Questions And Answers
Questions and Answers
About lighting: Which lights and Equipment to take with you
Question:
From the picture you posted recently, you already went to Bisti Badlands area. My friends and I are going to go there in May and we start to prepare lights for night photography. From the links you sent to me while ago, we can see what lights you used for your night shooting. However, we tried it recently when we went to Death Valley and we were not sure how many lights we need and how to setup the lights. Would you mind to share your experience with us? Do you use stands, how tall do you normally use? I bought total four CI-160 lights with two tall stands and two low stands. Since we have a weight limit when we do backpacking, I'd like to know whether I need to bring all the stands or four is not enough.
Answer:
Abouts lights of night photos - Remember, you are exposing for starlight, and you do not need much light. You only need to match the intensity of starlight. I have used the Chromo CI 160, the Neewer CN 160, and the F&V Z96, among others. I have these and use them, BUT most of the time they too bright even on the lowest setting, especially if you are close to the area of interest. So, to make them dimmer, I cover them or drape them with a white handkerchief or white napkin, cloth or paper. Both work, I use white cloth. Many times I fold it in two or double it up to dampen down the light even more. I always use the warming filter. I have found that there is some blue light leak around the edges of the filter. This looks bad if you have the light in an arch for example. You can get a combination of blue and yellow light. To fix this I tape around the edges with black gaffers tape. $4 on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Adorama-Gaffer-Tape-Yards-Black/dp/B00370WU2G?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
I have found that smaller lights are very useful. I now carry two F&V Z 96 and two smaller lights that have 36 LEDs. They are smaller and lighter and very good. They are dimmable and come with a warming filter. $19.50 on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Neewer-CN-LUX360-Dimmable-Camera-Camcorder/dp/B0098G9LHU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00
I tape the edges on this also. If you want to convert any blue LED to a warmer temperature light color you can make your own warming filter. I use Roscoe theatrical gel. It comes in various colors and you can mix and match to get the color you want. It comes in sheets of 20 X 24 inches, and costs about $6-8 on Amazon or B&H. Just cut out a piece and cove your light with it. Here are some that I use:
www.amazon.com/Rosco-Roscolux-Effects-Lighting-Filter/dp/B000N7Y9ZW?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/163130-REG/Rosco_102302042124_E_Colour_204_Full_CT.html
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/163132-REG/Rosco_102302052124_E_Colour_205_1_2_CT.html
For small areas I use use reflected light from a halogen xenon hand held spotlight. I reflect it off of sometime off to the side at 45-60 degrees. Halogen lights have a nice warm color. Reflecting the light diffuses the light, and if you can make the light come from the side, then you will create shadows and depth and a more 3D effect. If you shine the light on the foreground from the camera position the scene will look flat and less interesting. Get all of your lights off to the side somehow. This can be difficult in rough terrain, but at least try, This is the Li-ion halogen light I use. $24 on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-W2435-Li-Ion-Light/dp/B00EDE7X7W?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00
It is rechargeable. On continuous use it only lasts about 12 minutes, but I only use it for about 6-8 seconds a photo, so it lasts for many photos. It usually lasts the whole night. Occasionally it runs out. Use a snoot on the light. This prevents side scatter and makes the light more controllable. A snoot is a dark tube around the barrel and source of the light. Examples:
www.google.com/search?q=snoot&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-8cOJk6DMAhWDWz4KHQzZDsQQ_AUIBygB&biw=1498&bih=1231
Just make your own. I have used empty cereal boxes, rolled up plastic dinner place mats, etc. It is better if the snoot is black or a neutral color. Some people like a more neutral light.
If you want a neutral light you can use the Hi CR LED lights. It has a much more neutral light than a typical blue light LED. I use this one:
www.amazon.com/EagleTac-D25LC2-Clicky-Nichia-Flashlight/dp/B00IK9HID0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
It is about $62 on Amazon. It is rechargeable, lasts a long the, and is incredibly bright. Also use a snoot. Other examples:
www.amazon.com/Bundle-Nitecore-Flashlight-Searchlight-EASTSHINE/dp/B017KHTJ98?ie=UTF8&keywords=LED%20hi%20CR%20LED&qid=1461256808&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
www.amazon.com/Tactical-Flashlight-EdisonBright-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B00AIBFZME?ie=UTF8&keywords=LED%20hi%20CR%20LED&qid=1461256808&ref_=sr_1_8&sr=8-8
These are also called CREE LEDs.
www.amazon.com/Mikafen-Flashlight-Torch-Adjustable-Zoomable/dp/B0183JMQ9C/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1461257049&sr=8-8&keywords=CREE+LED
www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Brightest-Flashlight-External-Waterproof/dp/B0166NXRCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461257049&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=CREE+LED&psc=1
If I do not have to hike very far I use a 10 foot or 3 meter tripod stand for lighting. It is very light and it gets the lights well off the ground and creates less shadows from rocks and bushes on the ground. $57 USD on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q7B0WA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also use very small and lightweight tripods for lights. I carry 2. I use small cheap tripods for the lights. Here are some I use:
Cheap, light 50 inch tripod from Amazon, $16 on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-50-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod-Bag/dp/B00XI87KV8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01
Here is a 42" tripod that works better in my opinion. It is a little more sturdy, and still pretty light and compact. $20 on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Polaroid-Carrying-Digital-Cameras-Camcorders/dp/B004W4BAUO?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
These are very light, and can blow over in the wind. I have never lost a light to breakage though, but maybe I have been lucky. They do blow over, but that is the result of them being lightweight.
