The use of automated flash in digital photography has revolutionized the way people take pictures today. What was first looked at as just a way to lighten dark spaces is now filled with many creative functions that can be both artistically as well a technically challenging.
The goal of Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography is to be a comprehensive guide to the use of the Canon camera and the EOS flash system. Its path will take you from the Speedlite system, to off-camera flash, and into professional studio lighting. This book is 432 pages in length and is divided into 15 chapters which are further broken down into four parts.
Part A, "Getting Started," begins by looking at what a camera flash is and what it does. It starts off by working with a beginner's configuration of a Canon Rebel camera and a 430 EX flash unit and how it can be used. It illustrates some real basic elements like installing batteries and attaching it to the camera.
Next it moves into explaining flash exposure compensation (FEC), bounce flash, and fill flash. It then explores the more advanced configurations of a Canon EOS 50D with two 580EX II flash units. Here you will examine wireless flash, dragging the shutter, and getting the flash off the camera. You will also further your terminology while learning certain aspects like reasons you don't want to use the pop up flash.
Part B, "Technology," starts off with a brief history of the flash and the challenges it overcomes. Then you will move on to automatic flash metering. Here you will explore topics like how to enable internal flash and external Speedlites, freezing motion, normal and slow shutter sync, and shooting in various modes like shutter priority and aperture priority.
There is a chapter that discusses technical topics where you will learn about the Canon EOS flash metering system including TTL, A-TTL, E-TTL, and E-TTL II. You will also explore how the mechanical camera shutters work, working with the first and second curtain sync, the inverse square law, exposure value (EV), infrared (IR), and colors and shades of white.
Part C, "Equipment," examines the type of equipment that is needed and/or useful for Canon flash photography. First you look at dedicated flash units, the Canon naming scheme, some of the older Canon units, and third party flashes.
Then the focus is on the Cannon Speedlites. You will learn in detail just about everything about the Speedlite including hot shoes, zooming, high-speed sync, wireless E-TTL, range warning, optical slave triggers, the rear control dial, weatherproofing, and much, much more.
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