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ZonaMuel
Flash photos come out too light (washed out) because there's too much light from the flash. Most point-and-shoot cameras don't have controls to adjust the flash, but you can fix this easily while you're taking the photos.
You can always try to tone down the brightness with software on your PC after the fact. Ignore any advice from the pro's about using Photoshop -- it will cost far more than you can imagine and take days to learn how to use it. Many simple photo programs and photo websites have an 'Auto-Fix' button -- try that first, then you can tinker with Brightness and Contrast settings.
You'll be much better off if you can simply get a good snapshot in the first place. Here's how...
Your camera has a Zoom control. Back away from your subject a foot or two, then zoom in so they still fill up the frame, then take the photo. This extra distance makes the flash weaker so your photos won't come out too light.
The best way to get it "just right" is to practice ahead of time. Your camera will give you much better results if you know how far away to stand from your subjects to expose them properly. Don't be afraid to take a few shots, each at a different distance, so you can choose the best of the bunch.
Once you've found the right distance, here's an easy way to duplicate it each time. Just imagine your own height between you and your subject. So, if you're almost six feet tall, imagine your height as the distance to your subject. If you learn that a little further away gives you the best results, just step back a bit further than your height. As you move further away, light from the flash becomes less important, and the room lighting starts to take over. Move too far (over 10 feet) and the flash has little or no effect -- it's all room (or other available) light.
Don't forget to Zoom in so your subjects fill the frame, or you'll end up with tiny faces that aren't very interesting. You can even zoom in so you get just their faces without fear of being too light (washed out).
If your photos are too dark, you may have turned the flash off (there's a switch for that) or you may be too far away (the flash only works from about 5 to 10 feet away).
The flash usually has a setting for 'red-eye' that makes it wink a few times before actually taking the shot, flash always off, flash always on, and flash auto-fires only when it's needed. Look around and you may find settings for sports (fast action), night shots (a moon), fireworks, and much more. You paid for those features, so you might as well use them when you need them. Most cameras double as a video camera, and/or can take a long, rapid series of still shots.
If you're forced to take snapshots in very low light, many cameras have a 'night time' setting. Whether you use it or not, there are also a few tricks you can use to get good results in very low light. First, turn off the flash if your subject is over 10 feet away so the camera knows to use the available light. Most cameras have a control to change the ASA or ISO or (Film) Speed -- this makes the camera much more sensitive to light (ASA 100 needs lots of light, ASA 1600 takes photos by candlelight). Many cameras let you slow the Shutter Speed, (perhaps as slow as 1/30th, 1/15th, or even 1/4 second) but this requires holding the camera very steady. Hold it against a wall or other solid spot, or put it on a tripod or table and use the built-in 10-second timer (to avoid shaking it with your shutter finger). Try different settings until you get a good result.
Fortunately, when you view your photos later, they probably include some background information on the shutter speed, film speed, flash settings and more, but you may have to noodle around to find that information. Your manual should tell you how.
If you've lost track of your camera's manual, do a Google search for your brand model manual PDF, save a copy on your hard drive so you'll always have it handy.
Finally, the best way to take good photos is to take lots of photos. As you see your results, you'll learn what works, what doesn't work, and what your equipment and skill can get away with.
You can't take too many photos with a digital camera!
Charlie Gosh has written lots of helpful articles that show anyone how you can save money, improve your life, save time, and other interesting topics.
They have to be easy to do, or people won't do them, so the emphasis is always on doing things a different way that's easier, yet still saves money and time.
Many of the things that frustrate us the most can be fixed easily if we only knew how. Read Charlie's articles, and you'll find your life getting easier, your wallet fuller, and your frustrations floating away.
