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Flash modes
Many digital cameras have several flash modes to choose from. A built-in flash is small and not very powerful, so whichever mode you use, make sure to stay within the specified flash range.
Digital camera flash modes
- Automatic mode -- flash triggers automatically. Turn this mode off when in places that forbid inside flash photography, such as museums and theaters.
- Red-eye reduction -- fires the flash several times just prior to exposing a photo. Reduces the reflection in a subject's eyes which produces red eyes. The rapid flashes cause a subject's pupils to contract and helps minimize the red-eye effect.
- Forced (fill-in) flash -- keeps the flash on in situations where automatic mode would keep it off. Used when additional illumination is needed such as when the main source of light is in the back of a subject or shadows prevent details from showing.
- Suppressed flash -- turns the flash off.
- Slow sync (also called night scene)* -- use to capture a dimly lit background at night. The flash fires briefly to light the foreground subject.
- Rear-curtain sync* -- similar to slow synch but flash doesn't fire until right before the shutter closes.
- Flash exposure compensation -- used to increase or decrease the output of the flash.
*Tripod or other camera support recommended
