| Sometimes, what seems like the simplest technique | | | | creatively! |
| can be the hardest to get right. Fill-in flash is commonly | | | | The 'Red-eye' effect occurs when reflected light from |
| used when the subject is backlit and there's large | | | | the back of the eye is captured on the cameras CCD. |
| exposure difference between the subject and the | | | | This usually happens when an in-camera flash is used, |
| background. In order to expose an image evenly, a | | | | because it's positioned too close to the lens. The most |
| burst of flash can be used to balance things up, | | | | effective way to avoid the dreaded red eye is to use |
| illuminating the subject against the brightly lit | | | | an external Speed-lite that's positioned away from |
| background. It's possible to use a pop-up flash for this | | | | your lens. Using your camera's hotshoe will give much |
| technique, but you'll risk the dreaded 'red-eye' effect if | | | | better results. fixing it to a bracket by the side of your |
| you're shooting people, and the results can be quite | | | | DSLR body, or holding it off camera using a cord, will |
| harsh. | | | | give the best results, because the light won't have a |
| Using a separate flashgun offers you several | | | | straight path from the flash to the eye and straight |
| advantages. Firstly, it has a much larger and more | | | | back down the lens. However, this isn't always |
| controllable power output, which means that it can | | | | possible, and not everybody has the money to go out |
| illuminate subjects that are more than a few metres | | | | and buy an external flash. So the next best thing is to |
| away. Secondly, it can be more easily bounced and | | | | use photo software to simply correct the problem. |
| diffused by swivelling and pointing the head at a wall or | | | | Almost all photo software will have this feature and its |
| similar surface, so the light is softened. You can also | | | | very simple to use. If you don't have any photo |
| use a bracket to position the flashgun at the side of | | | | software you can Click Here and download Picasa, a |
| the camera. Off-camera use of a flash can produce a | | | | free photo software package. |
| more natural-looking effect and be used extremely | | | | |