Photography, like any art form, takes practice and a bit of talent to master. In the days of film, the former was a slow process. With digital photography, you get instant feedback and can adjust settings on the fly for best results. Knowing manipulate your camera's settings is important for improving your skills, especially when dealing with additional variables, like a built-in or external flash.
Instructions
1. Locate your camera manual, either in its physical form or online. Though most digital cameras generally work the same way, some models may have specific steps and button commands for changing flash settings.
2. Turn on your camera and rotate its mode dial to "M." On DSLR cameras, the shooting mode dial is on top, usually beside the shutter release button. Any camera that you can attach an external flash to, including Four Thirds or mirrorless cameras, have a manual shooting mode. Some advanced point-and-shoot cameras, or superzoom digitals, have manual shooting modes and manual flash control.
3. Locate the flash control button on your DSLR camera or the menu for flash control on a superzoom or mirrorless camera. On DSLRs, you hold down the flash button and spin the command dial to change flash modes, and the current flash mode displays in the LCD top or rear panel. Some superzoom cameras operate the same way, but on a mirrorless camera the flash controls are on-screen. Look for "rear" to set the flash mode to rear sync.
4. Set the shutter speed and aperture. The specific settings will depend on the light levels for your shot. Keep in mind that the flash is going to fill the scene with a bit of light, so you can set the shutter for a bit faster than normal. Half-tap the shutter button to focus the lens, and then press the shutter button all the way down to snap the shot and fire the flash.
Tags: flash control, your camera, external flash, flash mode, have manual