3
 
Using the built-in flash
Most digital cameras have a small built-in flash unit that can
be useful for taking pictures when the available light
low.
Usually
there
are a number of modes you can set the flash to in order to cope with
different circumstances.

The different settings are found either on a button or wheel

available on the camera body, or by changing options i
camera's
menu system. The option you select is often displayed on the camera's
LCD panel.

Let's take a look at the most common ones.

Automatic mode - This setting is similar to the Auto program
mode for

AUTO
The camera does all the work for you. If there isn't
enough
light to take
a
the flash will go off automatically. In bright conditions,
the flash does no

Some cameras display no text or any other symbol when in automatic mo

Redeye mode - Use this mode when taking
pictures of people indoors or
Under these conditions, your
subjects' pupils will be wide open, often cau
characteristic
red eye look
if normal flash settings are used. In redeye mo
or more pre-flashes
are fired before the main flash
goes off to try to close
subjects' pupils
down
before the shot is taken. This is not always success
can be quite
effective.

Warn your subjects about the pre-flash. I've had more than one shot
spoil
subject moving after the pre-flash, thinking the picture
has been taken.

Fill-in flash mode - Use this mode to force

the flash to always go off. Yo
want to use this on a very sunny
day where strong shadows are being cas
your subject. By forcing
the flash to fire, the shadows will be "filled in",
made less harsh. See the Portrait Mode example on sheet 2 for a situation
this would have been useful.

Flash off - If you don't want the flash

to fire, select this mode. You migh
this mode if you are in a place
that doesn't allow flash photography or if
to avoid the harsh
lighting that flash can sometimes cause.

Be careful when the flash is disabled. In low light, the camera will
open
aperture wide and use a slow shutter speed. Use a tripod or some
other m
steady the camera and avoid blurring of the image due to
movement (cam
shake).
Some cameras will offer even more flash modes for specialised
situations beyond the scope of this course.

What flash modes does your camera offer?

When flash won't help
The small flash gun built into your camera has only limited power. This
means that there is a maximum distance a
which it won't illuminate
enough to give you a good picture. The camera senses this and holds the
shutter open lon
once again, makes it likely that your picture
will be blurred. It's not uncommon for the limit to be about 4m (12
fee
even less.

What is the limit for your camera's flash?

Don't forget that using the flash

also drains your battery more quickly, so don't use it unless you really
need it.