{"id":4308,"date":"2010-08-02T18:23:23","date_gmt":"2010-08-02T22:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=4308"},"modified":"2020-06-20T03:50:09","modified_gmt":"2020-06-20T07:50:09","slug":"high-speed-flash-sync","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/high-speed-flash-sync\/","title":{"rendered":"tutorial: High-speed flash sync (HSS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Rachel_0270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>High-speed flash sync \/ auto FP .. vs .. normal flash<\/h1>\n<p>There have been a number of questions about high-speed flash sync (HSS), and how it affects the output from your flash. Also check this <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/video-tutorial-high-speed-flash-sync-hss\/\">Video tutorial \u2013 High Speed Flash Sync (HSS)<\/a>. It covers the same material as this article, and will help explain why your camera and flash behaves the way it does when you change from normal flash sync to high-speed flash sync.<\/p>\n<p>I decided to do a series of comparison photos, so we can actually see what happens before, at and beyond <strong>maximum flash sync speed<\/strong>. \u00a0And we can also see what happens with <strong>high-speed flash sync.<\/strong> To do this, I set up very simple portrait lighting using a single speedlight and a large umbrella. \u00a0A simple white paper-roll backdrop, and our model, Rachel. Here is the setup in my dining room &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"banner_ad\"><div class=\"adsbygoogle\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- Tangents-responsive --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"style=\"display:block\"data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5272216363056127\"data-ad-slot=\"2115071898\"data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); <\/script> <\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Rachel-setup_0304.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"901\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The large (60&#8243;) umbrella to my left, and a small reflector to the right to add a little bit of fill. \u00a0Ideally the reflector should be larger and closer &#8211; but this isn&#8217;t so much a portrait session as it is about photographing sequences of images at various shutter speeds. \u00a0I stayed close to the umbrella &#8211; keeping it as close to the lens&#8217; axis as possible &#8211; so that the light is as even as we could manage with a single speedlight setup. \u00a0Of course, the reason for it only being one speedlight is that we can now observe its behavior.<\/p>\n<p>For all the images in this article, <strong>the speedlight was set to give full output in manual mode<\/strong>. \u00a0This way we aren&#8217;t bringing in the uncertainties of TTL flash. \u00a0TTL flash is an automatic metering mode, and there will be variations in output if we change our composition. \u00a0Manual flash is consistent and predictable. \u00a0I worked at full output so that we can more clearly see some of the effect of going to high-speed flash sync.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, I triggered the flashgun \/ speedlight with radio transmitters. \u00a0PocketWizard Plus II units, to be exact. \u00a0They don&#8217;t allow high-speed flash sync. \u00a0So we can now see what will happen then. \u00a0For the final sequences where we go to high-speed sync (HSS), I used an on-camera speedlight as a Master, to fire the Slaved speedlight mounted with the umbrella. \u00a0The Master&#8217;s output was disabled, so we&#8217;re just dealing with one speedlight&#8217;s effect.<\/p>\n<p>In the spirit of keeping much of the info on this site system-agnostic, we&#8217;ll look at how the Nikon D3 and the Canon 5D works.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>How does the camera&#8217;s shutter work?<\/h2>\n<p>Before we get deeper into this, we need to cover some basics first &#8211; how the camera&#8217;s shutter works. The focal plane shutter found in D-SLRs, consist of two curtains that open and close. \u00a0They open and close with a certain timing, to open the sensor \/ frame to light. \u00a0When the shutter is tripped, the first curtain opens, revealing the sensor (or frame) to the light, and then the second curtain closes. \u00a0The time interval between the first curtain opening, and the second curtain closing, is the shutter speed. \u00a0It can be 1 second, or it can be 1\/60 of a second, or as short as 1\/4000 of a second.<\/p>\n<p>Looking at the top part of the diagram, we can see the timing of the flash pulse. With <strong>normal flash sync<\/strong> (shown here as Low Speed flash sync), the flash is a near-instantaneous burst of light. \u00a0(Around 1\/2000 of a second, although this varies on the design of the flashgun, and how the flash pulse is controlled.) \u00a0For description here, let&#8217;s just regard the flash burst as instantaneous. \u00a0Therefore we need the entire frame open so that the entire scene \/ subject is revealed by the light from the flash. \u00a0Otherwise, part of the scene \/ subject will be obscured by one of the shutter curtains. \u00a0(We&#8217;ll see this in another sequence of images here.)<\/p>\n<p>There will be some shutter speed which will be the highest shutter speed at which the first curtain has just stopped moving, and the 2nd curtain has not moved yet. \u00a0One notch of a shutter speed over this, and you will have part of one of the shutter curtains obscuring the sensor \/ frame. \u00a0(More about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/maximum-flash-sync-speed\/\">maximum flash sync speed<\/a><\/strong> here. \u00a0It is one of the essential things we need to know about, and understand, when we deal with flash photography.)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/flash-sync.