Lighting equipment in Photography

When you are shooting in low light situations such as indoors or in the evening, flashguns are generally used to add light, illuminating the subject and enhancing the quality of the photo.  Flashguns can also be used to create interesting shadows and illuminations to give a photograph depth, drama or clarity.  Photography lighting allows you to create just the shot that you want.  It is a wonderful tool and you should experiment with different placements of light, brighter light and lower light.  A flash can be a great fill when using a faster shutter speed in low light situations.  There is just no end to the ways that you can manipulate your photographs using light.

Direct Flash vs Bounced Flash
Your flashgun is extremely versatile.  Many have the capability to either deliver a direct flash or a bounced flash.  A direct flash give the photo hard shadows and the light is reflected on shiny surfaces.  On the other hand, a bounced flash eliminates the reflections and shadows, offering a warmer, more naturally lit shot.  There are several ways that you can bounce a flash.

Open your aperture
Increase your FEC +/- (Flash Exposure Compensation)
Set your flash to manual
Hold your flash in your hand or set it on a tripod

Bounce your flash off of a reflective surface such as the ceiling, a wall or even a white card or poster board.  Play around with both direct flash and bounced flash to find the techniques that work best with your equipment, your skills and your personal taste.  Just remember that when you are bouncing your flash, the surface that you are bouncing it off if may be father than your subject so the flash will need to be adjusted to compensate for the increased distance.  By increasing your flash you will ensure that you supply the amount of light that is required for the shot.

Flashguns
Flashguns are great for location shots because they are so portable and easy to use.  If you are shooting on location, you can simply set up a couple of flashguns on tripods and use them like you would pro lighting.  There are many different types and manufacturers out there.  When purchasing a flashgun, make sure that it is compatible with your camera.  While the major camera manufacturers such as Canon and Nikon market their own flashguns, you can find flashguns by other manufacturers.  Often, these are a more economical option.  Sunpack, Sigma and Metz are three popular brands that make flashguns that work with brand name cameras.

Pro Lighting
Professional lighting also offers a wide variety of options.  While a bit more expensive than flashguns, pro lighting can give you great shots, particularly in studio shoots.  You can purchase lights mounted on tripods, stands or that can be bracketed to a wall.  Because many of these lights are larger, they are often not as portable as their smaller flashgun cousins.  They can, however, all you to create dramatic effects and light a shot almost perfectly.

Lighting is a science that can be perfected so that shots are crisp and effects are created exactly to the photographer's liking.  Practice and experimentation are the keys to learning how to get that perfect shot.  The wonderful thing about the science of lighting is that it is highly versatile with many options regarding the source and how the light is manipulated.  All you need to do is get out there find out what works best with your equipment and you.