LIGHTING TECHNIQUE NO. 3 Fill flash for the subject's face. A Speedlite is not just something that supplies light. It can also be a secondary light source which complements existing light such as the sun and indoor lighting. The subject's face can look better with such supplemental lighting. A variety of effects can be attained. The subject's colour, detail, and clarity can be brought out better. Or, it can be used to convey a certain mood or atmosphere, making the subject look warm, shadowy, or full of life. Fill flash greatly expands creative possibilities. Fill flash in daylight, slow-speed sync and catchlight described previously are all examples of fill flash. In contrast to fill flash, the main flash is used as direct lighting on the subject. In most cases, the Speedlite is mounted on the camera. The lighting effect can vary depending on the angle and direction of the Speedlite. Therefore how the camera is held also becomes important. To add depth, the lamp light was used together with a fill flash The warm, existing room light was used as the main light. At the same time, the flash was effective in illuminating the couple while still preserving the atmosphere. For Photo 1 (above), the camera and lighting were set up as shown in the figure at far left. The flash was bounced off the ceiling. As you can see, the grandparents' faces were captured dramatically while the surrounding atmosphere was preserved. In Photo 2 (below), the light was supplied by only one Speedlite. The direct flash made everything look flat. Text and photos Copyright 1999 Canon Inc. Japan. Reproduced by Canon Marketing (M) Sdn. Bhd. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 .