Multiple Flash Photography

1. The Road to Creative FreedomIf one flash can be used to light the road to creative freedom, then where in the world do two, three, or four flashes take us?There is a world that lies invisible to most. It’s one of choices, options, and alternatives. It’s beyond our reality and can only be seen by those who create it. It’s one where every graphic tier of information can be lit in any way imaginable. It’s a world reserved for those photographers who use flash—and know how to control it.A FORGOTTEN TRUTHA flash is used to illuminate ideas, not just to eliminate shadows. Somewhere along the way this simple truth has been lost. Flash photography is an option put into play by people who want something more than just average pictures. It answers questions, poses its own unique set of problems, and offers a wealth of alternatives that would be completely impossible without the addition of light.To employ flash well requires skill, determination, and an original vision—things direly lacking in the world of photography today. Bent on the mere capturing of pretty pictures, few photographers push themselves to the creative limit and learn to use multiple flashes in a manual mode. Instead, the masses move toward automatic exposures and automatic focus—simply because it’s easier. True artistic expression is hurting and that fanciful world of optimism, choice, and beauty lies relatively untouched.There are a special few today, though, who have pushed through the barrier and are speaking with their camera and flashes. Their numbers are slim but growing. You can see them occasionally at the park, by the beach, and in the mountains. They’ll be hovering on the sidelines at a wedding or close to the birthday cake at a party. They are the ones using an off-camera flash, they are the ones setting up light after light—all in hopes of opening the door to this world. They push creativity to its edge and reap the rewards brilliantly.These visionaries were once like most photographers—convinced that there was some shortcut to artistic freedom and that they didn’t need to “pay their dues.” They believed the lies and misinformation. They trusted the camera manufacturers and bought into all the hype. They purchased lens after lens, new camera system after system—all in the vain attempt to forego actual study and experience. But then something happened. After their long search, something shined bright. From the darkness a new idea emerged—one that put the responsibility for their images back on their own shoulders. It may have been a friend, a teacher, or a colleague; it may have been a personal revelation or a simple blog entry—but something told them that the truth rested within themselves and not their machine. They realized that if they wanted great images, they would have to take responsibility for what their camera captured and make use of all the options laid out before them.