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"546\" height=\"342\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With <strong>high-speed flash sync<\/strong> &#8211; a truly amazing bit of engineering &#8211; the flash&#8217;s output is released as a rapid series of light pulses. \u00a0The flash is now effectively continuous light over a very short duration. \u00a0Now, when we go over maximum flash sync speed, the flash is released as that short period of continuous light, and we can take our shutter speed much higher than maximum flash sync speed.<\/p>\n<p>This change from a high-energy near-instantaneous burst of light (normal flash), to the short period of continuous light (high-speed flash sync), does imply a loss of effective power. \u00a0It makes sense in that a lot of the light from our flash will just hit the shutter curtains, and won&#8217;t hit the actual sensor. \u00a0In other words, much of the output from the flash in high-speed flash sync mode will be lost.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><div class='one_third'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book3-direction-quality-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/3-qualityoflight-250.jpg\" alt=\"Direction &amp; Quality Of Light\" width=\"250\" height=\"324\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='two_third last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Direction &amp; Quality of Light<\/h2>\n<p>I wanted to distill the essence of what we, as photographers, work with &#8211; light! Before we can truly grasp on-camera flash and off-camera flash, and really, any kind of photography, we have to be aware of the direction and quality of light. We need to observe the light that we have, and then decide how best to use it, or enhance it.<\/p>\n<p>With this book, I try my best to share those \u201caha!\u201d moments with you, and I do believe this book can make a difference to your photography.<\/p>\n<p>The book is available on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book3-direction-quality-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Amazon USA<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book3-direction-quality-light-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon UK<\/a><\/strong>, or can be ordered through Barnes &amp; Nobles and other bookstores. The book\u00a0is also available on the Apple iBook Store, as well as Amazon Kindle.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Maximum flash sync speed<\/h2>\n<p>So let&#8217;s look at how the flash output appear using old school radio slaves which don&#8217;t allow us to go to high-speed flash sync. \u00a0This is how studio-type shoots are usually set up .. various flashes and light modifiers set up, and balanced .. and then tripped by radio slaves. \u00a0Normal flash sync. \u00a0In other words, no high-speed flash sync.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the first sequence, using the Nikon D3. \u00a0The next sequence is with the Canon 5D. \u00a0I wanted to show that the behavior of normal flash sync \u00a0and maximum flash sync speed is universal for all focal plane shutters found on D-SLRs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-pocketwizard-lrg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-pocketwizard.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Nikon D3 (like most of the bigger Nikon D-SLRs) have a maximum flash sync speed of 1\/250th. Below that, and if there is not much ambient light, the choice of shutter speed has NO effect on the flash. \u00a0We just need the entire sensor \/ frame to be open to the blitz of flash. \u00a0This can be at 1\/8 or 1\/60 or 1\/125 &#8230; as long as it is at, or slower than maximum flash sync speed.<\/p>\n<p>However, as we can see there, at 1\/250 we start to see the edge of the one shutter curtain. \u00a0This is due to propagation delay. \u00a0(More about this in a short while.)<\/p>\n<p>Here is the same sequence for the Canon 5D. \u00a0The 5D has a maximum flash sync speed of 1\/200 and we see the same effect with the higher shutter speeds obscuring the flash exposure.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-pocketwizard-lrg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-pocketwizard.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>btw, if for some reason you want to see slightly larger versions of those, click on the two sets of images for the larger side-by-side version.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Propagation delay of the flash trigger signal<\/h2>\n<p>As you could see there with the sequence of images for the Nikon D3 and the Canon 5D &#8211; even though you might be working at maximum flash sync speed &#8211; you might still get the edge of a shutter curtain. \u00a0This is due to something called &#8216;propagation delay&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-250sync_0273.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"751\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For these images we were using radio transceivers to trip the flash. \u00a0(Pocket Wizard Plus II units.) \u00a0As mentioned earlier, they are simple devices that just trigger the speedlights. \u00a0There is no intelligence there between the camera and speedlights.<\/p>\n<p>So this is where slight synchronization errors can creep in. \u00a0Where we are working right now at maximum flash sync speed, we&#8217;re on the very edge of any specific camera&#8217;s capabilities. \u00a0So when we trip the shutter, the camera has to fire the transmitter mounted on it; which then trips the receiver connected to the speedlights \/ flashes; which in turn fires those speedlights \/ flashes. \u00a0There is a whole chain of events that take place within finite time. \u00a0And that is where any slight synchronization error will show up &#8230; just like it does here with the edge of the shutter curtain showing.<\/p>\n<p>This is a common-place occurrence, and not just inherent to the two cameras I used here. \u00a0Any studio shooter will have experienced this problem and will know to use a shutter speed lower than maximum flash sync speed when shooting in the studio. \u00a0A shutter speed like 1\/125 or 1\/100 or 1\/60 is fine when working in the studio where ambient light levels are low. \u00a0The shutter speed has no effect then on the flash output, so any shutter speed lower than maximum flash sync speed is fine in the studio.