The TTL Flash System

Flash Basics | Ambient Light | Manual Flash | Here Comes TTL | Flash Key | Flash Fill
The Math of Flash Key and Fill | TTL Advantage | The Shutter Speed Mystery
SB Operation | Programming | Visualizing The Effects | Compensation
Off Camera Flash | Multiple Flash

What follows was written in spring, 2004. While the theory of TTL remains the same, in 2008 we're in the iTTL world of the D3. For a more up to date explanation of using iTTL, you'll want to head to the D3 site.

Flash is still the most difficult aspect of wildlife photography to master both technically and aesthetically. It doesn't matter what camera you have, flash still takes plain old personal skill. Though this commentary can apply to any form of photography, I will as always focus in on wildlife photography (there I go with the bad puns). There a lot of theory being presented here, an exercise and basic concepts to aid in your mastering the flash. Remember this one very imprtant bit of advice. You learn flash only by doing flash. Reading what I have to say here will assist you in better understanding it, but you can only master it by doing it. So, on with the show! (Those shooting with the F5 should head directly to F5 Flash )