Ambient lighthouse exposure with beacon rays penetrating fog
Sep 19, 2012 03:37:25 #
I am reposting the below technique that accompanied a similar image I posted a couple of days ago.
The method used on this image is similar,....many will not see this explanation since it lies buried within the older image post.
First of all, this is a full frame image,...I try to do all my cropping in the viewfinder by selecting the correct lens and positioning myself accordingly.
I shoot all my images in manual mode only,...I never use auto focus, don't even know how to even though my Nikon D300 is capable. I use my old and trusted manual lenses, some dating back to the late 1960's,..great workhorses IMHO.
There's a sweet spot where darkness and pre dawn light magically intertwine. This few minutes combined with the proper exposure allow enough detail to be revealed to not only silhouetting the lighthouse,....but also capture the light beams within the fog and,....while not overexposing the beacon.
Let me explain how I do this,...
First of all some important information,...
West Quoddy Head Light has a timing sequence:
Light On,....then off for two seconds,.....Light On,....then off for nine seconds. This sequence constantly repeats.
If my exposure includes two (both) beacon On cycles,....I blow out all detail in the beacons light lens. Sometimes even catching one On cycle will also blow out the beacons light detail,.....So I set my shutter speed for 8 seconds,......and now I catch (intentionally) the latter half of the second beacons On cycle,...8 seconds later my exposure terminates,...just one second before the beacon begins the next cycle. Thats the trick. By catching the latter half of the second On cycle,...I can control the intensity and clarity of the beacon itself.
The f stop will vary with the ambient light present at the time,......for me to capture the exact balance I am after. If I select an fstop too small I get the beacon light ONLY,..with no fog rays and no silhouette.
If I select an fstop too large I get an blown out beacon light as well as over exposed lighthouse with rays over exposed also and possibly non existant.
The Sweet Spot is the critical element, that few minutes when the light is perfect to balance all elements together. Once those moments pass,...the effect varies lesser and lesser as day light overpowers the visible rays penetrating the fog.
Now if the fog is really heavy and thick,...you'd have a bit more time to work your image within the confines of the exposure you use.
So there are lots of variables for you to play with,...changing your ISO as you shoot can buy you extra shots,...but at the cost of deteriorated and noisy image quality.
So,...Thats how I exposed this particular image.
I have worked with this lighthouse for well over a year now,....I actually use the lighthouse beacon as a timer in some of my more complex exposures. I have learned many approaches to achieving the balance I desire for unique effects. There is no one way to do anything,...We all do the same thing,....different.
Anyway that's what I did in this image,...hope I explained it adequately,...if not,...just PM me or I can post my answer here,...to be continued,...
Thanks
Martys
The method used on this image is similar,....many will not see this explanation since it lies buried within the older image post.
First of all, this is a full frame image,...I try to do all my cropping in the viewfinder by selecting the correct lens and positioning myself accordingly.
I shoot all my images in manual mode only,...I never use auto focus, don't even know how to even though my Nikon D300 is capable. I use my old and trusted manual lenses, some dating back to the late 1960's,..great workhorses IMHO.
There's a sweet spot where darkness and pre dawn light magically intertwine. This few minutes combined with the proper exposure allow enough detail to be revealed to not only silhouetting the lighthouse,....but also capture the light beams within the fog and,....while not overexposing the beacon.
Let me explain how I do this,...
First of all some important information,...
West Quoddy Head Light has a timing sequence:
Light On,....then off for two seconds,.....Light On,....then off for nine seconds. This sequence constantly repeats.
If my exposure includes two (both) beacon On cycles,....I blow out all detail in the beacons light lens. Sometimes even catching one On cycle will also blow out the beacons light detail,.....So I set my shutter speed for 8 seconds,......and now I catch (intentionally) the latter half of the second beacons On cycle,...8 seconds later my exposure terminates,...just one second before the beacon begins the next cycle. Thats the trick. By catching the latter half of the second On cycle,...I can control the intensity and clarity of the beacon itself.
The f stop will vary with the ambient light present at the time,......for me to capture the exact balance I am after. If I select an fstop too small I get the beacon light ONLY,..with no fog rays and no silhouette.
If I select an fstop too large I get an blown out beacon light as well as over exposed lighthouse with rays over exposed also and possibly non existant.
The Sweet Spot is the critical element, that few minutes when the light is perfect to balance all elements together. Once those moments pass,...the effect varies lesser and lesser as day light overpowers the visible rays penetrating the fog.
Now if the fog is really heavy and thick,...you'd have a bit more time to work your image within the confines of the exposure you use.
So there are lots of variables for you to play with,...changing your ISO as you shoot can buy you extra shots,...but at the cost of deteriorated and noisy image quality.
So,...Thats how I exposed this particular image.
I have worked with this lighthouse for well over a year now,....I actually use the lighthouse beacon as a timer in some of my more complex exposures. I have learned many approaches to achieving the balance I desire for unique effects. There is no one way to do anything,...We all do the same thing,....different.
Anyway that's what I did in this image,...hope I explained it adequately,...if not,...just PM me or I can post my answer here,...to be continued,...
Thanks
Martys
Ambient lighthouse exposure with beacon rays penetrating fog
Sep 19, 2012 07:33:52 #
It sure took a lot of work, but you have achieved. Very impressive shot.And, the explaination was very thorough. Keep shooting, you give us all something to try.
Sep 20, 2012 08:06:12 #
Sep 20, 2012 23:36:57 #
tom hughes
Loc: Phila Pa
Have you tried taking a black card, holding it in front of the lens
when the lights are on and off during the dark cycle. If you have the patience, and it sounds like you do, you can set your camera on bulb and by timing you could burn the Lighthouse and the night sky clearly into the sensor, try 8 minutes, white balance, if you have a Kelvin scale, full moon about 4000, ISO 100 or 200 depending on your camera. I'll post a picture, shot around 11:00 pm, cemetery, using only ambient light. 14mm lens, f4.5, 100 ISO, 4000K, about 10 minute exposure, Bulb setting, Canon remote control, about 100 feet from subject.
when the lights are on and off during the dark cycle. If you have the patience, and it sounds like you do, you can set your camera on bulb and by timing you could burn the Lighthouse and the night sky clearly into the sensor, try 8 minutes, white balance, if you have a Kelvin scale, full moon about 4000, ISO 100 or 200 depending on your camera. I'll post a picture, shot around 11:00 pm, cemetery, using only ambient light. 14mm lens, f4.5, 100 ISO, 4000K, about 10 minute exposure, Bulb setting, Canon remote control, about 100 feet from subject.
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