DSLR tip: Want better photos? Get a better flash.

DSLR cameras are incredible pieces of technology that make it very easy to take captivating photos. With a few twists of a dial you can rely on the camera’s intuitive technology to take breathtaking captures, or you can switch to manual mode and use your own creativeness and expertise to capture just the right shot. But when it comes to adequate lighting, most built-in DSLR flashes fall short of the task. It’s true that they can light up a room, but they’re bright, harsh, and generally give off a very focused area of light. This results in undesirable shadows, and blown out areas that are close to the camera or in the center of its focus.

The good news is that external flashes are

• easy to find
• affordable
• easy to use

You can pick up an external flash in any camera shop, or on any website that sells camera equipment. Pictured in this blog entry is the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Unit, and it does an excellent job of providing an alternative lighting source for Nikon cameras (both film & DSLR). It slides into place and is then locked with a little switch, and a handy control pad on the back of the flash unit makes it quick and easy to adjust compensation and change lighting modes. Best of all you can adjust the angle and rotation of the flash. That’s right — it swivels from side to side, and can be straight forward or gradually angled upwards so that it’s pointing to the ceiling. This type of flash makes it easy to “bounce” light off of walls and other sources, which can result in great lighting for your photos.

So if you have a DSLR and you’re disappointed with the quality of your photo lighting, invest in a flash! You won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Light & Flash