Whether you are shooting with an entry-level or a professional Nikon DSLR, speedlights are a great way to improve your indoors photography. While fast lenses and high ISO levels certainly help to take pictures in low-light environments, they often do not work well for photographing people indoors. In low-light situations, cameras have a tough time acquiring correct focus, motion often results in too much blur and bright backgrounds can ruin the subject’s face and emotions. Speedlights are versatile tools that are designed to overcome these problems and deliver sharp, blur-free and noise-free images with beautifully exposed subjects.
At the same time, without the right technique and tools, flash can quickly transform pictures into flat, lifeless images. Knowing how to bend the light and take advantage of the surrounding environment to manage it is a skill every photographer should master. In this introduction to indoors flash photography video, I will first quickly talk about the differences between Nikon speedlights, along with my recommendations. Then, I will do my best to explain differences between direct and indirect flash and how both affect indoors portraiture, using specific examples.
I highly recommend viewing the video in HD. You can do it by viewing the video in fullscreen mode, then picking “720p” on the bottom right corner.
P.S. The video is kind of long, around 30 minutes. I actually had to cut a lot of it out to keep it smaller and decided to split some of it to upcoming articles on indoors flash photography. I will write the text version of the above video next week.
Hi Nasim,
I am having Nikon D750 with SB 700 flash, I take photo in Manual Mode with ISO sensitivity on – Min. 100 & Max 2500 many times my photos are very bright & over exposed just want to know what setting should be ideal for camera & Speedlight, secondly do
Hi Nasim. Do you know of a video that explains the menus of the SB-5000? Or, SB-910/900 might be similar enough to be helpful. It is the only device that I own where I still struggle with simple controls, such as how to turn on/off the focus assist light (camera menu option does not control the speed light focus assist light alas), or, how to tell it to TTL on the subject in focus rather than try to balance the full scene (again the camera menu does not seem to affect this).
The user guide is only modestly helpful. Overall the SB-5000 menu system lacks logic of organization to me, perhaps you can explain it if you understand its logic of organization?
Thanks!
Great video! Thank you! Are there more of these?
Great vid and ur wife is a champ for helping you helped me a lot !!
Please help me what kind of light ornament you put on a tree on the corner.
The one with different color.
Thanks very much.
Khan
Hello good day. Just wanna ask what is the best speedlight for nikon d800 and we are using nikkor 24-70mm lens. Thanks in advance.
Nikon SB-910 or preferably the new Nikon SB-5000. New is best but you can buy good used Nikon Speedlights at KEH.Com or MPB.Com. I bought two SB-5000’s at MPB at half the cost of new (2 for 1`) and they came complete in box. You can also try the Godox brand which works well.
May I know the 1/60th shutter speed consider as 0.01 shutter speed?
Hi Nasim,
I watched your video about flash light photography and found it to be very useful. I have just purchased a Nikon Sb -700 speed light. One problem I’ve had is when and under which light to use SZ-3TN Incandescent Filter & SZ-3FL Fluorescent Filter. After using color filters, is it advisable to bounce the flash or directly point the flash towards the subject? Also do I need to adjust the white balance settings in camera according to the color filters I am using?
Any thoughts from you will be of great help.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Shakti Aggarwal
Hi Mansurovs!
Thank you guys so much for all the amazing information. I’ve been coming here a ton ever since my friend recommended it to me. I’ve learned so much from you guys. My website is tandemflightphotography.com if you’d like to check it out and let me know how I’m doing!
Amy
Hi Nasim,
I watched your video on speed light flash photography and found it to be very helpful. However, I have just purchased a Nikon D800 together with a Nikon AF-S105mm F/2.8g VR (Nano Crystal Coating) lens to take photographs of chocolates. As the chocolates have a very high gloss surface finish, I have been getting flash reflections in the chocolates, therefore, I was thinking of purchasing the Nikon Close-Up Flash Speedlite Kit – R1C1 which has a Wireless Speedlight commander SU-800, with two Wireless Remote Speedlight SB-R200s. Therefore, my question is have you any experience using this Speedlight kit, if so, have you experienced any reflections? or do you think I would require any subsequent lighting as I do not wish to have any shadows. I await your comments. Kindest regards, Malcolm