SHOOTING SKILLS
RELIGHT THE LANDSCAPE
Add creative flash to scenic shots to balance exposure and introduce controlled effects
Words and images by: Peter Fenech
Pictured
Out of the woods
There are times when natural light is difficult to manage, such as in shaded locations, where using flash can lift shadows and add shape to foreground elements
Difficulty level: Advanced
Time taken: 2 hours
Flash is synonymous with portrait and event photography – the speedlight is an essential tool in the kitbag of photographers working in these areas. However, many photographers would not stop to consider the use of a speedlight as a beneficial tool for shooting landscapes. Scenic imagery usually focuses on the interplay of natural light, such as that found at sunrise or sunset, and the land, so almost all attention is directed at controlling the ambient conditions.
However, there are occasions when natural light is difficult to shape to meet your requirements. This is often encountered when shooting in shaded locations, such as at the base of high cliffs or under a forest canopy, where significant light fall-off results in underexposed foregrounds. While this may not cause irretrievable loss of shadow detail, colours can become dulled and the sensation of a loss of depth is introduced. In these circumstances, blending in a small amount of fill light from an external flash can lift shadows and add shaping to foreground elements. Care must be taken to prevent the artificial illumination from becoming too evident, the most likely cause of which would be a discrepancy in the relative temperature of the natural and additional flash lighting.