If you have ever shot with TTL off-camera flash, you will have ensured that the on-camera flash is “off”. It still fires its “Morse Code” commands at group A, B or C flashes in the room, but when the actual image is taken a fraction of a second later, it is off.

Except that you may have noticed noticed the following phenomenon: Especially on Nikon cameras, but on Canons as well, it is not totally, 100%, off.

There is a tiny bit of afterglow, which causes an extra little catch light in the very centre of the eye. You can see it in this image by my student, photographer Laura Wichman:

You only see this if you view the image at full size. It is not really very annoying, but if you are determined to get rid of it, simply “Lightroom it out”.

Anyway – learn to recognize this. This is how I know we shot this image in remote TTL mode.

One more of Laura’s shots from this Creative Light session. Here’s we thought a gelled direct light might add some kick. And I love colour – this bright egg yolk yellow Honl gel is great.  Easiest gel to get saturated colour with:

Don’t you love those shadows? Today’s tip: hard shadows can be good. If intended and if created by an off-camera light.