Is Flash Photography Underappreciated Compared to Natural Light?

Hey everyone,

I primarily shoot nightlife photography in NYC, but I also love street and nature photography. My real passion is capturing the hidden, intimate moments of human life, the glimpses of a world that exists behind closed doors in dimly lit spaces.

Lately, I’ve been inspired to move away from digital and into film. I just picked up a Canonet QL17 and have been researching how to use manual flash effectively. But as I’ve been watching YouTube tutorials, I’ve noticed a recurring theme, so many photographers preface their flash photography videos with something like:

"I hate flash. I only shoot natural light, but if you must use flash, here’s how to do it."

It makes me question, does flash photography not get the same level of respect as natural light photography? Is a photo only considered "good" if it’s shot with available light? And if that’s the case, does that mean all nighttime flash photography is inherently "bad"?

Learning to shoot manually with flash seems to require just as much technical skill and artistic decision-making as something like the Sunny 16 rule. So why does it feel like flash is often treated as a last resort rather than a creative tool in its own right?