Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book

Hacking Your Camera’s Flash Sync Speed

Ever wanted to shoot with a strobe at a faster shutter speed that your camera’s flash sync allows for? (Only like EVERY darn day, probably…since a 1/250 is sooo wimpy…). Well, I’ve been using this cool technique for quite some time, but it never occurred to me to share it as a neat-o “hack” to beat the system. My pal over at Strobist however, who is much sharper than I at identifying cool tips like these as actually being relevant, posted a great piece yesterday on precisely this topic. For a more complete explanation and a two-part entry on the subject check it out there…

The principle is simple: If 1/250th of a second allows your camera to sync perfectly with your flash (full flash coverage across the entire frame), other steps up the shutter speed ladder (1/320, 1/400, 1/500, 1/640, 1/800, 1/1000) don’t give you ZERO light, they in fact give you partial, but substantial, light on your subject according to a relatively predictable pattern. Basically, the shutter “drags” across the frame in a race with your strobe–typically from one edge to the other– in such a manner to get an band of flashed light across the image frame, roughly according to guide below.


Thus, if at 1/250th you get 100% coverage–or rather a perfect sync–, at 1/500 (a full stop faster than your flash is “supposed” to sync with your shutter with typical dSLRs) you might get as much as 50% coverage – or enough to make a really cool image.

Strobist talks about employing this technique primarily to gain flash sync speed by framing and lighting your subjects in such way as to hide or make subtle the harsh-ish lighting line created by the incomplete sync (ie, using it like a strip light in dark situations or setting your camera close–one stop he suggests–to ambient light) so there’s not much visible difference in what’s lit or not… My approach is slightly different. I actually use this technique and visually ENHANCE that dark line in pursuit of a unique aesthetic. By simply increasing the difference between my camera’s exposure settings an the ambient light, I don’t hide the shutter drag with the ambient exposure, I ACCENTUATE the line to get a certain, almost an intensified “flagged” look (physically blocking certain parts of a strobe using handheld or stand-mounted boards, scrims, etc) – as in the image above at the header of this post. You’ll see the subject is well lit, but the area to the left of his arm is quite dark.

There is certainly an air of unpredictability to this, especially with a fast-moving subject, however, with a couple takes I can usually nail the framing for which I’m aiming.

Lastly, if you’re not out there hacking, tricking, messing or playing with this and other non-traditional looks or techniques, and pushing the limits of your equipment, you should consider trying it. There’s a whole world beyond F8 at 1/250th. Don’t simply let your camera manual or your photo class instructor mandate what’s cool. Let your own aesthetic and the back of the camera teach you what works and what doesn’t!

Related Posts

10 Things Every Creative Person (That’s YOU) Must Learn
3 Ways to Keep Your Project Moving and Embrace the Unknown
My Morning Routine: 6 Things I Do (Almost) Every Day That Make for A Happy + Productive Day
chase jarvis photographer
How To Become A Pro in 5 Simple Steps
serena williams on photo shoot with chase jarvis 2
3 Bulletproof Tips for Getting Your Work Noticed by Your Creative Heroes
How I Learn ANY SKILL + How You Can Too

35 replies on:
Hacking Your Camera’s Flash Sync Speed

Comments navigation

Previous
Next
  1. Justina says:
    November 18, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Nonetheless it was Banks’ 212 that marked the true change.
    Initially I truly paid attention to the lyrics of that melody
    it had been as if the clouds had separated to expose some raw refrain of angels.

  2. jeune poufiasse says:
    November 18, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    Je suis entіèrementen accord avec vous

  3. life motivational quotes pdf says:
    November 13, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The site loading pace is incredible.
    It kind of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. Moreover,
    The contents are masterwork. you’ve performed a great process on this matter!

  4. look from here says:
    November 8, 2014 at 7:21 am

    It’s an amazing paragraph designed for all the online
    users; they will get advantage from it I am sure.

  5. cpoe says:
    November 4, 2014 at 11:07 pm

    I used to be recommended this blog through my cousin. I’m not positive whether this submit is written by him as nobody else know such targeted about my difficulty. You’re amazing! Thank you!

Comments navigation

Previous
Next

Comments are closed.

BUY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE NOW!

Get weekly, curated access to the best of everything I do.

Popular Posts

20250611_CJLIVE_ToDoList_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What If There’s No Rulebook? Here’s How to Write the One You Need
A person sitting at a desk, holding their head in frustration, while flames seem to emerge from their head, symbolizing intense mental stress or burnout. The fiery scene contrasts with the calm surroundings of a room filled with books and papers, enhancing the feeling of overwhelming mental exhaustion. The expression on the person's face shows deep concentration or distress, and the bright colors of the flames highlight the inner turmoil they are experiencing.Creative Burnout Destroying Your Passion? (Try These 4 Quick Strategies)
The left side features bold text that reads: "Stop Assuming The Worst" The text "Stop" and "The Worst" are in bold white font, while "Assuming" is in bold yellow font. The phrase "Stop" is emphasized with a red arrow pointing to the right. On the right side of the image, there is a photo of a smiling man wearing glasses and a dark shirt, looking directly at the camera. The show's logo is positioned in the top right corner, featuring "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" in black text inside yellow rectangles. The entire graphic is framed with a yellow border, which matches the color scheme of the text and logo. The background is a dark, textured surface that adds contrast to the bright text and imagery.Simple Trick to Build Trust in Your Creative Collaborations
Keith Ferrazzi speaking on stage in front of a large, vibrant screen displaying multiple video call participants, with 'The Chase Jarvis Live Show' logo in bold yellow and black text on the left.Why You Should Never Lead Alone
20250611_CJLIVE_RoryVaden_Thumb_16x9_v2.5You’ve Been Focused on the Wrong Thing… Here’s What Really Matters
A graphic for "The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show." The text is displayed in a bold, modern font with "THE" in a small, yellow box at the top left, followed by "CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" stacked vertically, each word in its own yellow box. To the right, there is a stylized silhouette of a person running while holding a mobile device. The person appears to be disintegrating into small particles as they move forward, suggesting a sense of urgency or a digital transformation theme. The background is a light beige or off-white color.Stop Chasing Followers: Why Real Influence Comes from Mastery
20250611_CJLIVE_Failure_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast
a promotional graphic for "The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show." The left side of the image features the text: "WAKE UP CALL: YOU ONLY HAVE 2,000 MONDAYS LEFT" The text is in bold white and yellow font on a dark gray background, with "2,000 MONDAYS LEFT" highlighted in yellow. In the top left corner, there is the show’s logo, with "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" written in black on a yellow background. On the right side of the image is a photo of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored top. The image has a yellow border around it, matching the color scheme of the text and logo.You’re Wasting Your Life (Without Even Realizing It)
20241001_CJLIVE_GaryVeeShow_Syndicate_Blog_16x9How Self-Betrayal Is Holding You Back
A portrait of Israa Nasir, a psychotherapist, set against a black background with bold white text that reads, "Why Rest Feels Like Failure," framed by a yellow border and a small "The Chase Jarvis Live Show" logo in the top-right corner.Toxic Productivity Is Killing Your Success

Daily Creative Projects

© 2024 Chase Jarvis. All rights reserved.