How Does Camera Flash Work?

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Paul Morris. I'm a professional photographer here in Miami, Florida. In this clip, we're going to talk about how on-the-camera flash works. So, the first thing you have to do is you have to take the flash and put it on the camera hot shoe. That goes with that. Slides on, you lock it in place. Okay, turn the flash on. Okay. Most flashes will couple with the camera functions, so that the flash knows what the camera's doing, and the camera knows what the flash is doing. And, you can choose various different flash functions by setting your camera to different camera settings such as aperture priority, or program, is the most common and easiest one to use, because the camera knows the available light and the issues in the space that you're shooting at, and it basically thinks for you. So, if you're not one that wants to control it too much, P is a good option. A, aperture priority, means that you set the aperture priority of the camera. Shutter priority means that you set the shutter speed of the camera, and the camera then sets the aperture--or lens opening--of the camera. So, you focus. You basically point your camera at the subject. The camera will focus it. In most cases, most of the new ones are all auto-focus, so you would focus it on your subject. The camera will see the subject, and expose it correctly. There's other options, and that's many of the flashes, most of them, you can bounce in any direction, and that gives you a softer, less harsh light. Of course, you have to have a low ceiling or something to bounce it off. Once again, this has been Paul Morris in Miami, Florida. Thank you for watching!"