Here’s a very simple lighting technique that produces quite dramatic results. I call it the “Twilight Blues”.
I try to stage these shots shortly after sunset, when the sun is gone but there is still a little bit of light left in the darkening sky. I switch the color balance setting on my Nikon D3 camera to the tungsten setting and illuminate my subjects with a tungsten light source. I personally use the Lowel ID light. This light allows me to adjust the light pattern from a flood pattern to a tight spotlight pattern and also has a dimmer by which the intensity of the light can be varied. My assistant directs the light on my subjects in a tight spotlight pattern and dims the light to a level where it overpowers the ambient light. Exposure is correctly made for the lighted subjects and everything not being lit by the video light turns a deep blue shade due to your use of a tungsten white balance setting in an environment that is essentially still lit by daylight.
I find that the color temperature of the Lowel ID light drops as you dim it. This actually works to your advantage when creating a “Twilight Blues” shot. With the camera set in the standard tungsten white balance mode and the video light dimmed, the images will be much warmer toned than they should be. No problem. Simply make the appropriate color temperature adjustment when you process your RAW images. The flesh tones will come back to where they should be and the blues will get even deeper. I can’t imagine that there are any photographers out there that don’t shoot RAW, but if you don’t you can still employ this technique. You will just have to set up a custom white balance for the dimmed video light to keep the flesh tones looking natural.
Amazing shot! Love the effect you captured here!
It’s funny, I have the Lowel ID light and never thought of using it at night right after sunset. I always used mine during the bridal portraits. It’s amazing how someone can show you a totally different look using the same light! Thanks!
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Mr. Oneill,
Instead of using the Lowel tungsten light source, have you tried getting similar results with a tungsten filter for your SB900?
Thanks,
Frank Wolff
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Uplighting is less common, often used to bounce indirect light off the ceiling and back down. It is commonly used in lighting applications that require minimal glare and uniform general illuminance levels. Uplighting (indirect) uses a diffuse surface to reflect light in a space and can minimize disabling glare on computer displays and other dark glossy surfaces. It gives a more uniform presentation of the light output in operation. However indirect lighting is completely reliant upon the reflectance value of the surface. While indirect lighting can create a diffused and shadow free light effect it can be regarded as an uneconomical lighting principal.
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