Camera Flashes????????????? Help!!?

[Spin]

Okay so Im pretty into photography and i was thinking about getting some flashes to take my stuff to the next level, but I know absolutley nothing about flashes, so i was just wondering if someone could give me like a "crash course" on flashes, just toss me everything you know. I've heard terms like slave flashes, pocket wizards, flash stands, dedicated and non dedicated,off-camera, tanscievers, continuos lighting, umbrellas, tents, and others. I understand what flashes are used for (filling in shadows, etc.), but i just need some info before i buy any. I know this is asking a lot, so thanks a ton for your help!!

[Clinton]

The best peice of advice I can offer is to go to your libary and read up on th differnt flashes and go to your local camera store and look at what they offer. A good book cannot be replaced and if it is comprehensive enough it will guide you through the learning and advance techniques and termonalgoies. Flash is such a huge term in photography that it will take me three or 4 pages to out line the basics. Though a External flash like the Nikon SB-600 or Canon 530EX II are good starter flashes.

Slave flashes are an external flash on a stand or support that is synced to the camera using another flash, like anohter SB-600 or SB-900 for nikon. SO through that you can set off two flashes instead of needing a expensive lighting kit,

Continuous lighting is used more in video but you are starting to see it more and more in studio photography. It is a light that is constantly on, and gives a certain look or affect often using a difuser or coloured gel.

Umbrellas help difues or spread light, it is easier to demonstrate then explain.

Flashes should be used in almost every scenero, and a flash light can be used in place of a flash for some pretty interesting effects.

A flash is a good tool, since it helps even out tone, colour and even out lighting. Play with a couple at your local dealer and see what suites you. I am not sure if this helps you any but I hope it does. Flash is not a small portion of photography and can take a long time to know everything.