Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I.

Emergency Light Need 2Emergency Light Need 2

Top Lit & Flash FillTop Lit & Flash Fill

Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji TachibanaCopyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IEmergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

FFound Night Shot: Look realound Night Shot: Look real

Whether film or digital, having enough light is a Whether film or digital, having enough light is a critical ingredient for creating a high quality image. critical ingredient for creating a high quality image. Night shots becomes an extreme challenge for both Night shots becomes an extreme challenge for both film or digital photography. film or digital photography.

For that reason, many night shots are done during For that reason, many night shots are done during the day. But sometimes, night shots only look real the day. But sometimes, night shots only look real when done at night.when done at night.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I Emergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

LLight Source: Single topight Source: Single top

This shot gave me the This shot gave me the perfect opportunity to shoot perfect opportunity to shoot both the light source and both the light source and the subject at the same the subject at the same time. time.

The top light resulted in a The top light resulted in a under exposure on the under exposure on the shadow side of the yellow shadow side of the yellow VW.VW.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I Emergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

FFlash Fill: EC or notlash Fill: EC or not

To ‘open up’ the shadow, the To ‘open up’ the shadow, the flash was turned on. flash was turned on. Because I did not want a two Because I did not want a two light source look, I EC light source look, I EC adjusted the flash to bias ‘-2’.adjusted the flash to bias ‘-2’.

I could have covered the I could have covered the flash with a handkerchief flash with a handkerchief which would have cut the which would have cut the light by 2 more f/stops.light by 2 more f/stops.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I Emergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

FFlash: Full powerlash: Full power

Seeing the under exposed Seeing the under exposed result of the first test shot on result of the first test shot on Playback, I used the flash at Playback, I used the flash at full power.full power.

Full power in this case was Full power in this case was EC reset to ‘0’. Setting the EC reset to ‘0’. Setting the EC to +2 would not have EC to +2 would not have increased the light output.increased the light output.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I Emergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

TToo Much Detail: Just rightoo Much Detail: Just right

The shadow side is a bit The shadow side is a bit over lit but I liked having the over lit but I liked having the detail to lose in the lab work detail to lose in the lab work process.process.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I Emergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

Story Intention:Story Intention:

Neither image is right Neither image is right from the world view from the world view perspective. It is the perspective. It is the story which finally story which finally determine the determine the rightness of any rightness of any lighting and exposure lighting and exposure solution.solution.

I personally prefer the I personally prefer the image to the right. I image to the right. I can always process can always process the image to see less the image to see less shadow detail…shadow detail…

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography IEmergency Light Need 2:Emergency Light Need 2:

CConclusion:onclusion:

Besides being grounded in story telling, Besides being grounded in story telling, being able to see is the key to doing high being able to see is the key to doing high quality photography. It also helps to learn quality photography. It also helps to learn the capability and limitation of your the capability and limitation of your particular medium.particular medium.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

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