Taking pictures in dark rooms
Jul 24, 2013 04:20:17 #
jdubu
Loc: San Jose, CA
As I wrote earlier, you can make what you have work well with just a couple of accessories. These photos were done with my flash attached via an ETTL cord on the camera hot shoe, flash unit was on a flash bracket with a Lumiquest softbox III (as mentioned by Captain C).
I agree with Goofy Newfie that the Fong attachment is too general and not making the best use of your battery power.
The bracket was positioned as a straight arm and extended to a comfortable length for the cord and hand held in my left hand.
The shots are soft due to the res. and save for web.
I agree with Goofy Newfie that the Fong attachment is too general and not making the best use of your battery power.
The bracket was positioned as a straight arm and extended to a comfortable length for the cord and hand held in my left hand.
The shots are soft due to the res. and save for web.
Jul 24, 2013 04:21:19 #
Jul 24, 2013 05:34:32 #
I use a Sto Fen Flash attachment and it allows me to use soft light in any situation, plus it is pretty inexpensive.
Jul 24, 2013 05:34:32 #
I use a Sto Fen Flash attachment and it allows me to use soft light in any situation, plus it is pretty inexpensive.
Jul 24, 2013 05:38:02 #
DPFotos
Loc: Pembroke, Ma
Starr wrote:
Here are two of the pictures that I believe are too dark. Thank all of you for your suggestions and help. Captain C, I think you are right...... Sometimes it just can't be done.
As I look at these fotos I see great possibilities with the right PP software especially if you shot in RAW. These fotos would generally be quite easy to fix with CS6.
Jul 24, 2013 06:17:27 #
Starr Your photos are under-exposed so I've redone the firstn one twice, each using a different control in Photosfop CS6. and only one adjustment each.
The first was adjusted with the use of the arrow on the right side of the HISTOGRAM. Its setting was moved from 239 to 133 and voila - the whole thing's done.
With the second I went to the EXPOSURE palette and opened the Exposure panel and moved the Exposure pointer to the right (lightening it) from its value of 0.00 to 1.76. That's it - done.
There are other tools that might do the same or similar too such as Image > Curves > Brightness. (in fact it does - just tried it). So you can probably do that on almost any photo editor if you have one on your computer. There are a few free ones around to be downloaded easily. Hope that helps and saves a bunch of good photos for you.
Mike.
The first was adjusted with the use of the arrow on the right side of the HISTOGRAM. Its setting was moved from 239 to 133 and voila - the whole thing's done.
With the second I went to the EXPOSURE palette and opened the Exposure panel and moved the Exposure pointer to the right (lightening it) from its value of 0.00 to 1.76. That's it - done.
There are other tools that might do the same or similar too such as Image > Curves > Brightness. (in fact it does - just tried it). So you can probably do that on almost any photo editor if you have one on your computer. There are a few free ones around to be downloaded easily. Hope that helps and saves a bunch of good photos for you.
Mike.
Jul 24, 2013 06:22:25 #
Starr Your photos are under-exposed so I've redone the first one twice, each using a different control in Photoshop CS6. and only one adjustment each.
The first was adjusted with the use of the arrow on the right side of the HISTOGRAM. Its setting was moved from 239 to 133 and voila - the whole thing's done.
With the second I went to the EXPOSURE palette and opened the Exposure panel and moved the Exposure pointer to the right (lightening it) from its value of 0.00 to 1.76. That's it - done.
There are other tools that might do the same or similar too such as Image > Curves > Brightness. (in fact it does - just tried it).
So you can probably do that on almost any photo editor if you have one on your computer. There are a few free ones around to be downloaded easily. Hope that helps and saves a bunch of good photos for you.
Mike.
ps - stuffed up the second one but it looks about the same. So did the one using "Image".
The first was adjusted with the use of the arrow on the right side of the HISTOGRAM. Its setting was moved from 239 to 133 and voila - the whole thing's done.
With the second I went to the EXPOSURE palette and opened the Exposure panel and moved the Exposure pointer to the right (lightening it) from its value of 0.00 to 1.76. That's it - done.
There are other tools that might do the same or similar too such as Image > Curves > Brightness. (in fact it does - just tried it).
So you can probably do that on almost any photo editor if you have one on your computer. There are a few free ones around to be downloaded easily. Hope that helps and saves a bunch of good photos for you.
Mike.
ps - stuffed up the second one but it looks about the same. So did the one using "Image".
Jul 24, 2013 06:24:36 #
Jul 24, 2013 06:49:19 #
Starr,
I would have tried one of two things, increasing the exposure value +1 or 2 with the exposure compensation control or the flash compensation by a +1 or 2. I have some pics taken out in the woods in total darkness and pushed these values with good success. If I can locate them, I will try and post them.
I would have tried one of two things, increasing the exposure value +1 or 2 with the exposure compensation control or the flash compensation by a +1 or 2. I have some pics taken out in the woods in total darkness and pushed these values with good success. If I can locate them, I will try and post them.
Jul 24, 2013 07:05:09 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
Get a flip flash bracket- it'll position the flash over your lens whether you are shooting vertical or horizontal- then just add a simple diffuser to the flash- you'll need an external hot shoe to flash cord too. Many choices at B&H.
Jul 24, 2013 08:16:42 #
Starr wrote:
Please help. The last two events I photographed were held in rooms that were all wood - walls, floors, ceiling and furniture. I had a terrible time getting any photos to work out. There was nothing to bounce my external flash off of so pictures turned out too dark. My ISO was at 1600/3200 and metered my camera but still the colors were all off. I spent way too much time in post processing. Any suggestions?
I'm not sure whether someone has already mentioned this, but did you try aiming the flash directly at the subject, but diffused using a diffuser or a single layer of Kleenex, or a paper towel, etc.? ...not a perfect solution, but you were in a terrible jam. :thumbup:
Jul 24, 2013 08:22:09 #
Used to have that problem. On camera TTL helped a bit. Finally went to a Cobra Twin Flash 30TD. Use no diffusers for out door fill light. Diffuser on small flash indoors, and tilt large flash.
Jul 24, 2013 08:32:52 #
[quote=Starr]I was using an external flash but there was nothing to bounce the light off of. [quote]
Have you tried a softbox on your flash or a simple pocket-bounce?
Have you tried a softbox on your flash or a simple pocket-bounce?
Jul 24, 2013 10:14:02 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
Use one of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=811488&is=REG&A=details&Q=
and drag the shutter as much as you can to get something in the background to show up.
http://digital-photography-school.com/dragging-the-shutter-balancing-fill-flash-with-ambient-light
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=811488&is=REG&A=details&Q=
and drag the shutter as much as you can to get something in the background to show up.
http://digital-photography-school.com/dragging-the-shutter-balancing-fill-flash-with-ambient-light
Which would you recommend. The Lite Genius Lite-Scoop II Flash Modifier, or the Lumiquest Softbox III ?
Jul 24, 2013 10:16:37 #
CajonPhotog wrote:
They are pretty dark, true, but all I did was use a levels adjustment and a hue/saturation adjustment. They look pretty good for not being the original, and I am sure the original would look better.
They look wonderful CajonPhotog. Thank you for taking the time to help me find a way to make the photos looks better. I have a lot of post processing ahead of me....
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