Zack Arias: Aperture/Flash Relationship

Learn what the settings on your camera's flash mean for the light it produces.

In this clip from his CreativeLive course, Studio Lighting, Zack Arias explains exactly what happens when you change your flash settings.

[xBabyDragonx]

This is probably THE most useful video on the internet for photographers. Thank you for giving me a refresher course that I can watch over and over again to keep this information fresh in my mind ! You are an EXCELLENT teacher!

[RamssesPharaoh]

In all my years as a photographer, never saw a better explanation of the Aperture/Flash relationship. Thank you!

[YuhiGateRaho]

I have the entire video of this class - Purchased the whole course. This is MOST amazing and MOST helpful course ever! If you really want to imporve in your light and photography, purchase this course and beleive me, you will imporve your photography and take it to next level. Highly recommanded.

[DGM]

Excellent explanation but it is noteworthy that changing your aperture and adjusting your flash as mentioned will only keep the exposure correct the same if there is zero ambient light. If there is any ambient light, then as you open the aperture the sections of the frame not blasted in flash will brighten while the subject (hit with flash) will remain consistently exposed. This is why you could also adjust your shutter speed to help control the ambient light. Since the flash is so much faster than the shutter, any shutter speed changes below the sync speed will control the ambient light exposure

[MrTankera]

COOL! THANK YOU ZACK!
I have finally nailed these ratios. And because of this video, I know now how to set my camera in increment of f-stop with respect to my Speedlight and how the Shutter and Aperture change with respect to each other. It's good to memorize these numbers that Zack is making reference to but by setting my D300 to 1/2 Steps for normal shooting and for Speedlight I use 1-Full-Stop increment to match the Camera to the Speedlight; in turn, all this become simple. Cheers to You Z!

[elivlog]

how about the distance between the subject and the flash if you shoot for wide like couple in the sunset, and i need to shot a wide.

[deanbush]

Excellent, clear explanation on f-stops to flash power levels. Thanks you, Zack for sharing this!

[EnrqueTacoa]

14 years ago i saw this live, no im a professional photographer w 10 years experience, thanks zack

[FelanLP]

How is f/16 to f/11 one stop? If I half the light on the flash, I have to double it in aperture (or ISO or shutter speed). And doubling the aperture from f/16 means you have to go to f/8.
Look at it this way: if you are on f/1, that's focal length divided by one. f/2 means you divide the light from your image by two. Means half the light coming in. Means you need double the light coming from ISO, shutter speed or flash.

Did he made a mistake or am I completely wrong. And if so, why?

[headbangr]

Very useful. Say you wanted a Bokeh and wanted to retain the exposure and then return back to previous settings? This video taught me how to do it so easily.

[ramk]

and that's a fantastic explanation i have ever had. i am so glad to find your video and also glad for you being on YouTube and help people who needs a detailed explanation. If there was a chance to hit the like button more times then i would have smashed the line button :P

[StrokeofJeanius]

@8element. The shutter speed has no effect on the exposure of your main subject as the flash happens much much faster than your sync speed. The only influence that a long shutter will have is to burn in a background that is not hit by flash. The size of the aperture controls the amount of light in flash photography.

[matey]

"praying and spraying" hahaha, awesome lingo Zackman. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on flash/aperture relationships.

[bobrosberg]

Super great explanation! I've been photographing for years, less so with a flash and I am sometimes unsure how to work with the numbers. Not so much anymore. Thanks)))

[jolantadoesbiz]

Thank you for this!!! I needed this so much! Well explained! Aperture and your trigger! Equals the amount of power of your flash! Dah!

[blueghost]

This would work if no diffusers or reflectors are used. Once you reflect or diffuse the light, you’d need to adjust again and this wouldn’t work. Right?

[oceandrew]

@ptlofts Best way to understand WB is to shoot the different settings under different light conditions.... outdoors in open shade, sunlight, indoor natural light, incandescent light (tungsten) and flourescent. Use all the WB settings to see what you get. Now do the same thing with Flash. Best way to get to know your equipment is by using it.

As for Focus.... AF uses contrast margins - use a sharp margin (eyeball) to get sharp focus, a soft margin (nose or lips) will not be so sharp.

[jeannotbadjie]

Hi Zack I wonder if you can help please. I'am an owner of a Nikon D850. I intend to use off flash camera. What radio controller n receivers will you recommend.
Many thanks.

[shotbyjesse]

thanks Zack! just what i was looking for to wrap my head around!

[boahneelassmal]

Fantastic!
I have a question though. We have some Hensel flashes (I don't have the exact make in mind) and the intensity scale reaches from 5.0 to 10 in .1 steps... Does anyone by chance know if a 1.0 step is 1 stop or what is?