When I first started getting into photography I was deadset against the flash. I hated it, I despised it, I loathed it. Words can’t describe how opposed I was to using a flash. However, to put this in context, those people who I had seen using flashes used them in the worse possible way…straight on. This technique, of course, produced the infamous “deer in the headlights” look in their subjects, harsh bitter dark shadows and a general washed out look in all the colors. As you can imagine, seeing that from “so-called” professionals soured me instantly on the whole concept of flash.

So when I started into photography I determined that I would never use a flash, I was going to be an “avaliable light” proponent till my dying day. that being said, you find that you change on many things once you start learning about them responsibly and began to see how a decent flash can really add a lot to your photographs, provided you utilize it properly. I started with doing some researching online. naturally, I found the best flash resource online at http://www.strobist.blogspot.com

If you are just learning about photography, or if you are just wanting to learn about proper flash technique I suggest you start there first. The lighting 101 tutorial is a must read for all photographers whether just starting out in the arena or for seasoned vets.

Let me tell you, a decent flash can make a massive difference in your pictures. How big of a difference? We’ll take a look at some example photographs that I snapped and you can judge the results in Part 2 of this series. But for now, let me dispell a few myths about flashes.

1. You have to pay $200-300 for a decent flash
The old adage says, “You get what you pay for” and although this is true in many circumstances it doesn’t mean you can’t get a flash that will provide excellent results for an affordable price. As an aside, I went to a “reputable” shop in the Des Moines, IA area when I was looking for a flash. Although I knew little to nothing about flashes I quickly discovered I already knew a great deal more than the “experts” at the store. I was using the Fujifilm s100fs with a Vivitar 550FD flash and was looking for something with a swivel and bounce option. The expert first tried to sell me a $250 flash that didn’t swivel. I told him I needed a swivel option. He proceeded to tell me that this model was the only one he had that would work with my camera and that the Canon flashes he had wouldn’t work with my camera. I knew that they would and asked to try one. The flash, of course, did work. Same experience was repeated for the Nikon flashes. Long story short, I did NOT buy from them and will not go back to them for anything else again. I settled on a cheap flash with a swivel and bounce option and it has suited me well in my “learning by experience.”

Look for deals, Amazon has some great deals on good flashes. Look for a good Vivitar or Quandaray flash. If you have the budget for it, by all means go ahead and pick up a Nikon Speed light or Canon Flash (whichever camera type your model is). You won’t regret it but if you don’t want to drop that kind of money on a flash to learn with there are several inexpensive models to select from that will suite you well.

2. Any Flash Will Do
All flashes are not created equal. Some flashes have more power (I like to call it, “Pop”) than others. Some are capable of transferring advanced information through things like TTL, e-TTL, etc etc. I won’t go into those attributes as that’s far more advanced than a simple introductory explanation needs to go. Here’s what I looked for in flash:

1. Swivel and Bounce Capabilities
2. Power
3. Cost

That was also the order of the priority they meant to me. You want a flash that can twist to the side and be bounced off of a wall with relative ease. I found that once you can bounce sideways there’s almost no limit to the results you can produce. In addition to just being able bounce your flash off sideways, you also want the capability of being able to bounce off a ceiling. You’ll find that when bouncing off a ceiling your pictures will be extremely well lit with very little shadowing due to the wide diffusing of the light across the room. You also need a flash with a good bit of power so that when you do bounce the flash sideways or vertically that it has enough power to hit the wall or ceiling and still enough pop to bounce back at your subject with a widely spread lighting effect. Finally there was the cost factor which will be completely dependent on your personal budget.