Intermediate Flash Photography

Intermediate Flash is for the photographer wishing to hone her skills or improve his craft and take their creative photography beyond the ordinary. Each weekly lesson will inspire you to grow and give you the tools to complete your assignments while pushing the limits of your photography. You will learn through participation in dynamic discussion, stimulating lecture, challenging assignments, and constructive critique.

Online sessions will be recorded.

UPCOMING ONLINE SESSIONS:  

Wednesdays, November 8-29, 2023 | 6PM – 8PM PT 

Instructor: Bill Balcer

Have you wondered why some photos have a perfectly lit subject while others have a subject this is too dark thus you cannot easily discern what or who is the Subject? Want to learn how to properly light a subject’s face who is wearing a hat? Are you not sure of the Flash capabilities of your Camera and need to better control the Artificial Light? Paul’s Photo’s, Creative Photo Academy’s, Intermediate Flash Class will teach you how to control the Light and Shadows so you can make amazing photos every time. You will learn the differences between various light source options and how best to use them individually or collectively. The Artificial Light source could potentially be the built-in Pop-up Flash on top of your camera, a Speedlight that attaches to the camera’s Hot Shoe, an External Light or Multiple Lights and how to Synchronize them. This is a “Learn by Doing” class and we will take Flash Pictures without having to do any complex math.

We will begin with a review of the basic Flash Principles and Terminology followed by a more detailed discussion of how the various colors of white light plus how to better control any shadows on your subject. In session 2 we discuss and demonstrate how to control the Light and Shadows while indoors by managing the light intensity and direction. In session 3, we will apply many of these same principles to outdoor situations. Due to the potentially harsher outdoor ambient light, there are different techniques to learn and apply in order to obtain amazing photos. In session 4, we wrap up the principles learned during the first 3 weeks then apply them to another dimension; controlling the Artificial Light via Wireless Communications.

The class will be taught over 4 sessions. Each session will last 2 to 2.5 hours.

Lesson 1: Flash Basics

The class begins with an explanation of the Lighting Basics along with visual examples including a discussion of its terminology. You will see the differences in the various shades of White Light. See examples of the Inverse Square Law to help you better understand why the light’s intensity fades the further it goes away from its source. See examples of how to control the Light Direction in order to Control the Shadows. By the end of the first class, you will be able to confidently use the flash and your camera together.

Lesson 2: Indoor Flash

We will show you how to use a Flash to Fill the Subject with Light. Delve deeper into controlling the Shadows and the amount of Background Light. Understand how the f-Stop and the Shutter Speed affect a Flash. See how and when to use a Slow Synchronization between the Shutter and Light. Also understand what kind of Flash Technique to use for various indoor situations.

Lesson 3: Outdoor Flash

In this session we discuss and demonstrate how to use the Flash to Fill-in the Key Light when outdoors, under bright sun or overcast condition to better illuminate your subject. You will learn the technique to have a Dark Background behind your subject, even when outdoors under bright sunlight. Learn what your camera’s Sync Speed is and how to use it to make amazing action

shots. Finally, you will learn when it is best to use a Spot Meter, Matrix / Evaluative Meter or Balance Meter to photograph outdoor scenes.

Lesson 4: Off Camera

In the Capstone Session, we will demonstrate and explain how off camera, remote and multiple lights communicate with your camera. We will have fun with these off camera lights can be strobes, speed lights, beauty dishes, LED panels, ring lights, gobos, gels, and reflectors. You will see there are multiple ways of having your camera communicate with the remote (unwired) key or fill lights that surround your subject by way of transmitters and receivers. It is not expected that you own or even have access to this equipment but it is important that you know of their uses and applications of this equipment.

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