Many types of photos require use of the camera’s flash to add enough light to shoot a successful photo. However, with many point and shoot cameras, the flash unit provides spotty results because of its small size and off-center placement. Some larger flash units, such as those found on DSLR and DIL cameras, will allow you to have better results than the smaller flash units.
However, if you’re still disappointed in the results generated by your flash unit, you can sometimes make use of natural light more often in your photographs. Deciding when to use natural light versus a flash can be tricky, but it also can be the difference between a successfully exposed photo and one that's not usable. Use these tips to help you decide whether to use the flash or to go with natural light photography.
Make sure you know how to turn off the flash with your point and shoot camera. Most beginner cameras have a dedicated flash button or dial to control the flash; just look for a lightning icon, which indicates the button for the flash settings. Adjust the setting to turn off the flash, usually indicated by a circle with a slash line through it over the top of the lightning icon.
Turning off the flash is sometimes needed with a beginner camera, because the camera may try to fire the flash automatically in some scenes where it isn't needed. This can lead to exposure problems. So consider carefully whether you need to turn off the flash, especially if the camera is firing the flash on almost every type of photo.
With most point and shoot cameras, you must manually turn off the flash each time you turn on the camera, as the camera resets to its default automatic settings every time you power up the camera. This means that the camera probably will set itself to use the automatic flash each time you turn off the camera, so be sure to check the setting each time you restart the camera.
Some point and shoot cameras, especially those with large optical zoom lenses, can feature popup flash units, which tend to provide better results than the built-in flash units. The popup flash units have a better angle from which to fire, and they tend to have a bit more power than a built-in unit. If you know you'll be using the flash unit a lot, consider purchasing a point and shoot camera with a popup flash.
With a DSLR or other type of interchangeable lens camera, you're likely to end up with an external flash unit (although some DSLRs use a popup flash). An external flash unit provides quite a bit of power, as well as many manual control features. This is the best type of flash to use, if you have the right kind of camera that includes a hot shoe.
Some flash units can have the intensity of the flash light adjusted or can work with a variety of shutter speeds. Having the ability to control these types of features will give you better results with your flash photos.
If you decide that you need to go with soft natural lighting rather than a flash, consider shooting on a cloudy day. The clouds blocking the sun will take away any harsh shadows, but, as long as the clouds aren’t too thick, they’ll allow plenty of filtered light for shooting photos.
Natural light can create some interesting reflections, from a body of water, from puddles on the ground, or from shiny metal. Using a flash in such situations can create washed out reflections, but natural light can enhance the reflected image.
Natural light doesn’t always have to refer to sunlight. Consider shooting some photos under a full moon, which provides a lot of light under the right conditions. Just be sure to use a tripod and a long shutter speed.
Try shooting natural light as it streams through a window in your home or at another indoor location. Sunlight through a window may land on a particular object in a room, giving it a unique look. If you’re lucky enough to have a stained glass window available, shooting the colored light that penetrates it can give you some really cool photos. Just make sure that the camera's exposure is properly set, so that you maintain the vibrant colors that are available.
Finally, sunset and sunrise photos might seem routine because a lot of people shoot them, but they can be a great use of natural lighting. To give your sunrise and sunset photos a different look, try finding interesting locations for shooting them, where the fading natural light enhances the subject of your photo or provides the artistic type of look you want.
