SPEEDLITE BASICS | Getting Started with Speedlites 

I realize this video was made six years ago but having just watched it, I found it to be wonderfuly informative and helpful!

This short video has answered 95% of my questions regarding the concept on how speedlights work. Now that I get the basics... I can move forward! 10k likes if I could. Many Thanks

This is the best explanation I’ve ever had for speed light functionality. I will watch this video again as I work through the various functions. Thank you for a thoughtfully constructed video with no extraneous chatter. So very well done!

Nothing is as important as the basics. In fact, sometimes basics were all that was needed to make a masterpiece.

That wasn't basic at all! It wasn't over my head either! That was great! Well spoken and organized explanation. Thank you!

The most thorough and precise explanation for speed lights I've ever seen!

4 years later this isn't basic at all. You've done a wonderful video and job for the one like who knew nothing about speedlight. I now can buy one and start using it straight away with a good understanding of it thanks to you. So thank you very much !

oh my gosh I finally understand flash lmao after so many videos I've watched.

I've had my speedlight for years and didn't know about half the things you've explained

This video was EXTREMELY helpful. I didn't use the flash often but as I am getting into events, learning flash photography was paramount. This is the best 18 mins I've invested to learn all the basic!

This guy is very smart and well spoken. Great stuff- just got my first camera, canon m50. Im using a speedbooster so that I can use EF lenses and to reduce cropping. Now im thinking about getting a flash next.

Photo club member gave me this flash. I have never used an external flash with my 7D Mark Ii. I am so grateful to have been able to review this video as i start to learn how to use it properly. Thank u Mark.

This video was HELPFUL HELPFUL! Straight to the point and clear explanations. I now realize that using a speed light isn’t as difficult as it once seemed.

Really probably the best explanation on speedlights out there. I will most likely watch one more time as I get into using flash but this is an amazing session. Love the simple, to the point and clear articulation of the subject. Thank you!

His confidence during stuttering is adorable

Perfectly educational, especially when you've had that speed light sitting collecting dust for a few years and need to get reacquainted. You're the best.

This video is far the best explaining everything about Speedlite. Thank you so much.

The perfect Explaination. I'm so glad i watched this

Love your style. No fluff and waffle. Totally subscribing!

My very first attempt and also, breaking out of the intimidation shell on how to use a flash. Perfect video to understand and kinda set flash intimidation free. Well explained and a very valuable basic lesson to get motivated to purchase a speed light and start having oodles of fun. Thanks a million.

Mark, you are an excellent instructor! I really appreciate your deliberate and complete instruction. Thank You!

I’ve had my speedlight for two years and never used it. Now I feel like I can thanks to your great explanation.

Finally a video that really explains just the basics, thank you!

I have searched the Internet for ages trying to find a tutorial on the canon speed light. I have had it for years and never really sat down and used it, as I was happier with no flash! Now I have watched this I feel very comfortable in the flash gun! Thank you for this video!

Thank you for your straight forward, well presented video. Perfect for beginners, gave me a lot of confidence and really useful information.

Exactly what I needed and have been searching for. Many others skip over the need to know basics that are an essential part of an introduction to the basics of speedlighting. Thanks!

This is WONDERFUL!!! Thank you! So concise and literally everything I needed today -thanks so much, Mark!

Best video on photography I've watched so far. His knowledge and confidence on the subject is through the roof! Kudos Mark!!

Thank you for this course. Very informative, and very well presented.

Wow! Thank you so much! I am very impressed on how you can explain things so flawlessly without missing any point! Great job!

I watched this video when I was just starting photography and mostly went over my head but now three years later find that this is such a great video and understand all that is explained! Thank you for such a great video!

I feel like I’ve learned more in one video than I have in the last 100 I’ve watched. Legend and incredibly easy to follow 😁

The amount of information and explanation given in this video about photography speed-light and lighting systems is phenomenal. I have actually learned of how to create very specific and creative exposures. Thanks for the information.. Keep up the incredible work!

Excellent, clear and easy to understand. Just the help i need.

Just here to say thank you so much for making and sharing this video! Clear, thorough and straight to the point! Love it!

Thank you for one of the BEST explanations. I am new to flash photography and I’ve been the WORST time finding basic information. I am anxious to explore more of your videos!

Not bad at all. VERY informative and extremely well pitched. Keep doing them sir; and I'm probably not going to be the only one to mention how well you control your stammer. Good job. You also have another sub.

Been away from photography for quite a few years and this refresher was absolutely outstanding. Very well done sir!

Perfect basic tutorial to speed light. Very clean and straight forward. Thank you !

This was the best video I've ever found. Straight forward, basic and simple yes, but everything was explained perfectly! Looking forward to watch more of your videos.

This is the best tutorial I have watched regarding flash. Great job mate, much appreciated

this is the best flash video ever!! thank you so much I feel like 800lbs has been lifted from my shoulders now.

I was gifted 2 of the speedlites he used as an example and I'm so happy to finally understand how they work.

As someone who is brand new to photography, thank you so much for this video. I learned a TON of information and terms just from this video alone. I will definitely check out some other videos also!

Excellent video, clarifies and explains the basics really well.

By far one of the best tutorials on flashes, needs more views, thanks!

Just came across this video. It is just what I was looking for. Been an enthusiast photographer for 3-4 years now and didn't understand the zoom and 2nd curtain sync features until I watched this video. Awesome job in explaining. Thanks.

Great explanation. Good Job!

Thank you, this was absolutely so helpful!

Best video about on-camera flash/speedlites! Thank you sooo much!!!

This is brilliant, and I'm so glad you went right back to the basics, I wouldn't have known where to start if you hadn't!

