What is fill flash and slow sync flash?

[DanielG]

As per the title. Saw many postings which recommend fill flash and slow sync flash. What's their function and when do you use each?

Thanks!

 

[StreetShooter]

Fill flash:

http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/1532

Slow sync:

http://www.photocourse.com/08/08-05.htm

Would gently suggest reading the manual, or doing a search on Google to find out the answers to your questions.

 

[Kho King]

In my understanding:

1. Fill flash
~ your subject is usually outdoor, and you want to light it up (reduce shadow) by firing a flash onto it. The flash is not the main light, but just to fill in more light.

2. slow sync flash
~ during night time, you want to have your subject light up by flash, but you don't want the background to look dark. In normal sync, your flash will fire at 1/125s, 1/60s, 1/90s...etc (depends on camera), and this will give you dark background. In slow sync flash, your cam will choose the shutter speed as it you are not using a flash at all, and the shutter speed is to allow enough light light to lighten up the background or the whole scene, but yet your flash is to make sure the front subject is bright enough.

 

[shawntim]

so fill flash is just a technique? Any special equipment involved ? If we use our camera inbuilt flashes, is it considered fill flash ?

or is it just "another term" ?

 

[Midnight]

Originally posted by shawntim
so fill flash is just a technique? Any special equipment involved ? If we use our camera inbuilt flashes, is it considered fill flash ? or is it just "another term" ?

It is a technique that can be implemented using different types of equipment. Since most cameras' built-in flashes are pretty weak, these often do the trick if you switch the camera to "forced flash" mode. However, you don't usually get much fine control over the amount of light the built-in flash puts out, whereas an external flash unit will usually allow you to fine-tune the amount of light you wish to add to the scene.

 

[mpenza]

Happened to read up an article on fill-flash:
http://www.popularphotography.com/HowTo/PrintArticle.asp?ArticleID=27