Using a flash indoors flattens your subject, diminishes color, and casts deep shadows.
Auto mode can work against you in low-light conditions, because your camera will always want to fire the flash.
As a rule, you should disable your flash indoors at close range (within 10 feet or so). Any subject you try
to photograph with your flash at this distance will seem washed out and flattened.
When indoors, switch on lamps or overhead lights, and open any windows for extra brightness.
Trying to take photos through windows or in front of a mirror can backfire and overexpose your image.
When you or your subject is standing in front of a mirror or window, it can cause problems when using your flash.
The bright blast of light will overexpose your photo. You may still be able to see your subject, but they will
be enveloped in white.
Only a slow exposure can capture all the detail and color of a dark scene.
Dramatic photos in low-light conditions require you to disable your flash for two reasons:
Slower shutter speeds are the only way you can catch all the rich color and detail of a dark scene.
Most camera flashes only reach about 12 ft. Everything beyond that point will be practically invisible.
You will need a tripod to keep your camera steady for this kind of shot.
Advanced tip: If don't have a tripod, one other option is to adjust your ISO number up (if your camera allows
you to control ISO manually). This makes your camera more sensitive to light and allows for faster shutter
speeds without a flash. That way, you stand a chance of holding your camera still enough for a detailed
low-light shot without a tripod. But adjusting ISO up may also add image grain or "noise."
Use Night Scenery shooting mode for low-light action shots
For low-light photos with moving subjects like people, set your camera to a night scenery mode, if available. This uses
the flash very briefly at the beginning of a long exposure to freeze the action.
It still helps for you to keep your camera as steady as possible, but it's not absolutely necessary in this mode.
Use flash fill for backlit subjects in bright daylight
Using flash fill, your light sources are more in balance.
It's common for subjects to appear silhouetted if they have a bright light source behind them, like the sun
or a reflection in water. Since your camera determines whether to the use the flash or not based on the total
amount of light available, in this scenario it would not fire the flash if it were in auto mode.
That's when you have to do the thinking for your camera and force your flash to fire, using a technique known
as flash fill. This equals out the light in front of your subject with the light behind for a balanced shot.
To get more lighting tips, check out
Lighting basics for better photos.
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