Many film and digital cameras have a setting known as fill flash. Fill flash is used to fill in shadows and provide a better exposure in photography. If the camera doesn't have this setting, the same results can be achieved if the camera allows manual selection of the flash functions. This feature is found on both film and digital cameras.
Benefits
The main reason photographers use the fill flash setting or technique in photography is to fill in shadows. Using fill flash can brighten faces shielded by baseball caps and deep set eyes or hidden by a protruding brow. Using fill flash helps evenly expose faces in mixed lighting, such as subjects standing under a tree, with a mixture of shade and daylight on their faces.
Effects
Using fill flash makes photos more evenly exposed, brighter and more pleasing overall. The extra light eliminates underexposed, or dark, photos. Fill flash also reduces the chances of silhouetted figures in front of a bright background, such a people under a picnic shelter on a sunny day or a subject standing with his back to a window indoors.
Warning
There is a risk of overexposing the highlight, or bright, areas of the photo when adding extra light to the photo. Areas where sunlight falls on the subject, or in the background may become too bright and lose detail. Also, subjects are more likely to blink when using a flash. Taking a few pictures to ensure you get a good one is essential.
Identification
Fill flash can be a function and a technique. If the camera has fill flash as a function, it will be in the flash menu. Often flash functions are noted with a lightning bolt symbol. Scroll through the flash menu to see what options are available. One may be labeled fill flash. If the camera doesn't offer fill flash as a feature, you can manually make your camera flash. Instead of leaving your camera on auto flash, change the setting to the lighting bolt, and watch it flash for each picture.
Misconceptions
Fill flash can be used indoors as well as outdoors. Flash functions are not only for dark indoor areas. Fill flash is very useful outside under pavilions, under trees or in the shade. Outdoor pictures will be brighter and more evenly exposed when flash is used.
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