These are 42 to 50 inches high. The higher the better. You need to get the lights off the ground or they will create many ground shadows. I try to find a big rock to place the tripod on if possible. I also try to avoid any large rocks that may cast shadows on the area of interest.
I usually carry 2 F&V Z96 lights, 2 of the smaller 36 LED lights, the high CR LED, my Halogen hand held spotlight, and a couple of headlights. I carry my camera tripod and head, with a leveling head. I carry 2 small tripods for the lights. I carry a remote shutter release device. Extra batteries for the headlights. I have never had the LED light panels run out down the batteries in one night. If I know I am going to photograph something big, then I take the larger 160 LED light panel. I carry a number of white handkerchiefs to cover the front of the lights if necessary. (Sometimes I double up or triple up the handkerchiefs).
I also carry a small canister of Mace or Pepper Spray, and a gas powered Boat Horn. These look like a spray can with a cone on top. It is a gas powered horn that is incredible loud, and I hope it will scare off any wildlife that might be dangerous. Examples on Amazon, $5-20 :
www.amazon.com/Falcon-Safety-Super-Sound-Horn/dp/B0000AXTVF/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1461261495&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=boat+horn
www.amazon.com/Shoreline-Marine-Horn-Mini-Ounce/dp/B004UOVAO2/ref=sr_1_cc_9?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1461261495&sr=1-9-catcorr&keywords=boat+horn
I wear tall boots, 8" above the ankle, and watch for snakes.
I use either Canon or Nikon. I carry 3 lens. 1) Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8 2) Rokinon (same as Samyang or Bower) 24 mm f/1.4 3) Fisheye lens Sigma 15 mm f/2.8 or Rokinon 12 mm f/2.8
That is what I carry. It's a lot but it is manageable.
Cheers,Wayne
2016
More Posts from Wayne-pinkston and Others
Paiute Falls, San Juan River by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook This is a super wide panorama of Paiute Falls along the San Juan River in the Navajo Nation. I was honored to go here with Quanah Parker of Majestic Monument Valley Tours. The view is so wide that the falls look small. There are 22 images taken with a Rokinon 24 mm f 1,4 lens at 15 sec., 8000 ISO, and f 1.8. This was my favorite pano lens (past tense) until I dropped and broke it about a week later. Sigh... In this scene I really like the combination of the red and green air glow mixed with the light yellow/orange light pollution. Thanks for all the kind support over the last year, it is much appreciated! A big thank you to the wonderful Flickr family!
Land of Endless Compositions: The trend nowadays is to not reveal locations, but it can be hard to talk about a shot without revealing the location. 🤔 Oh, well... There are almost endless compositions in the American Southwest if you are willing to look for them and do some hiking. Single, 24 mm, 20 sec., f/2.8, ISO 12,800 https://www.instagram.com/p/CJy-8weBAZ2/?igshid=186uj3z36yafd
Mountain Lake by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook Mountain Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Stacked image in Starry Landscape Stacker, 16 light frames, 1 dark frame.
A Whale of a View by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website, Instagram, Facebook This is an arch called “Eye of the Whale” in Arches National Park. It is one of the more obscure and less visited arches. You have to take a dirt road for a couple of miles, or several kms, to get to the arch. The road alternates with rocky areas and deep sand, so a high clearance 4WD vehicle is required. It’s a fun spot off the beaten path. This is a panorama of 6 vertical images taken with a Sigma 14 mm f/1.8 lens at f 2.8, 30 sec, and ISO 12,800, with a Nikon 850 camera. The Arch is deeper than most, almost like a short tunnel. My first thought when hearing the name was “why would someone name an arch that”? Anyway, when you approach the arch from the path it really doses look like a giant eye, and even photos from inside the arch look like you are viewing from inside a giant eye. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for all the kind support over the last year, it is much appreciated! A big thank you to the wonderful Flickr family!
Questions and Answers
About Focusing in the Dark
Question: I use a 5Dm3 and a 17-40mm f4 lens. and I struggle to get a good focus point for a one shot photo where everything must be sharp. Any suggestions?
