Section II Shooting
268
of power sources, ranging from multiple AA
batteries to household current supplied through
a plug-in power cord and transformer. Many
photographers consider the most practical power
supply to be a belt-mounted high-voltage power
pack that uses special rechargeable batteries,
Figure 9-49. Spare charged batteries can be
carried along and quickly substituted as needed.
Power packs also can be used with many of the
dedicated shoe-mount flashes.
Flash Techniques
The flash method used by most amateur
photographers—aiming the flash straight at the
subject from a position directly over or right next
to the lens—almost guarantees an unflattering
photograph. Direct flash, as it is called, creates a
number of problems in the picture, including the
following:
• Harsh, flat lighting
• Unattractive shadows
• Burned-out foreground details
• Red eye
The only advantage of direct flash is ease
and convenience of use: wherever you point your
camera, the light will go as well. With the small
built-in light source found on many cameras,
of course, direct flash is the only choice (other
than turning off the flash). For people interested
primarily in taking snapshots of friends, family,
pets, or vacation activities, the quality of the
lighting is not usually an issue—from observing
results of their own and friends’ photography,
they expect “flash pictures” to look that way.
One aspect of direct, on-camera flash is an
issue—no one likes the red eye appearance caused
by the light of the flash reflecting back from the
retina of the subject, Figure 9-50. Red eye is most
pronounced when the pupil of the eye is dilated
(wide open), which occurs in dim light. Of course,
this is precisely the situation in which flash is
most likely to be used. Camera manufacturers
have attempted to overcome the problem by
introducing a red-eye reduction feature for
built-in flash units. This is a series of short, low-
power flashes that are made while the camera is
autofocusing. The theory is that the short flashes
will cause the subject’s pupils to contract (close
down to a smaller opening) before the main flash
is triggered. Since the opening is smaller, less red
light will be reflected back. The method works, to
some extent. Red eye is usually reduced, but not
eliminated.
Figure 9-49. Power packs that have rechargeable
batteries can be worn on the photographer’s belt and
provide a large number of full-power flashes. (Quantum
Instruments, Inc.)
Figure 9-50. Red spots in place of the expected black
pupils (red eye), result from the light of a flash reflecting
off the retina at the back of the eye. Positioning of the
flash immediately above or to one side of the lens is the
cause, since the light bounces directly back to the lens
and is recorded on the film.