Any amateur or professional photographer can lose a beautifully composed photograph to poor lighting conditions. Back lighting or too much or too little light will turn an otherwise picture perfect pose into a piece headed for the recycle bin. Fortunately, Nikon offers a wide range of flashes--from popups on the camera to remote controlled lights--that can help photographers of all levels create the perfect lighting conditions. The technology is advanced enough to function on its own for beginners or let the experts create unique custom settings.
Instructions
use a Nikon flash
1. Decide what type of flash is right for you. Nikon's digital compact and SLR cameras are designed with a flash, but these flashes are limited in scope. They may perform well for amateurs or for shooting subjects at close range, but for shooting objects more than 15 feet away a speed light is likely the best choice. Two of the most popular choices are the SB-600 and SB-900, according to Landon Farrow with Wolf Camera. These flashes are compact and versatile, and they cost $100 to $600, depending on the type.
2. Mount the speed light onto the camera. Nikon speed lights are designed to make this an easy process. Most flashes simply slide into place on the top of the camera, where contact points connect the speed light with camera. After the flash is in place, Farrow recommends turning on the camera before turning on the flash.
3. Orient the flash to send light in the right direction. The flash can point straight ahead, or it can face the ceiling to reflect the light and create a different look. Some flashes come with a diffuser, which slides over the flash to soften the light. Diffusers may also be purchased separately or created by individual photographers for a custom look. Photographers may also station remote flashes at various locations and set them off simultaneously for a different look.
4. Set the flash to provide the amount of light needed, or let the camera do the work. Nikon flashes utilize I-TTL technology to automatically set the flash. This occurs with a burst of light before the main flash is bounced off items in the frame. Information sent back through the camera adjusts the amount of flash needed for balanced lighting in the photograph., according to Nikon's Web site. I-TTL allows amateurs to use the best flash settings without making any manual changes, but professionals have the option of changing individual settings to create a unique lighting scenario.
5. Take the picture. The flash may need up to about 5 seconds to recharge and be ready for another shot.
Tags: speed light, create unique, different look, lighting conditions