<\/p>\n<p>On-location though, I do use maximum flash sync speed, even if there is the chance of propagation delay. \u00a0The reality of on-location photography is that we are much much less likely to see the effect of flash exposure at the edge of the frame. \u00a0For example, I mainly do portrait photography on location. \u00a0My subjects are usually more centrally placed. \u00a0Hence, propagation delay doesn&#8217;t affect me. \u00a0I shoot at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/maximum-flash-sync-speed\/\">maximum flash sync speed to get\u00a0the most efficiency from my flash<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>High-speed flash sync (HSS) \/ auto FP<\/h2>\n<p>Okay, finally we get here. \u00a0Let&#8217;s see what happens when we go past maximum flash sync speed, with HSS enabled.<\/p>\n<p>Here is what the Nikons do:<br \/>\n(Actually, this is what pretty much <strong>every<\/strong> camera does that has HSS capability.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss-lrg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is what the Canon 5D does. \u00a0Very similar to the Nikon D3, with a slight quirk around the point we get to maximum flash sync speed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-hss-lrg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-hss.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Canon 5D, and the Canon 5D mark II, both have the same quirk at maximum flash sync speed. \u00a0If you are at max flash sync (1\/200), with or without HSS, the output is affected differently. \u00a0This is something I mentioned in an earlier post on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/maximum-flash-sync-speed\/\">maximum flash sync speed<\/a>. \u00a0It is just something to be aware of with the 5D bodies.<\/p>\n<p>So let&#8217;s look at the implication of those two sequences of images.<\/p>\n<p>The moment we go over maximum flash sync speed, our output from our flash drops considerably. \u00a0It makes sense:<\/p>\n<p>If we are in normal flash mode, then the flash is an instantaneous burst of light. \u00a0We just need our entire frame \/ sensor to be open, for flash exposure to be consistent from edge to edge.<\/p>\n<p>The moment we go into HSS mode, then the flash output is essentially continuous light. And &#8230; continuous light is affected by shutter speed choice. \u00a0Think of ambient light. If we change our shutter speed, we change our exposure. \u00a0This is exactly what happens with flash in HSS mode.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Linear response of High-Speed Flash Sync<\/h2>\n<p>As mentioned, since HSS flash acts like continuous light, it should have a similar linear response \u00a0So let&#8217;s see what happens when we change the aperture in relation to the change in shutter speed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss-compare-500-11-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss-compare-1000-11-28.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss-compare-2000-11-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And there is the linear response, clearly to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>1\/500 @ f4 \u00a0&#8230;\u00a01\/1000 @ f2.8 &#8230; 1\/2000 @ f2<\/p>\n<p>This is also obvious then why <strong>we need to be at maximum flash sync speed when working in bright light<\/strong> and trying to overpower the sun with flash. \u00a0(At, or just below, maximum flash sync speed.)<\/p>\n<p>For these examples, we had 1\/250 @ f11 &#8230; which would, for ambient light only, translate to 1\/2000 @ f4 as an example. \u00a0Yet, here we have an equivalent of 1\/2000 @ f2 when going to HSS.<\/p>\n<p>According to the examples here, <strong>we lose about 2 stops in comparison<\/strong>, if we were considering ambient light. \u00a0eg, going from 1\/250 @ f11 to 1\/500 @ f4<\/p>\n<p>Now, when we go even higher, the linearity starts to flatten out. \u00a0Instead of 1\/4000 @ f1.4 it would appear that we lose about 1 third of a stop of light, and have to open up by dropping the shutter speed slightly to 1\/3200 to get the same brightness. \u00a0But this could also be partly due to working at wide open aperture on this lens.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Nikon-hss-compare-4000-3200-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s see if the same linearity exists for the Canon 5D:<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, there it is:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-hss-compare-400-800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p>.. with the same tapering off in the linearity when we go super-high on our shutter speed. \u00a0I had to open the shutter speed by a third of a stop to get the same exposure again. \u00a0Although, similarly, this might be partially due to working at full aperture on the Canon 85mm f1.8<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/flash\/hss\/Canon-hss-compare-1600x2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><div class='one_third'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/5-oncameraflash-ed2-250.jpg\" alt=\"On-Camera Flash Photography\" width=\"250\" height=\"357\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='two_third last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>On-Camera Flash Photography &#8211; revised edition<\/h2>\n<p>This book is explains a cohesive and thorough approach to getting the best from your on-camera speedlight.<\/p>\n<p>Particular care was taken to present it all with a logical flow that will help any photographer attain a better understanding of flash photography.