Nikon® Creative Lighting System Digital Field Guide, Third Edition

Chapter 6: Advanced Flash Techniques

This is where the fun really begins. Armed with the knowledge of what function each button performs on your speedlight, it’s time to light up the world. As you become more familiar with advanced flash techniques, you’ll start to see endless possibilities for lighting your subjects.

In the following two chapters, I cover some of the most common reasons for using a speedlight in photography. While I can’t include all of the possibilities, I provide some tips and tricks on how to use the CLS in your own photography.

In most cases, there is no wrong and, as such, I encourage you to experiment with light placement and how it interacts with your subject. Whether you’re photographing an athlete or the macro world, it’s my hope that you will walk away with some creative ways to approach your next photo shoot.

Balancing existing light at night with a speedlight can produce dramatic results.

Action and Sports Photography

Incorporating flash into sports photography is becoming increasingly popular. With the ability to fire a speedlight from a great distance, more photographers are embracing the creative possibilities. While some sporting events, such as car racing and football, have yet to see dramatically lit flash images, sports such as basketball, biking, and skateboarding have benefited from the little extra punch provided by the speedlight. ...