Two Minute Tips: First versus second curtain flash sync and how it affects your flash photography

 

 

If you don’t frequently work with flash, you may not know about the different curtain sync modes your camera offers. However, if you work with flash, you can open up a lot of creative possibilities by understanding first curtain and second curtain sync. In the latest episode of Adorama’s Two Minute Tips, David Bergman breaks down the different curtain sync modes and how they can affect the look of your image.

In modern DSLR cameras, there are typically two curtain shutters which move separately to expose the digital image sensor to light. This doesn’t usually matter for most shooting situations, but when you use flash, which curtain the flash syncs with can have dramatic effects. With a fast shutter speed, the difference might not be noticeable, but when you have a longer exposure time, the curtain sync choice matters. You can see the different effects in Bergman’s video below.

(Via Adorama)