Best and most thorough explanation of how to use a Speedlight and thank you for having various models to show us how, basically, they all operate in a similar way. Just before this, I watched the EOS Canon 70D Training Video but yikes he sped through all the controls so fast, it was near impossible to keep up. What a relief to come across yours. Thank you.

Outstanding video, really helped me to understand flash settings, Thank You!!

Fantastic introduction! Thanks, Mark. I"m looking forward to viewing more videos from The Photographer Academy. I appreciate the good work.

This is the best tutorial on RU-vid. Thanks

Hello Mark, Comprehensive and clear tutorial! I learnt a lot from it! God bless you!

I found this informative, helpful, and confidence inspiring as I am just getting into flash photography. Thank you very much.

Very clear and complete. I've never used a flash before and it contained everything I need to get started. Outstanding basic information.

Thank you for all of these insights! You explained them all in an understandable and an embraceable manner. I’m looking into getting one of these speedlites to use with my Canon Rebel 2ti. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Presented in a way I really understand, thank you

Thank you SO MUCH for this valuable information. I always avoided flash photography due to fear of lack of expertise but this really helps me start my journey. You’re very kind 🙏🏻

One of the best tutorials for Speedlites on RU-vid for sure! Thanks a lot Mark!!!

Thank you! I have watched many videos and they were all over my head. I FINALLy understand my flash!

No, not too basic, you are providing a good starting point so, well done.

Excellent walk-thru of Speedlite features. I've had my 430EX II for several years and had no idea on the mode, custom function, lightening bolt, etc....until now. thanks so much for a great explanation. I get it now!

Brilliant presentation, thanks much for effort/sharing. Back to basics videos are very important not just in photography but in other domains as well cause we all seem to be jumping on to complex stuff before developing a solid basic understanding the tools we use. Thanks again.

This was incredibly helpful! You broke it down and made it understandable. I feel totally confident using my Speedlight now!

Great video! thanks for explaining so well, subbed

It's Useful tutorial, thank for your efforts

I entered "using a flash in photography" in the RU-vid search bar, and there you were! Excellent information, particularly helping me to know when to use "2nd curtain" flash. Thank you!

Hey!! Trust me I was watching so many posts for the past 3-4 days but no one concentrated on the basics. You have clarified so many ambiguities so easily. Great job mate!!

This was everything i needed to know absolutely perfect need know, thank you🙌🏽

Thank you very informative video for beginners like me.

Perfect-just what I needed to use my flash for the first time after a more than a year of owning it...thank you!

Don’t apologize for it being basic. This was so helpful. Thank you

Very informative and above all else, understandable - brilliant

Just did my first night-time event photoshoot with 2 speedlights and an RF controller I had bought that same day. It was scary, because I'd hardly ever used flash before, but I got my lighting all figured out (added gels, synced lights, set brightness, fixed umbrellas) behind the venue before I started and the photos turned out SO GOOD.

Thank you Mark, I've had my flash for several years, but I don't know it as well as I should, this has been really useful.

Finally! I understand my Speedlite for the first time. Other videos lost me because they were bogged down with the principles of light which is fine for some, but for me being new to flash photography, this video was perfect!

Best way I've heard 2nd curtain flash explained...couldn't understand it before now. Thanks!

Great video! Tons of useful information. Also, I see you have a slight stutter: I want to give you so many props for moving forward with making videos and not worrying about that; so many people with stutters (including two of my good friends) would never venture out to make videos due to their "condition," but here you are overcoming it and proceeding with your passion. Wow. Kudos!!

This was the most helpful tutorial I have come across! Thank you!

This (for once) was exactly what I was looking for as far as your explanations of everything on the flash. I now have an understanding of something that I had no idea how to use! Thanks!

I've worked with flashes for a couple years, and I'll still confused. Thanks for the in-depth review to help me out a lot!

Great video. Now I understand much better. I was very intimidated by flash / light

Thank you for explaining speed light functions so clearly. It really helps as a beginner to understand the basic functionality. Perfect execution well done thank-you Mark.

Thank you for explaining this so clearly, I have been hunting high and low for a video to explain the different power settings for flash, so many videos just gloss over it.

Thanks so much! As one that also has a Stutter it’s awesome seeing it not stopping you! You got a new Subscriber

Excellent explanation, even a dummy like me understood all of that..

Thank you for that walk through. It was exactly what I needed. What functions are available and what they're used for, acronyms meaning, example of use cases. Perfect!

Excellent intro. I just moved into flash photography and this is exactly what I needed.

thank you sir !

Can't tell you how pleased I am that you didn't introduce yourself by asking me 'what's going on?'....

Thank you, Mark, for an excellent intro to Speedlites. I've never used one before but I'm at the point in my career that I need to learn and start upping my photography skills.

Finally. A proper explanation of speedlite basics. Thanks a lot!

This guy reminds me of Nick Frost. :) I bet he's good to throw LP's at zombies.

7:04 --- It's not that the shutter speed is too fast to see the explosion of the gas --- the firing of a flash is of a much shorter duration than the camera's max. sync speed (on the Nikon SB-700 speedlite, for instance, at 1/128 power it is around 1/40,000th of a second --- the less power, the shorter the flash; at full power the duration is around 1/1000th of a second); the black masking you can see in the bottom of the image which you presented when illustrating the effect we get while shooting above the camera's factory sync speed is just part of the first shutter curtain going down. In Olympus cameras, for instance, the shutter curtains go up so you are going to see the black masking or bar at the top of the image. This is because above the max. sync speed the sensor is never fully exposed but rather light gets onto the sensor through a wider or narrower slit created between the two shutter curtains (groups) moving together down or up (depending on the system).

This is the best video, explaining everything about a speedlight. Thanks.

Best intro to flash that I have come across so far. Thanks.