couple images

synature

As it came out of the camera, cropped only.


Application of curves in Lightroom is the only manipulation.

yendikeno

Really like the first one,
but the second one doesn't do anything for me.

LordKwaz

I would love the first image if her attention was to the camera

synature

LordKwaz wrote: »

I would love the first image if her attention was to the camera

Could you say why you'd want to see more of her face? I want the attention of the viewer on her figure and pose, not on who she is. Perhaps, even less of the face?

jgoetz4

Good Evening,
Like the colors and the 'mystery' look. Could be my neighbor, who knows...
Have a good evening
Jim...

synature

jgoetz4 wrote: »

Good Evening,
Like the colors and the 'mystery' look. Could be my neighbor, who knows...
Have a good evening
Jim...

Thanks, I think the term "mystery look" is very appropriate. I've been developing along these lines, I think.

Doubt either one is a neighbour of yours, though. Unless you have another house out here in Missouri.

eleganteye

I really like the two contrasting hues in the first one, as well as the contrast with the dark background. I agree that taking this one more towards abstraction would only strengthen it. No need to see a face, or even immediately recognize that it's a person.

synature

eleganteye wrote: »

I really like the two contrasting hues in the first one, as well as the contrast with the dark background. I agree that taking this one more towards abstraction would only strengthen it. No need to see a face, or even immediately recognize that it's a person.

Thank you for your comment. I'll have to think about more abstraction, I did try that, but am not as happy with the result as I am with what came out of the camera.

Countryfied

Love the first one. I would really appreciate knowing how you did it. I see that it is a 30 second shutter speed and f/8....but i think my seniors would really go crazy over something like this (non-nude of course).....Could you please let me know how you did it. THANKS...Tammy

synature

The biggest problem with a 30 second exposure is that the camera then takes another 30 seconds to do noise reduction, plus another few seconds of activity. So these shots have to be set up and done one at a time. In this case the model got in a comfortable position and held it. The camera was on a tripod and after I clicked the shutter I moved around the model with some colored lights (the LED type, not glow stick type, those are too dim). Some of the time I pointed the lights at her, other times I just waved them around.

This is a gallery of still lifes I did using this technique. http://images.redwoodtwig.com/Art/Light-Painting/Still-life/3853380_HdK3q

Countryfied

synature wrote: »

The biggest problem with a 30 second exposure is that the camera then takes another 30 seconds to do noise reduction, plus another few seconds of activity. So these shots have to be set up and done one at a time. In this case the model got in a comfortable position and held it. The camera was on a tripod and after I clicked the shutter I moved around the model with some colored lights (the LED type, not glow stick type, those are too dim). Some of the time I pointed the lights at her, other times I just waved them around.

This is a gallery of still lifes I did using this technique. http://images.redwoodtwig.com/Art/Light-Painting/Still-life/3853380_HdK3q

Thanks for the workflow. But do you use off camera flash to get the final second curtain flash to make her in focus or was it all done with the LED lights lighting her?

Also, how do you even begin to meter? It was obviously pitch dark with a 30 second exposure. If I am asking too many trade secrets, just tell me to buzz off.

Thanks again.

synature

Countryfied wrote: »

Thanks for the workflow. But do you use off camera flash to get the final second curtain flash to make her in focus or was it all done with the LED lights lighting her?

Also, how do you even begin to meter? It was obviously pitch dark with a 30 second exposure. If I am asking too many trade secrets, just tell me to buzz off.

Thanks again.

All done with LED lights. Actually it wasn't pitch dark, there were some dim lights in other parts of the studio, not much though. You don't meter. You try to remember what setting seems to work best with the lights you happen to be using. I generally preview the first shot and adjust from what I see in the tiny LCD on the camera. Too dark, either open the aperture more or give it more time. Too light, close the aperture down. And balance that against how long you want to be moving the lights, what kinds of light trails you want. This particular camera max is 30 seconds, and while there is the bulb setting, I'd need a timer and haven't found one I like yet.

Countryfied

synature wrote: »

All done with LED lights. Actually it wasn't pitch dark, there were some dim lights in other parts of the studio, not much though. You don't meter. You try to remember what setting seems to work best with the lights you happen to be using. I generally preview the first shot and adjust from what I see in the tiny LCD on the camera. Too dark, either open the aperture more or give it more time. Too light, close the aperture down. And balance that against how long you want to be moving the lights, what kinds of light trails you want. This particular camera max is 30 seconds, and while there is the bulb setting, I'd need a timer and haven't found one I like yet.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. That's a big help. Last question and I will quit bothering you. Can you describe or show the lights you were using. Are they like LED colored flash lights?

synature

Countryfied wrote: »

Thanks. I really appreciate it. That's a big help. Last question and I will quit bothering you. Can you describe or show the lights you were using. Are they like LED colored flash lights?

Mostly I use two kinds of lights: a regular palm sized LED flashlight, always with a white light, but some of them have a head that will twist to give red or blue also. Read the lumens rating, if more than about 75, it's easy to get too much light on the subject, even when done quickly. The other lights that I use are the ones that leave the nice trails behind. These are usually wands a bit longer than the hand with a colored plastic tube in front that diffuses the light nicely. Usually in the flashlight section of the bigger department type stores. Availability varies a lot, I just stop in frequently to see what they have.

Basically, get a bunch of different colored LED type lights and play. The glow stick type are much dimmer and you need much longer exposures for the light to look decent.

mdslngr

first one is awesome