Photographing burning butterlamps

[spl]

I wonder if anyone has any tips on how they would have handled trying to photograph this. It is a long narrow building with windows on the opposite side about 1 meter away from the bank of butterlamps. I didn't want to shoot through the glass from the outside because of problems with the glass causing reflections.

With the first two I used automatic flash and the third without. I was using my P&S camera (Olympus C5000) at the time.

Thanks
sue

[Tinka]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

I wonder if anyone has any tips on how they would have handled trying to photograph this. It is a long narrow building with windows on the opposite side about 1 meter away from the bank of butterlamps. I didn't want to shoot through the glass from the outside because of problems with the glass causing reflections.

With the first two I used automatic flash and the third without. I was using my P&S camera (Olympus C5000) at the time.

Thanks
sue

Hi Sue,
I have not had enough experience to tell you a better way to get the image in that situation, But I feel that the last image without flash is far superior to the first two. Perhaps a very small aperture and bracketing would help, but I like the image and it can surely be adjusted very successfully in PSP or PS or another program. I like the way the curve and line of the lamps lead you into the image. and perhaps the lighter part of the image at the right rear could be cloned out.
Good Luck.

[Ian]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

I wonder if anyone has any tips on how they would have handled trying to photograph this. It is a long narrow building with windows on the opposite side about 1 meter away from the bank of butterlamps. I didn't want to shoot through the glass from the outside because of problems with the glass causing reflections.

With the first two I used automatic flash and the third without. I was using my P&S camera (Olympus C5000) at the time.

Thanks
sue

Hi Sue, I think you have done a good job with the flash ones, but I agree with Tinka that the final one without flash is the most agreeable.

Have you considered trying a slow shutter speed in conjunction with the flash? This would lighten the background to balance it better with the flash-lit foreground. You will probably need a tripod, though.

Ian

[Archangel]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

I wonder if anyone has any tips on how they would have handled trying to photograph this. It is a long narrow building with windows on the opposite side about 1 meter away from the bank of butterlamps. I didn't want to shoot through the glass from the outside because of problems with the glass causing reflections.

With the first two I used automatic flash and the third without. I was using my P&S camera (Olympus C5000) at the time.

Thanks
sue

Hi Sue,

Try using Flash Sync mode and the camera steady on a tripod or leaning on some steady object to see how it turns out.


Regards

George

[lumix]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

Sue it really depends on what you wanted to achieve with this shot. I think you have done well with the camera you were using and you have three good photos. If you wanted to get more even lighting from front to rear then this could have been achieved with a slave flash gun. By placing a slave gun half way along and out of shot the rear portion would have been better covered. This is a method used for shooting wedding receptions were the people at the far end of a long table would appear to be in darkness. Long building interiors can also be photographed with a similar method ie set camera on tripod, select small aperture and lock the shutter open. Then walk along out of shot firing a flash at different stages. Not tried this myself with digital but have done it a few times back in the film days. Problem is having the right gear with you at a given time. That never seems to be the case unless you are prepared to carry a truck load of gear around with you just in case.

[Pops]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

You did right in taking more than 1 shot and using different methods. A most unusual setting. Personally I wouldn't have a clue as to the method to use. I go for the 3rd shot but would have liked to have seen the window cloned out. I guess it was this window that allowed the far end to be lit up more.

[spl]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

Thanks for the informative replies. Yes I agree the trouble with the flash ones were that there was a lack of balancing between the foreground area and the area further away. I did find some of the methods for overcoming this quite interesting but I am not sure if Lumix's method would work in this case as if I myself wanted to stay out of the picture i.e. at a bit of a distance walking down with my flash gun I would have to go outside and flash it in through the glass.

Next time I go up there I will go with my tripod and my new dS:R and try out a few of the things you suggest.
PS there is a door at either end which I have no objection to chopping out of the picture but thought it added perspective which obviously and interestingly from your comments it does not do at all so probably best to chop it off

sue

[lumix]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

Thanks for the informative replies. Yes I agree the trouble with the flash ones were that there was a lack of balancing between the foreground area and the area further away. I did find some of the methods for overcoming this quite interesting but I am not sure if Lumix's method would work in this case as if I myself wanted to stay out of the picture i.e. at a bit of a distance walking down with my flash gun I would have to go outside and flash it in through the glass.

Next time I go up there I will go with my tripod and my new dS:R and try out a few of the things you suggest.
PS there is a door at either end which I have no objection to chopping out of the picture but thought it added perspective which obviously and interestingly from your comments it does not do at all so probably best to chop it off

sue

Painting with light is the term for walking with flash to light a large interior. Not as you say a method that could be used if you can't stay out of shot. A slave flash can easily be put out of shot so that in this case would be the best solution.

[JonMikal]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

the last one for sure. interior shoots of this nature are always best handled using existing light.

[Stephen]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

Sue, what you have experienced with the first picture is referred to as flash drop off. The flash is essentially a relatively low powered affair and it simply can't carry much distance, indeed if it could the foreground would probably be far too overexposed.

In the case of candles, flash tends to destroy the ambiance of the light anyway, so what you need to do is use the ambient light to expose the scene, perhaps then use a lower output on the flash, usually there is a way of turning the power down on the flash. However you are still in danger of spoiling the warm glow of the candles. Of course you will need a tripod for this as its more than likely the shutter speed will be quite low.

Today I was taking some photos of an operative at a computer monitor. I wanted to expose the screens correctly and balance the rest of the scene with the use of flash. I actually turned off the flourescent lights in the room and took a reading off the screen. Then with the flash on half power I filled in by bouncing the flash off the ceiling. Fortunately I had the benefit of a second flash gun which I was able to use as a slave, this was directed towards the operative to give the appearance of the screen casting light on his face. The important thing is that the flash was not allowed to take over and the screen and face were perfectly exposed.

[Stephen]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

the last one for sure. interior shoots of this nature are always best handled using existing light.

Ya just beat me to it Jon

[spl]

Re: Photographing burning butterlamps

Thanks for making this new category - Camera Technique - for this type of enquiry - I wasn't quite sure where to put it originally

What you say Stephen is interesting about using less than full flash power but I will have to investigate whether that is possible on my camera's automatic flash or on the very old flash gun I do have. The latter does have a swivelling head so the bouncing method may be a good one to try out to achieve a softer flash effect.

Its all very well using the ambient light to get the flames nicely but you lose detail of the rather beautiful little brass candle holders (or whatever they are called!) however the full on flash does give an effect which lights up the white background wall too brightly so a softer flash would be well worth a try I think.

Thanks for all comments
sue

PS if you use bouncing flash does it have to be off a white or pale surface?