Put simply off camera flash is a lighting technique where you use a flash unit that is not attached to your camera. There are three main ways to get your flash off camera:
1. Use Your Cameras Off Flash System
Check your cameras existing features as many of todays digital slr camera come fitted with technology to remotely trigger modern flashes. They usually use infra red technology to fire the flash. Be sure to check if you already have this technology before buying any other gear!
2. Use a Flash Cord
As the name suggests this is simply a cord that links your camera to your flash. This is perhaps the easiest and cheapest way to get your flash off camera. You can pick up flash cords fairly cheaply on Amazon. To get going simply attach one end of the lead to your cameras hot shoe and the other end to your flash unit and away you go. You are only limited by the length of your cord.
3. Use Wireless Triggers
This involves buying a wireless receiver and transmitter. Simply place the transmitter onto your cameras hot shoe (or connect it via a pc sync lead if you camera has a socket) and attach the receiver to your flash (either via the hot shoe or a sync lead). Wireless transmitters tend to come in two flavours cheap and cheerful one off ebay that are great value (under $50) and reliable most of the time and then the high end varieties such as Pocket Wizards that the professional photographers use.
Why Use Off Camera Flash?
Well you probably already know that using the in built flash on cameras tends to give pretty unflattering results with your subjects cast in a harsh light. This is the main reason why virtually all professional level cameras do not come with a built in pop up flash.
By moving the flash off camera you can take much more control over how the light falls in to your onto your subject. For instance simply by lighting a persons face from 45 degrees (as opposed to head on) you’ll cast shadows across their face that will make their face immediatly more interesting to the viewer.
Once you get more comfortable with using the flash off camera and controlling the light in your pictures you’ll soon want two flashes. As soon as you start using two off camera flashes you are suddenly able to create some stunning effects and are able to creatively light almost any scene.
How Does Off Camera Flash Work?
Depending on the type of flash you have you will probably have the option of shooting in one or more of the following modes:
1. Manual Mode
As you would expect this mode is entirely manual, meaning that you have to set the power output of the flash. This is usually done as a percentage of full power (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 etc). Once you learn more about controlling light this will most likely be the mode you use most.
2. TTL
This stands for Through The Lens. In this mode your camera and flash talk to each other to determine the correct amount of flash power required to get a decent exposure. Most modern flash units made by the likes of Nikon & Canon come with this technology (and a hefty price tag to match). While nice to have and useful in some situations we prefer to use manual flash modes virtually all of the time.
If you would like to learn more about off camera flash we suggest you pick up a copy of what is widely known as the bible of off camera flash: The Hot Shoe Diaries by Joe McNally.
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