Answer: Yes I do,and it's a problem for everyone. BTW the 5Dm3 is an excellent camera. First of all, the wider the lens the more Depth of Field. When up close use it at 17 mm. The fisheye lens are best when you are really close to something in the foreground. I have a sigma 15mm fisheye that works well. I use lens distortion correction on Lightroom. /use the widest lens you have. Next, take your lens out in the daytime and play around with hyperfocus distance. For example, at 17mm f 4 if you focus at around 10 feet or 3 m then everything should be in focus from about 4-5 feet up to infinity. Try it in the daytime and take a photo and check the focus near and far. Once you get it right, then tape the lens focus ring with masking tape (does not leave a residue) so it will not move. Use the lens at 17mm and do not change the focus. Second way: go to liveview and mag live view up to 10X. Pan around to Find a star in the field of view and focus on that star until it is sharp. Take a photo and view it and mag it up to make sure everything is on focus. If not then make tiny adjustments and check again. Third way: At 17 mm and f 4 shine a bright light on something farther than 10-12 feet or 3-4 m away, say 4-5 meters. Focus on that spot. Take a photo and check. Everything should be in focus from about 3-4 meters on. If not then make tiny adjustments and recheck. Cheers, Wayne
Visions of an Alien Land by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Bisti Badlands, New Mexico Thanks for taking the time to look. Hope you enjoy! Big thanks to the wonderful Flickr family out there. Please join me at: Website Facebook Instagram Blog
A Big Thank You! by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! This is a photo I have posted before, a nighttime panorama of Joshua Tree National Park. It was recently selected as one of the Top 25 Photos on Flickr for 2015, as seen on the Flickr Blog: blog.flickr.net/en/2015/12/01/flickrs-top-25-photos-in-2015/ If you read the method of choosing photos, it has to do with the number of interactions generated, including the number of views, the number favs, the number of comments, etc. This means I post the photo, and get the recognition, but it ONLY comes from all the work and interaction that you guys did. You guys did the heavy lifting, all the hard work. You guys are the ones that earned this award, not I, and I realize that. Thanks for all the view, favs, and comments. It's been a great year.
Cheers, Wayne Pinkston
Cedar Breaks Panorama by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Website Instagram Facebook This is a panorama made of 2 sets of 13 vertical images from the Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. This is less well known as compared to the "Big 5" National Parks in Utah, but is a remarkably beautiful place. It resembles a huge eroded bowl or huge geode cracked open exposing innumerable red to orange hoodoos. Breathtaking! It is very close to Cedar City and Zion National Park. This is a blend of 2 panoramas, taken back to back and with the tripod unchanged in position. The sky images were taken at 18 mm, 20 sec., f 2.8 and ISO 12,800. The foreground was taken at 18 mm, ISO 3200, 300 seconds and f 2.8. The images were blended in photoshop. For anyone counting, lol, the foreground images took a little over an hour at 5 minutes apiece. Sitting around and quietly staring at the sky for an hour can be very pleasant. :-) For more images like this please take a look at my website here . Thanks for all the kind support! Hope you enjoy! A big thank you to the wonderful Flickr family. Cheers, Wayne
Trona Pinnacles by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: This is a panorama of the Trona Pinnacles in California, USA, another small step in my efforts to photograph landscapes at night (this time a larger area). For orientation the parking lot is on the left and the dirt road in the foreground goes around the right side of the formation and carries you deeper into the park. There is "static" light painting. There is a light far to the right, and several small lights among the pinnacles. There was a lot of light pollution aiding in the lighting. The bright area along the horizon to the left is Ridgecrest, Ca., and I believe the light pollution on the bottom right is Barstow, Ca. The image wraps around more than 180 degrees, approx. 210 degrees. There is some airglow near the horizon creating the greenish effect in the sky. Many night photographers remove or diminish the light pollution and airglow to make the scene look more natural or to make the sky look more like people expect it to look. I have decided to go along with what the camera detects rather than what you expect to see. As a result this produces a somewhat surreal effect, which to me has a more exotic feel. The rock spires are called Tufa Spires, and are up to 140 feet (43 meters) high. Over 30 movies and TV shows have been shot in this alien landscape, including Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek V, and Planet of the Apes. This is a series of 15 vertical images combined in Lightroom (the new version has a panorama merge function). The images were taken with a Canon 1D X camera and Nikon 14-24 mm lens at f 2.8, 14 mm, 30 sec exposures, and ISO 6400. Hope you enjoy! Thanks in advance for taking the time to look and comment.
Winged Hoodoo in the Bisti Badlands by Wayne Pinkston Via Flickr: Winged Hoodoo in the Bisti Badlands, New Mexico. There is a marvelous variety of hoodoos in the badlands. Over millennia sedimentary rocks of different hardness were laid down, and the softer lower layers erode faster than the harder upper layers, resulting in unusual shapes. I accidentally left a light on in the back canyon, and did not realize it until the photo came up on the display, but I think it added to the appearance. This is a single exposure. Thanks for taking the time to look. Hope you enjoy! Big thanks to the wonderful Flickr family out there. Please join me at: Website Facebook Instagram Blog
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