<\/p>\n<p>You can either purchase a copy via\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Amazon USA<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/recommends\/nvn-book-on-camera-flash-2nd-ed-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon UK<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0or can be ordered through Barnes &amp; Nobles and other bookstores. The book\u00a0is also available on the Apple iBook Store, as well as Amazon Kindle.\nAlso check out the Amazon Kindle store.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about\u00a0how\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/book-on-camera-flash-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the cover image<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was shot.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>The implications of High-Speed Flash Sync<\/h2>\n<p>So the output drops considerably in HSS mode. This implies several things:<\/p>\n<p>1. \u00a0When we work in bright ambient light, then we have a sweet spot at (or just below) maximum flash sync speed, if we want the most efficiency from our flash. \u00a0This is because the higher shutter speed implies a wider aperture .. and this wider aperture allows our flash to reach further, or work less hard for the same exposure.<\/p>\n<p>2. If we want correct flash exposure with HSS flash, then we need to move our flash much closer to our subject if we are using flash as the dominant source of light. \u00a0Or we need to be aware that our flash will be merely fill light, since the output is affected dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>3. If we want to control our depth-of-field,\u00a0we are much <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-neutral-density-nd-filter-control-dof-with-flash\/\">better off using neutral density filters, than going to HSS mod<\/a>e.<\/p>\n<p>4. \u00a0You can&#8217;t &#8220;overpower the sun&#8221; by going to HSS. \u00a0If anything, you should not be in HSS when you are dealing with bright light. \u00a0You need to do something entirely different to <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/controlling-bright-daylight-with-direct-off-camera-flash\/\">overpower the sun with flash<\/a>. \u00a0This idea that you go to a much higher shutter speed to control the available light when you use flash, is one of the biggest fallacies I&#8217;ve come across on the various photography forums. \u00a0It simply does NOT work that way. \u00a0The next section will show exactly why.<\/p>\n<p>5. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-multiple-speedlights-with-high-speed-flash-sync\/\">Because of the loss of effective power with HSS<\/a>, you need to double up, or quadruple up on speedlights to compensate if you are shooting in bright light. \u00a0Alternately, you can move the flashgun much closer, and use direct off-camera flash, as with this photograph. \u00a0This is Aleona, one of our models at the flash photography workshops, leaping into the air. I wanted to completely freeze any movement, and went to a high shutter speed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/models\/aleona\/NV2_4780.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/p>\n<p>settings: \u00a01\/2000 @ f3.2 @ 400 ISO;<br \/>\nManual flash at full power from an off-camera Slaved speedlight,<br \/>\ncontrolled wirelessly \u00a0with the on-camera flash set to Master.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>Hopefully this article will help illustrate what happens with high-speed flash sync. What I wanted to show here is that there is something very specific happening, and that it is predictable.\u00a0When we are aware of what is happening, we can work with it, or around it, with a clearer understanding. Once we understand what is happening with our equipment and the technology we are using, then it becomes much easier to do what we really want to do &#8230; create inspiring photographs!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Related articles:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/video-tutorial-high-speed-flash-sync-hss\/\">Video tutorial \u2013 High Speed Flash Sync (HSS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/maximum-flash-sync-speed\/\">tutorial: Maximum flash sync speed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-a-neutral-density-nd-filter-with-flash\/\">Using a neutral density (ND) filter with flash<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-multiple-speedlights-with-high-speed-flash-sync\/\">Using multiple speedlights with high-speed flash sync<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/advantages-higher-max-flash-sync-speed\/\">Advantages of a higher max flash-sync speed<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>High-speed flash sync \/ auto FP .. vs .. normal flash There have been a number of questions about high-speed flash sync (HSS), and how it affects the output from your flash. Also check this Video tutorial \u2013 High Speed Flash Sync (HSS). It covers the same material as this article, and will help explain&nbsp;<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/high-speed-flash-sync\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read more inside&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,17,22,110],"tags":[50,871,55,59,60,121,65],"yst_prominent_words":[1265,3853,6749,1199,1857,1855,6774,2101,1856,2099,6778,3811,2942,2937,6777,6776,6775,1267,1198,3817],"class_list":{"0":"post-4308","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-flash-photography","8":"category-general-photography","9":"category-lighting","10":"category-off-camera-flash","11":"tag-canon-flash-photography-tips","12":"tag-flash-photography","13":"tag-flash-photography-techniques","14":"tag-flash-photography-workshops","15":"tag-flash-sync","16":"tag-high-speed-sync-flash","17":"tag-nikon-flash-photography-tips","18":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4308"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49161,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions\/49161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4308"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}