind of flash is best for your specific tasks and how you can save money.
  • The nature of pulsed light
  • What is the main difference between pulsed light and constant light.
  • Camera settings when working with flash
  • What changes in camera settings need to be made and how they affect the final result.
  • Combining constant and pulsed light
  • How to find a balance between constant and pulsed light in a shot.
  • Setting up and controlling external flashes remotely
  • What are the basic flash settings and what equipment is needed to control the flash remotely.
  • Automatic TTL mode
  • How to shoot and use the flash in changing lighting conditions and during reportage.
  • High-speed sync mode and curtain shooting
  • How to shoot fast motion with the flash and the advantages of using an external flash over studio equipment.
  • Types and characteristics of light
  • Comparison of natural, studio, and external flash light for portraits.
  • Modifying light and using accessories
  • Learn how to distinguish between types of light and how to modify it using location elements, tools, and accessories.

Lighting schemes

  • Shooting in stray light conditions
  • High and low key. Shooting without Photoshop.
  • Direct flash shooting, advantages and disadvantages
  • Flat and volumetric light. The difference between soft and hard light. The classic principle of soft light construction. Flash and fill light attachments.
  • Shooting with flash bounce from the ceiling and wall
  • Modifying hard light into soft light. Directionality of light. Test flash light. Shielding the flash from direct hit on the model. Bounce light from the on-camera flash.
  • Shooting with a remote flash
  • Mounting accessories and synchronizers.
  • Shooting with different types of umbrellas and softboxes
  • Differences between umbrellas and softboxes. The difference between studio equipment and working with an external flash.
  • Shooting with two flashes
  • The algorithm of settings. Using color filters, backlighting, background lighting, and stencils.
  • Take pictures with a reflector in the light (frosted frame)
  • Direct light and control background lighting from a single light source. Use filters to adjust the color balance of the background and subject.
  • Shooting with a bounce reflector
  • Dark background, light background with backlight and softbox.
  • Subject shooting against a dark background with backlight
  • Distance to the light source and exposure difference when shooting large subjects and group photos.