When a scene is dim, your camera may pop up the flash automatically.
If you're using a digital SLR (DSLR) camera, the flash will pop up if you're using the Auto exposure mode or one of the exposure mode icons.
If you don't want to use the flash, switch the exposure mode dial to A or Av, or, to S or Tv.
If you're using a point-and-shoot camera, you can disable the flash.
Press the button with the flash icon.
Then, press again until you see the flash icon on the LCD screen that's in a circle with a diagonal line.
Be sure to return the setting to the flash icon with an A next to it.
The A stands for automatic.
The shadows that we may not even notice with our eyes become much darker in photographs.
This is often detrimental when you're photographing people in the sun.
For example, you won't see the eyes if they're in shadow from a hat.
Use flash to brighten the shadows.
This is called fill flash.
The subject must be within, say, ten feet of your camera.
Sometimes, the flash is too dark or too bright when you're using it to brighten shadows.
On many cameras you can adjust the brightness by using flash exposure compensation.
This button has flash and +/- icons.
It's often near the flash.
Hold down the button while turning a control knob.
If you use the flash on your DSLR camera with a wide focal length, such as 18mm, the lens may block the light coming from the flash.
A shadow will be prominent at the bottom of the photograph.
Use a more telephoto focal length or crop the photograph.
There's also a flash section in Tips.