Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

Tips on Photographing Strongly Backlit Subjects Using Fill Flash

Conventional flash is more useful for night scenes than fill flash, since it provides the only source of light. Fill flash, on the other hand, lights up one part of a scene that is underexposed in an otherwise bright area. Sometimes, the subject is so strongly backlit it forms only a silhouette. In this case, it is important to know how to handle the fill flash, as its strength needs to be adapted according to the scene.

Manual Mode
- To master a photography technique such as using fill flash, set your camera to Manual mode. This gives you greater control of your settings, which are crucial when trying to illuminate a subject with a bright background. Increase your exposure settings by at least one stop (+1); you need to do this because your camera, by trying to compensate for the bright light, will underexpose your subject. By increasing the exposure, you override the camera settings which, combined with the fill flash, allows a natural exposure.
Meter For The Sky
- Use your camera's built-in light meter to take an exposure reading from the sky. This will determine its combination of aperture (f-stop) and shutter speed, and will ensure the sky isn't overexposed. Although this means your subject will be underexposed, creating a silhouette, your fill flash will solve the problem by lighting up your subject's face so both the sky and your subject are naturally exposed.
Softening Shadows
- Contrast is another drawback of taking photos around midday when subjects are strongly backlit; this is because the illuminated parts are too bright while the shadows are too dark. The result is uneven lighting that confuses the camera so it either overexposes the bright areas or underexposes the shadows. Fill flash is ideal for providing light that softens the shadows, and allows detail to be revealed. This is a more subtle variation on its ability to completely illuminate a subject such as a face, and is achieved by manipulating the strength of the fill flash to suit the circumstances.
Flash Exposure Compensation
- Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) is often used by wedding photographers for outdoor portraits as it makes the subject stand out. Many DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras have an FEC option that allows you to adjust the flash exposure in increments. This is handy when you need to manipulate the flash to get the result you need. With respect to strongly backlit wedding portraits, use exposure compensation to ensure the light on the subject's eyes is not harsh.

Other Hobbies