Less is More a Lighting Exercise

benjikan · 03-04-2008, 12:11 PM

I have a little exercise for everyone interested in Photography. I would love for you to try to do a photo shoot with the least amount of light possible. By that I mean to allow for the areas in the image that are important to the composition to come through and allowing the shadows to play their role accordingly. Kind of a "Yin Yang" approach...What do you think?

Ben

Gooshin · 03-04-2008, 12:17 PM

i dont get it?

here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off?

Zenfolio | Serge Guschin | Spacco's

aegisphan · 03-05-2008, 02:48 AM

If you look at Ben's gallery, you will understand. He basically meant a partially lit area in the picture while the rest would be in the dark/shadow.

This is an interesting method. I'll try.

mattdm · 03-05-2008, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by Gooshin

i dont get it?

here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off?

Zenfolio | Serge Guschin | Spacco's

I think #2 there kind of fits the bill, although I think Ben is suggesting trying for an even more dramatic contrast. #8 provides an excellent counterexample, actually -- there's distracting lights in the background and the foreground subject is in the shadow.

Tom M · 03-05-2008, 08:21 AM

Yeah.. I get it.. I have some non-studio examples if you're interested..

Best viewed with FireFox or Safari as Mac stuff looks crummy in IE for whatever reason. (it gets the jaggies)

On this page here thomas maher photography , all of the shots from the "Orba" series (starts with a bull) are available-light only (somewhat abstract) and on the same page, the "Landscape" series, photos # 3, 8, 10, 17, 18, 25 and 30 are all taken at night in the dark with only moonlight and some light-painting..

You can click to go directly to the Landscape page landscape

Or, click to go directly to the Orba page.. orba

creampuff · 03-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Would this fit the bill?

Rickster · 03-05-2008, 09:10 AM

Not sure if this fit's the bill ...

...

I guess not.

Last edited by Rickster; 03-05-2008 at 11:54 AM.

Gooshin · 03-05-2008, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by creampuff

Would this fit the bill?

f*ckin A!!!

aegisphan · 03-05-2008, 09:44 AM

Denis, you really keep your bike clean. If I didn't notice those scuff marks at the gear shift area, I would probably say this is brand new, ad shot or even a computer generated one

.

creampuff · 03-05-2008, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by Gooshin

f*ckin A!!!

Thanks.

Originally posted by aegisphan

Denis, you really keep your bike clean. If I didn't notice those scuff marks at the gear shift area, I would probably say this is brand new, ad shot or even a computer generated one

.

Wow, you got keen eyes.
I gave up riding a few years ago.
The bike belongs to someone I know and I asked him to allow me to shoot it.
Shot handheld, available light. No studio setup.

benjikan · 03-05-2008, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by Gooshin

i dont get it?

here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off?

Zenfolio | Serge Guschin | Spacco's

Very nice work...Bravo!!!

Ben

benjikan · 03-05-2008, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by creampuff

Would this fit the bill?

Beautiful image. I love the tight crop. Works very well. But like one of my favorite Art Directors Jacques Michel Verger said; "When you think you are in too close, come in Closer..."

Ben

Gooshin · 03-05-2008, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

Very nice work...Bravo!!!

Ben

thank you!

Tom M · 03-05-2008, 06:09 PM

bad bull..

m8o · 03-05-2008, 08:50 PM

anyone that's seen my posts in the "your best/favorites" threads knows what I want to contribute to this...

...was totally happenstance if pre-meditated after a few seconds of thought. I relied as I often do on mother nature's own spotlight. I dunno, enough of that photograph @ this point?

edit: ...though, not what I'm referring to above, this comes to mind from a few months back when I was going for what I think you are referring to Ben...

03-04-2008, 12:11 PM	#1
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	Less is More a Lighting Exercise I have a little exercise for everyone interested in Photography. I would love for you to try to do a photo shoot with the least amount of light possible. By that I mean to allow for the areas in the image that are important to the composition to come through and allowing the shadows to play their role accordingly. Kind of a "Yin Yang" approach...What do you think? Ben

03-05-2008, 08:21 AM	#5
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	Yeah.. I get it.. I have some non-studio examples if you're interested.. Best viewed with FireFox or Safari as Mac stuff looks crummy in IE for whatever reason. (it gets the jaggies) On this page here thomas maher photography , all of the shots from the "Orba" series (starts with a bull) are available-light only (somewhat abstract) and on the same page, the "Landscape" series, photos # 3, 8, 10, 17, 18, 25 and 30 are all taken at night in the dark with only moonlight and some light-painting.. You can click to go directly to the Landscape page landscape Or, click to go directly to the Orba page.. orba Last edited by Tom M; 03-05-2008 at 08:38 AM.

03-05-2008, 04:31 PM	#12
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Originally posted by creampuff Would this fit the bill? Beautiful image. I love the tight crop. Works very well. But like one of my favorite Art Directors Jacques Michel Verger said; "When you think you are in too close, come in Closer..." Ben Last edited by benjikan; 03-06-2008 at 02:54 AM.

03-05-2008, 08:50 PM	#15
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	anyone that's seen my posts in the "your best/favorites" threads knows what I want to contribute to this... ...was totally happenstance if pre-meditated after a few seconds of thought. I relied as I often do on mother nature's own spotlight. I dunno, enough of that photograph @ this point? edit: ...though, not what I'm referring to above, this comes to mind from a few months back when I was going for what I think you are referring to Ben... Last edited by m8o; 03-05-2008 at 09:50 PM.

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03-04-2008, 12:17 PM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	i dont get it? here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off? Zenfolio \| Serge Guschin \| Spacco's

03-05-2008, 02:48 AM	#3
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	If you look at Ben's gallery, you will understand. He basically meant a partially lit area in the picture while the rest would be in the dark/shadow. This is an interesting method. I'll try.

03-05-2008, 07:55 AM	#4
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Gooshin i dont get it? here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off? Zenfolio \| Serge Guschin \| Spacco's I think #2 there kind of fits the bill, although I think Ben is suggesting trying for an even more dramatic contrast. #8 provides an excellent counterexample, actually -- there's distracting lights in the background and the foreground subject is in the shadow.

03-05-2008, 08:25 AM	#6
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Would this fit the bill?

03-05-2008, 09:10 AM	#7
Rickster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SE Idaho - Rocky Mtns Photos: Gallery Posts: 580	Not sure if this fit's the bill ... ... I guess not. Last edited by Rickster; 03-05-2008 at 11:54 AM.

03-05-2008, 09:13 AM	#8
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by creampuff Would this fit the bill? f*ckin A!!!

03-05-2008, 09:44 AM	#9
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	Denis, you really keep your bike clean. If I didn't notice those scuff marks at the gear shift area, I would probably say this is brand new, ad shot or even a computer generated one .

03-05-2008, 03:50 PM	#10
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Originally posted by Gooshin f*ckin A!!! Thanks. Originally posted by aegisphan Denis, you really keep your bike clean. If I didn't notice those scuff marks at the gear shift area, I would probably say this is brand new, ad shot or even a computer generated one . Wow, you got keen eyes. I gave up riding a few years ago. The bike belongs to someone I know and I asked him to allow me to shoot it. Shot handheld, available light. No studio setup.

03-05-2008, 04:29 PM	#11
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Originally posted by Gooshin i dont get it? here is a low light series... is that what you are thinking off? Zenfolio \| Serge Guschin \| Spacco's Very nice work...Bravo!!! Ben

03-05-2008, 05:47 PM	#13
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by benjikan Very nice work...Bravo!!! Ben thank you!