Turn your camera flash on in the daytime and off at night

All digital cameras have an auto mode that handles everything. The user doesn't even need to think about shutter speeds, aperture, or any other settings on the camera and that is the way the photographer often wants it.

This can also lead to problems though as certain light conditions can cause the camera to misread the lighting conditions.

Two examples of this are your local Christmas parade of lights and anytime you are taking someone's picture in front of a sunlit window.

In the parade of lights, your camera will assume that you want to use the flash because it is so darn dark and with backlit subjects your camera will read plenty of light to shoot without a flash.

The solution is to turn your flash off at the parade of lights and on for the backlit subject.

Here's how:

Turn your camera to a mode other than fully automatic. This is often symbolized by a P or A/S/M setting. This mode acts the same as full auto with the exception that it allows you to change certain settings such as flash and exposure.

Once the camera is set in this other mode, look for the button or setting to toggle the flash on and off. This is usually symbolized by a lightning bolt with an arrow on it.

Press the button to cycle through flash settings.

Flash is on.

Flash is off.

Red eye mode is on.

NOTE: Red eye mode fires about six million quick flashes before your camera actually fires. It slows down the shot, scares the subject and often causes them to frown so only use it if you don't know how to take red eye out with your software.

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