Evening star., 1952-03-30
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian InSfif.,tian

The Smithsonian Institution
Flash photography used to be
almost exclusively for professional
cameramen because of the danger
from exploding flash powder. Nct
so nowadays, for the flash is
neatly packaged in a small glass
envelope called the flashbulb OF
f1ashlamp that any one can use
with safety.
1t requires no genius to shoot
flash pictures, for the entire oper-
alton is a cut and dried formula
which, If adhered to, will guaran-
tee an excellent photograph each
time an exposure is made. No
guesswork is involved-even the
exposure meter is by-passed.
This factor alone is quite an ad-
vantage to the beginner, whose ex-
poSures vacillate from too great
to too little. But this is only one
OF several reasons why flash pho
Biography is finding great favor
among amateurs. Indeed, flash
photography has become so popu-
lar in recent years that even the
far-from-expensive box cameras
are being built for synchronized
flash.
Until comparatively recent times
the amateur photographer who
wanted to shoot pictures inside
had to use floodlamps that entail
heavy ref1ectors, tripods, cables,
etc. But now a pocketful of tiny
f1aShlamps will be adequate for
the needs of almost any one. Own
ers Of slow lens and shutter speed
cameras had little opportunity to
take action pictures but now the
Split-second speed of the flash
lamp brings action photography
within reach of all-and with all
the advantages of a small lens
opening for great depth of field.
Add to this the advantages of be-
ing able to operate without a tri-
pod and still get sharp pictures
and you begin to appreciate the
desirability of flash as a means of
illumination.
Multiple Flash Shots.
All you need to take flash pic
lures is a camera built for syn
cronization of shutter and flash
unit, f1ash-gun attachment, and
a f1ashlamp for each shot. After
you have had some experience in
using a single flash unit with
your camera. you may decide to
add other ref1ectors for multiple
flash shots. If so this will call
for an additional expenditure for
extension cable and a multiple
electrical plug receiver.
Even though your camera may
not be built for synchro- flash. it
can be used successfully for most
flash shots although the camera
will have to remain stationary on
a tripod for the exposure. Any
camera with T or B (time or
bulb) setting may be used to make
"open flash" pictures. When
shooting by open flash the shut
ter is opened, the lamp flashed,
and the shutter closed. The cam
eraman acts as a synchronizer of
sorts.
There are several types and
sizes of f1ashlamps and not all
are suitable for every camera.
Fast lamps reach their peak in
about 1/200th of a second and
have flash duration of about
1/200th of a second. Medium
peak lamps hit their high point
Of illumination at about 20 milli-
seconds and the slower peak
lamps are at a peak at 80 MILL
seconds. There are also broad
peak lamps which maintain an
even lighting for focal plane shut
ters. We suggest you ask your
dealer which are suitable for your
particular camera. A random
selection will give you random
results at best.
Now let's see how we go about
finding the right exposure for
taking flash pictures. You have
five factors to deal with. Recog-