Night + Portrait Photography

I have a question about night photography. I have been given an assignment

to make some portraits for a class. I have also been wanting to experiment

with night/low light photography and decided I would try and combine the two.

The setting will be at my local Boardwalk (at night). There will be a variety of

different backdrops....but most I imagine will have similar lighting (neon etc....)

Like I said, I am new to the night/low light scene and still wrapping my head

around a lot of concepts.....basically because the more I learn, the more I find

out there is to learn..... I am using ISO 400, tripod and my SLR.

 

Do I need to use flash? What affect would flash have on this type of

portraiture? Where do I take my meter reading? Are there any other tips and

suggestions that you pros could offer?

Athena,

 

I have been recently experimenting with shooting models in a night setting. I have been using mostly street lights or overhead lighting around malls and such. I have taken pictures both with and without a flash. I tend to like the flash pictures better since they allow you to fill in the area under the eyes and chin.

 

My suggestion would be to use an on camera flash dialed down to -2 EV. I have experimented with using the flash pointing straight up (90 degrees) with a bounce card attached as well as setting the flash at 45 degrees with a bounce card. Try both and see which one you like best.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards,

 

Miguel<div></div>

Low light, not night, is the key. If you shoot at full night all your lighting will have to be

from your flashes. Much better is to try some shooting about an hour after sunset or in

whatever time frame it requires to allow you to have some ambient light mixed with your

flash. that will get a bit of color in the sky and some ambient light on the background in

general while still allowing you to light the main subject. drag the shutter long for some

interesting effects.

You'll need flash for sure unless you shoot reasonably soon after sunset and are

prepared to have your model remain very still. What kind? Two flashes of whatever you can

muster. Two studio flashes (three are better) would be great, two regular flash would be

OK and lastly, a single flash, but it MUST be off the camera or you are just wasting your

time (unless you are bouncing). That's my two second take on it.

<i>Like I said, I am new to the night/low light scene and still wrapping my head around a lot of concepts.....basically because the more I learn, the more I find out there is to learn....</i><P>

You already have more wisdom than most. As you learn more and more, the incredible vastness of your ignorance will become profoundly humbling.<P>

My recommendation is the use the fastest lens you've got (widest aperture) and the highest-speed film you think you can get away with. Metering is typically the trickiest aspect of night shooting--I use an incident meter, but using a grey card with your reflective meter will also do the job.<P>

The main thing to remember is to keep your eyes and mind open to all the light that's available. Below are some examples of portraits/people images shot outside after dark to give you an idea of a few possibilities.<P>

<center>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/jillcol02.jpg"><br>

<i>Kodak EPJ 320T, EI 1,000, pushed two stops; about f2.8 at 1/60; main light from a brightly-lit store display window</i><P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/jillcol07.jpg"><br>

<i>same film/processing as above; about f1.7 at 1/60; main light from tungsten lamp over a side door of shop; shot from a high angle</i><P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/livcol06.jpg"><br>

<i>same film/processing as above; about f1.7 at 1/60; shop window lights (main) and street light (fill); shot from a low angle</i><P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/kor2girls.jpg"><br>

<i>HP5+, EI 640, one-stop push; about f2.8 at 1/60; display lights</i><P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/mgtcolface02.jpg"><br>

<i>Delta 3200, EI 3200; about f2 at 1/60; streetlight</i><P>

<img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lindseybw02.jpg"><br>

<i>same film/processing as above; about f1.7 at 1/60; front deck of a cafe</i><P>

Thank you for all your replies. Mike thank you particularly for your examples.

So....you didn't use flash for those did you? Strictly street or window light?

They are really nice portraits. Another note....I'm working strictly in B&W.

 

Thanks again.

You're welcome. No flash, just whatever was around. In the one below, though, I did use a reflector.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/farrahbw03.jpg"></center>

Mike- Where did you take your meter reading? Lights....face.....other? Thanks!

For most shots, I take an incident reading of the light falling on the bright side of the face. (For the shot above of the girl with the green arc in the background, I metered both sides of her face, and set an exposure between to bring up clear detail on the dark side.)