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GLOSSARY OF FLASH TERMS Team Dynamics: September 7, 2013

Spectrum HQ

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

What To Expect?

Glossary of Terms Used in Flash Photography

LINGO of LIGHTING

AMBIENT LIGHT

Ambient light, or available light, is the natural light present in an area,

and can basically be defined as any light that doesnt come from the flash. If youre outside during the day,

the sun is probably providing the bulk of your ambient light. Flash can be used instead of ambient light,

or alongside it to complement the available ambient light.

FLASH/STROBE

A flash or strobe is a unit used to produce light in photographs.

The terms are interchangeable, but strobe is the term most often used for studio style flashes.

SPEEDLIGHT/ SPEEDLITE

A speedlight (Nikon) or speedlite (Canon) is a term that is used almost interchangeably with flash. These are simply generic names for the battery powered,

portable flash units that can be used either on top of a camera or wirelessly with an appropriate system.

MONOLIGHT

A monolight is a larger flash unit that needs to be plugged in to a wall outlet

or portable battery system. These are more powerful than speedlights and are typically preferred for studio work because of the high levels of flash output

and ease of use with modifiers.

PACK & HEAD SYSTEM

A pack and head system is an advanced flash system that differs from monolights. With a monolight, each light is plugged directly into an outlet. In contrast, a pack and head system features one

central power pack that all the heads the parts responsible for the flash are plugged into. These are frequently preferred in large studio setups and are the choice for many professionals because of

the lightweight heads and potential for extremely powerful outputs.

OFF-CAMERA FLASH

This term is pretty self explanatory, but the usage of off-camera flash has become wildly popular in the last few years and has really

changed the way that some people approach photography and how flash is used. When used properly, moving the flash away from

the camera and off the camera axis allows for far more flattering usages of flash and create looks that arent possible with the flash

in the hot shoe. Off-camera flash can be achieved using cords or wireless transmitters.

UMBRELLA BRACKET

An umbrella bracket is used in conjunction with a light stand in order to attach a speedlight and use it with a reflective umbrella.

POCKET WIZARD

If youve delved into the world of off-camera flash, youve probably heard people raving about their Pocket Wizards in order to trigger off-camera flash units wirelessly. RadioPoppers and Cybersyncs are similar products that accomplish the same task. Also available are

the popular eBay triggers a blanket term for a number of foreign made, inexpensive flash triggers.

CLS (CREATIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM)

CLS is Nikons wireless flash technology that uses line of sight technology in order to trigger flash units wirelessly. This technology

is built into most Nikon flashes.

SYNC SPEED

Every camera has a limit to the shutter speed at which the flash can sync with camera. This means that if you go beyond the cameras sync speed, the flash will either be cut off or not apparent. The sync speed of most digital SLRs sits between a shutter speed of

1/200th of a second and 1/320th of a second.

AUTO FP/HIGH SPEED SYNC

The sync speed, mentioned above, can be bypassed with some modern technologies built into the flash units. Auto FP is a Nikon technology, while High Speed Sync is Canons term for the same system. With these technologies, you can use flash at the higher

shutter speeds, although the flash will lose power output.

iTTL / eTTL

iTTL (Nikon) and eTTL (Canon) are the newest technologies built into flash units. TTL or through the lens is a technology used to determine the amount of flash power needed, and the i and e

simply signify the newest generation of this auto exposure flash technology.

FLASH COMPENSATION

Flash compensation is an important part of using TTL flash. In TTL mode, the camera and flash unit work in tandem to determine the

amount of flash needed. However, this amount of power is not always the look you are going for. Using flash compensation allows you to quickly increase or decrease the amount of flash and tweak

the exposure to your liking.

BOUNCE FLASH

Bouncing flash allows you to spread your flash over a much larger source. In using bounce flash, the speedlights head is frequently

aimed at the ceiling or wall. In doing so, flash hits the larger surface and is reflected (or bounced) back, allowing you to illuminate a

larger area.

MODIFIER

A light modifier is any type of equipment that is used to alter the way that light from a speedlight or larger flash unit is spread. Some modifiers serve to soften and spread the light, while others are used in order to focus the beam of the flash. Some work through reflection, like umbrellas. Others work through diffusion, like softboxes. Many photographers feel that the small flash source of speedlights does not lend itself to flattering light, and therefore use large modifiers such as umbrellas and softboxes to provide more flattering light.

BOUNCE CARD

Bounce cards are frequently built into flash units in order to provide a way to bounce light off a ceiling or wall while at the same

time kicking some light directly at the subject. On many flashes, this card can be pulled out and used for an easy, portable bounce surface. The old school bounce card consisted of a business card

and rubber band.

DIFFUSER

A diffuser is a type of modifier that is typically used with an on camera speedlight and allows for an easy spread of the light. It provides slightly softer lighting. It spreads the light more evenly

and is a significant upgrade over just aiming the flash head directly at your subject.

UMBRELLA

An umbrella is a type of modifier that helps to soften light from a flash source. There are different types of umbrellas: shoot through and reflective. Shoot through umbrellas are typically white, and are

utilized by aiming the flash through it and toward the subject. Reflective umbrellas either silver, gold, or black, are used by

aiming flash toward the umbrella. The flash fires into the umbrella, hits the umbrella and is spread and reflected back onto the subject.

SOFTBOX

A softbox is another light softening modifier that serves to better flatter your subject. Softboxes are different from umbrellas in that the light is typically a little more focused and can be more easily

controlled. Also, softboxes can be modified further using add ons such as grids that focus the light.

RING FLASH

A ring flash is a type of modifier that is circular in nature and provides a very unique type of light. Two types of ring flashes are

available: standalone units and modifiers. With a ring flash modifier, you are using an add-on to either a large flash unit or a speedlight to shape the light into a ring, while standalone units

serve only one purpose of providing efficient ring flash.

REFLECTOR

Reflector can mean one of two things: the piece placed around a monolight to shape the beam (often called a beauty dish), or

anything used to throw light back on a subject naturally. The latter can be purchased as collapsible discs shiny cloth discs or items as

simple as white poster board can be used.

GRID

A grid is used in order to focus the beam of light and can be used on a softbox or directly on a monolight. One of them are

honeycombs. Grids come in different meshes, from very small opening to a size of your fist.

BARN DOORS

Barndoors used on a light source allow the control of the edges of the light. When you think of a typical theater stage like, the flaps

attached to the front of that light are barndoors.

GELS

Gels are used to change the color of the light produced by a flash unit. Sometimes this is to correct the color of the light, and other

times this is applied for special effects. Gels are inexpensive and are available in a variety of colors and strengths. Gels are essentially

colored pieces of thin plastic placed over the flash source.

CONCLUSION

Familiarity with flash terms is a great step toward becoming flash fluent.

Glory to God!

Thank you so much for listening!

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