Creative Lighting

Mysterious Lights at Night

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Year: 2008
Camera: Canon 40D, 70-200mm L f/4 lens
Settings: ISO 100, f/8 (or around there), 2-3 seconds, 85 mm (or around there)
Support: tripod
Other: extension tube for macro photography, wireless remote trigger

Details: for my first photography course there were a few assignments that were aimed at helping creativity, developing style, and having a consistent theme. This photograph was taken for that course. I had several in the series that were similar (and oddly different), which I employed different skills.

This is an excellent example of creative lighting that I think everyone should try. I created this using a small LED light on a key chain and a long exposure. The process involved taking several shots with different exposures, light movement, and angles to get an effect I liked. The subject can be anything. Really, anything! Cans, glass vase, toys, engine parts, office supplies, crystal balls, etc.

To take a photograph like this, here are the basic tips and equipment for you:

• Tripod: to steady the camera as the exposures will be a few seconds long.
• Keep it Dark: to ensure that no light reflects off anything you don't want it to. The room needs to be pretty dark, but as long as the exposure is just a few seconds then it does not have to be pitch black (so you can see what you are doing). I also put my objects on a black table and posted black cardboard on the wall behind it.
  
• Remote Trigger: so you can work the light and the camera at the same time
• Small Light: I used a small light and illuminated my subject from behind so that only some light came through. Take multiple shots moving the light around differently from various angles and intensities if you can.
  
• Extension Tubes: these tubes allow you to get a closer macro shots than a normal lens will allow you to. They are cheap (like $30 on eBay), which is better than buying a specialize macro lens for $900.

Try experimenting with lots of objects, different types of lights, changing angles, and have fun. You will be amazed what you can make!

Contrast and Shadows in your Photographs

Red Dusk and Night - Photographer's Delight

Location: Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada
Year: 2008
Camera: Canon 40D, 17-85mm f/4-5.6 lens
Settings: ISO 100, f/20, 1/13 second, 85 mm
Support: resting on a post

Details: on my trip to Grand Bend I was enjoying the beautiful red sunset at the beach and taking lots of pictures. I had the opportunity to compose this photograph that I really enjoy (hopefully you do to!). Here are some tips to help you grab ones like this.

1. Support -lighting will be low, so you will need to ensure the camera is steady. If you don't have your tripod with you (much like I did not that day), then resting it on a post, bench, wall, etc will do. Remember that a steady camera = a crisp photograph.
   
2. ISO - as always, you want to strive for the lowest possible ISO for your conditions. In this case, I was able to use ISO 100 for as noise free shot. Recall from previous posts that while a higher ISO is more sensitive to light (and take photos in lower light conditions), it also has more noise in the shot.
3. Aperture - Usually in lower light conditions you want a lower aperture so that the speed can be faster. HOWEVER, in this case I chose a higher aperture (f/20) so that the background and foreground would both be clear. Remember that a low f/stop will result in a faster shutter speed (more light comes in as it is wider) but creates blur on the subjects that are not in focus (known as bokeh).
4. Composition - the part that draws my eyes to this photograph is the group of four unknown people walking together with the sunset in the background. It elicits good feelings and memories in me, as I hope it does for many people.
5. Contrast - the bright background and the shadows of the people make the photograph a little more interesting and mysterious. I think of the subjects were well lit/clear, the picture would lose a lot.

Keep on clicking!

Photography Tip: Fast Shutter Speeds

Come Sail Away

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Year: 2008
Camera: Canon 40D, 17-85mm f/4-5.6 lens
Settings: ISO 100, f/9, 1/80 second, 73 mm
Support: hand held
Other: polarizing filter

Details: This photograph was taken while sailing with some coworkers in the summer (2008) in Lake Ontario. The crisp, clear(ish) air and the cooling breeze made for a wondering afternoon. The photograph helps me remember those moments (and hopefully prepare for the next time). The shot was taken on a moving boat (about 4-5 nautical miles per hour, if I recall correctly), so you will need a fast enough shutter speed to still the motion. In this case, I chose an f/9 aperture and ISO 100, letting the camera decide on the shutter speed (1/80 second). While it came out will, my photography tip here is that I could have been better served by selecting a faster speed (say 1/250 second) and having the camera select the aperture.

Processing: to help this photograph stand out more, I did some single file HDR processing with Photomatix (possible since I was using camera RAW).

HDR Photograph

















Original Photograph

Photography Tip: Creative Use of Reflections

Mirror, Mirror, On the What?

Location: New York City, New York, USA
Year: 2008
Camera: Canon 40D, 17-85mm f/4-5.6 lens
Settings: ISO 100, f/8, 1/20 second, 47 mm
Support: hand held

Details: This photography tip isn't about how to operate your camera or what settings to use. It's an example to help stir the creative juices that flow within us all. While in NYC with my girlfriend, I caught this creative portrait of her by taking a picture of my sunglasses, using her reflection in them as the subject. This is probably one of her favourite photographs of herself.

So the photography tip for you is to get out there and take a day where you focus on taking pictures where your subject is in a reflection. Try this with water, sunglasses, glass, mirrors, polished stone, eyes, anything you can get a reflection with. And that is today's photography tip! Good luck!