Nikon D7000 manual Using Flash Exposure Compensation, More Advanced Lighting Techniques

Chapter 12 ■ Making Light Work for You 431

■Third-party wireless solutions. I’m especially impressed with the RadioPopper JrX line of wireless flash triggers, particularly since they can be used to control the output levels of Nikon flash units attached to them, and also the output of the Alien Bees flash units I use in my studio. Pocket Wizards are another wireless trigger prod- uct line that can be adapted for use with Nikon flash.

Using Flash Exposure Compensation

You can manually add or subtract exposure to the flash exposure calculated by the D7000. Just press the Flash button on the camera (just below the flash pop-up button) and rotate the sub-command dial until the amount of exposure compensation you want appears on the monochrome LCD and in the viewfinder. You can make adjustments from –3EV to +1EV in 1/3 EV increments. As with ordinary exposure compensation, the adjustment you make remains in effect until you zero it out by pressing the Flash button and rotating the sub-command dial until 0 appears on the monochrome con- trol panel and in the viewfinder.

To view the current flash exposure compensation setting, press the Flash button. When compensation is being used, an icon will be displayed in the viewfinder and on the monochrome LCD.

More Advanced Lighting Techniques

As you advance in your Nikon D7000 photography, you’ll want to learn more sophis- ticated lighting techniques, using more than just straight-on flash, or using just a sin- gle flash unit. Entire books have been written on lighting techniques, and I’ve written multiple chapters on them in books of my own. I’m going to provide a quick intro- duction to some of the techniques you should be considering.

Diffusing and Softening the Light

Direct light can be harsh and glaring, especially if you’re using the flash built into your camera, or an auxiliary flash mounted in the hot shoe and pointed directly at your sub- ject. The first thing you should do is stop using direct light (unless you’re looking for a stark, contrasty appearance as a creative effect). There are a number of simple things you can do with both continuous and flash illumination.

■Use window light. Light coming in a window can be soft and flattering, and a good choice for human subjects. Move your subject close enough to the window that its light provides the primary source of illumination. You might want to turn off other lights in the room, particularly to avoid mixing daylight and incandescent light. (See Figure 12.19.)

■Use fill light. Your D7000’s built-in flash makes a perfect fill-in light for the shad- ows, brightening inky depths with a kicker of illumination. (See Figure 12.20.)