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Flash Photography - Flash Sync

The next in our series on flash! This time I go over another of the basics, flash sync. This may seem like a very basic part of flash but you need to follow the rules. Most of the time your flash has a duration from 1/1000 of a second to 1/40000 of a second. Since the duration is so short the shutter can’t keep up, which causes black bands or partially exposed images. Most cameras have a maximum flash sync speed of 1/250th of a second. This means that any shutter speed from 1/250th and slower (1/60th, 1/30th, etc) will be exposed fine. Your camera should prevent you from raising your shutter too high on most modes, just check your manual to be sure.

This is not a desirable effect (most of the time) so its best to avoid it. Stick around, I go over the ways you can cheat the system and use any shutter speed you want. One of them is a little unorthodox, although it can work in a pinch.