skypointer2000
Lights of the Past
While visiting the Ward Charcoal Ovens in 2018, I initially had them to myself. After installing my low level lights and starting to shoot, a group of photographers arrived and began to set up next to me. I don't know if it was a commercial workshop, but there was a group leader who told everyone what to do.
I heard him complaining about having no lights to illuminate the ovens and told him that I had already installed my lights. He asked me to switch them on and when I said that they actually were on, the group laughed at me.
I told them to take some test shots and when they did, they noticed the low level lighting, but asked me to make it brighter. I explained that this would be a mistake as the lights need to be dim enough to allow capturing the shadows in the background without burning out the highlights.
They were not convinced though and started lightpainting the ovens with their headlamps. Once again, I tried to explain that this was not the way to do it, but the group leader cut me off by saying: "You obviously are one of those million dollar photographers who think they own the place".
Arrrgh. I bit my tongue and did not tell him that he obviously was one of those advice-resistant workshop leaders that neither knows his trade, nor how to behave in the presence of other photographers.
To my relief, the group left after about an hour and I still had enough time to get my shots without their interference.
Thankfully, such experiences are not the norm as most photographers and workshops behave correctly. One thing I however see quite often, is that even those who know about low level lighting are turning up their lights way too bright. This not only results in exposures with very bright main subjects and just dark silhouettes in the background, but the bright lights are also extremely intrusive for other photographers. Actually, this form of stationary lighting is just as bad as traditional lightpainting.
Therefore, remember to keep your lights as low as possible and of course it is good practice to ask all photographers present if they are happy with low level lighting. If not, everyone should shoot in complete darkness.
Prints available:
ralf-rohner.pixels.com/featured/lights-of-the-past-ralf-r...
EXIF
Canon EOS 6D, astro-modified
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 @ 20mm
iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Low Level Lighting
Sky:
Stack of 6 x 120s @ ISO1600, tracked
Foreground:
Stack of 5x 120s @ ISO1600
Lights of the Past
While visiting the Ward Charcoal Ovens in 2018, I initially had them to myself. After installing my low level lights and starting to shoot, a group of photographers arrived and began to set up next to me. I don't know if it was a commercial workshop, but there was a group leader who told everyone what to do.
I heard him complaining about having no lights to illuminate the ovens and told him that I had already installed my lights. He asked me to switch them on and when I said that they actually were on, the group laughed at me.
I told them to take some test shots and when they did, they noticed the low level lighting, but asked me to make it brighter. I explained that this would be a mistake as the lights need to be dim enough to allow capturing the shadows in the background without burning out the highlights.
They were not convinced though and started lightpainting the ovens with their headlamps. Once again, I tried to explain that this was not the way to do it, but the group leader cut me off by saying: "You obviously are one of those million dollar photographers who think they own the place".
Arrrgh. I bit my tongue and did not tell him that he obviously was one of those advice-resistant workshop leaders that neither knows his trade, nor how to behave in the presence of other photographers.
To my relief, the group left after about an hour and I still had enough time to get my shots without their interference.
Thankfully, such experiences are not the norm as most photographers and workshops behave correctly. One thing I however see quite often, is that even those who know about low level lighting are turning up their lights way too bright. This not only results in exposures with very bright main subjects and just dark silhouettes in the background, but the bright lights are also extremely intrusive for other photographers. Actually, this form of stationary lighting is just as bad as traditional lightpainting.
Therefore, remember to keep your lights as low as possible and of course it is good practice to ask all photographers present if they are happy with low level lighting. If not, everyone should shoot in complete darkness.
Prints available:
ralf-rohner.pixels.com/featured/lights-of-the-past-ralf-r...
EXIF
Canon EOS 6D, astro-modified
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 @ 20mm
iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Low Level Lighting
Sky:
Stack of 6 x 120s @ ISO1600, tracked
Foreground:
Stack of 5x 120s @ ISO1600