Canon Ambassador and wedding-reportage photographer Fabio Mirulla deploys flash extensively in his work and believes it could be beneficial in documentary photography too. "Flash completes a good photographic kit," he explains. "I use two Canon Speedlite 600EX-RTs, but I'm upgrading to the Canon Speedlite EL-1, which looks perfect for my work." Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens, Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT (now succeeded by the Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT) and Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT (now succeeded by the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT (Ver.2)) at 1/125 sec, f/2 and ISO3200. © Fabio Mirulla
There is a common conception that flash and photojournalism cannot get along. After all, flash can be obtrusive, and the preparation required for softer, off-camera flash setups can be problematic for photojournalists reacting to rapidly unfolding events. Moreover, many feel there is no room for subjectivity in news reporting, and using flash creatively risks disturbing the authenticity of a scene.
Not everyone agrees with this, however. "We are always told flash and reportage do not mix," says Italian Canon Ambassador Fabio Mirulla, whose wedding photography captures matrimony in a natural, photojournalistic manner. "But we often face situations where having a good Speedlite in your kitbag can solve very difficult moments or help you produce something creative without interfering with what is happening in front of you."
Here, Fabio lists five wedding-reportage flash techniques that he believes can also apply to photojournalism and documentary photography.