Q&A: Using the Force Flash Setting
What should I use the force-flash feature on my digital camera for? Why wouldn't I want to leave it in automatic mode all the time?
-- Marin Steppenholtz
The automatic mode will make the flash fire whenever there's not enough light to adequately expose your picture. That's handy for most common shooting situations, but if you're outdoors, the flash won't fire.
Sometimes you'll want the flash to go off outdoors. If you're taking a picture of your son in bright sunlight, for instance, only half of his face will be lit. Taking pictures in which someone is half in shadow might be great for spy movies, horror flicks, and the "before" picture in a beauty cream ad, but you'd probably prefer to get rid of the shadows and evenly illuminate the person's face. That's when you should use the flash's force-fire mode. Make sure you're close enough for it to work--usually within about eight feet.
Send your questions to dave@bydavejohnson.com.
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