Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Defining Fill Flash...



Several of you asked what Fill flash. The truth is, I did not know what it was, just that  it is a setting on my Nikon that I use on macro. 
I  told Ginny I don't have it on my DSLR Canon Rebel.... 
A little research later and a lot of learning to and I found
I do  have it on the T1i and all these photos were taken using manual settings in the DSLR called 2nd Curtain, that does the same thing as fill flash.


After hours of Google Search on Define Fill Flash, I gave up and decided to tell you what it does for ME.
These plants were taken at 11:30 AM in bright sun.... using Fill Flash throws the flash on the subject and not the whole photo, regular flash would wash out the plant and show the fence behind it. 

In my research it said Fill Flash is for taking a subject that has light behind it. This is the difference below.


This would come in handy if you have people in a bright light situation, it aims the flash on them, not the background and brings out details.

Wikipedia has the best definition, t. CLICK HERE to see a photo.



OR if you want to see a blog with sample photos of what it does... Click HERE and thanks everyone for the questions, it forced me to learn more.

My simple definition is, it puts the flash ON the subject, not the background...Outside in bright sun, it makes the background dark, inside you can see below what it does.


30 comments:

Anonymous said...

great learning post for me! now i know what it is and when to use it!

diane b said...

It is the best way to learn to be able to explain to another. Fill flash is great for taking people with the light behind them. BTW my train story is up now.

My Mind's Eye said...

WELL MS I'M FILLED WITH JOY AT YOUR DISCOVERY!! I WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT MY FLASHY TO SEE IF I HAVE THAT.
LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR SHOTS.
HUGS MADI AND MOM

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Great refresher for me, Sandra, because I forgot just HOW useful fill flash can be and the examples were good too. By the way, I think I found some of those dust bunnies' family members in our home yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Amazing difference that makes. Thanks for the information.

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

We are ever learning and these expamles are easy to understand for my brain needs pictures to help put it all together.

Catherine said...

Fill flash is indeed a very handy feature!
xo Catherine

R's Rue said...

Beautiful photos!
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Awesome pictures!

TexWisGirl said...

i do need to use that sometimes!

From the Kitchen said...

I must have this too. Time to read the manual.

Best,
Bonnie

RoeH said...

Over my head. I just don't have th smarts for this stuff. :(

Anonymous said...

Sandra, your the 'go to gal' when we need an answer.
Thanks for todays flash lesson.

George said...

Thanks for the information and illustrations. I'm going to do some experimenting of my own.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I'm supposed to be on blog break getting all these chores around the house done. Har har. But, you know I had to pop in and read this! Good info. I don't think my new camera has fill flash, tho. My other one does but I haven't experimented with it yet.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I guess I had better get back to more learning and figure out how to use fill flash.

Ginny Hartzler said...

FINALLY, an explanation that I can understand for what this mysterious feature IS! And I have needed it plenty, like when the sun is behind plants and trees, or even in my own kitchen. Now to get my lazy self up and find it on all my cameras!! THANK YOU!

Susannah said...

nice to learn these things! Thank you!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Thanks... George found it on our cameras --and we'll try it. Will be good when faces are dark with a bright background... THANKS.
Hugs,
Betsy

Marie said...

This will be so handy when taking pics out in the sunshine. Thank you, teacher. :)

Miss Debbie said...

cool feature! amazing difference in the pics of the lamp! Wonder if it's on my camera!?

Ann said...

Very educational post today. I knew about the setting and I knew it was a flash but I didn't know how it was different from regular flash.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Thanks again for all the information. Enjoyed seeing your examples.

Chatty Crone said...

You have a Ph.D. in photography! Love it, sandie

Deb said...

Gonna have to play with it myself...thank you for the lesson

S. Etole said...

I'm wondering how to access "second curtain" as I'm not aware of that setting.

EG CameraGirl said...

Thanks for the quick lesson, Sandra!

Dee said...

I learn so much from you....

Rose said...

Good post...

SquirrelQueen said...

Camera settings these days are just wonderful. I used to have to make adjustments and hope for the best on my old SLR. I have used the fill flash outside to darken the background on flower shots but I haven't used it inside. My subjects are often moving....fast.