Thank you to everyone who voted for me on Technique Challenge 20 “In the Night”. Now it's my honour and privilege to host the Technique Challenge 21.
So, are you ready for some fun, creativity, and to perhaps to learn something new? It’s time for a new Technique Challenge! So what is a Technique Challenge you ask? The host challenger selects a specific technique to try. The technique may be brand new for some or just a challenge to be creative or practice for others. Techniques may include high/low key, macro, portraits, landscapes, abstracts - the possibilities are endless. It could even be specific techniques in processing.
MY CHALLENGE: "One-light Lighting"
Most of us including me want to try some lighting techniques but are seriously overwhelmed. Some of us bought external flash and hid them in cabinets or original boxes for them to never see the light. Please forgive the pun.
We say natural light is better after all and it is. However, we are here to learn and expand our photography skills and the technique challenge is a perfect opportunity. So, I chose this challenge to learn lighting your subject one light at a time. Now that you have your flashes out of the dark corners for the Camera Settings Challenge (Fill-flash), why not use them for creating wonderful, creative pictures.
All subjects are welcome - portrait, landscape, architecture, documentary… your choice! You can enter as many times as you would like. However, there should be one and only light source.
If you do not have external flash units, you can be creative and use window light, lamp, candle, a flashlight, even light from your phone/computer. There's no reason not to try this one.
There was famous workshop by Zack Arias who taught one-light lighting and here's the Flickr pool dedicated to his technique: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1146749@N20/
The challenge will run from February 21st to March 5th. Voting will take place from March 6th with the winner announced March 8th. All photos must be taken within the challenge dates.
Constructive & kind feedback is encouraged. Feel free to share tips, suggestions or how you were able to get the terrific photo you did. Posting your photo on this thread is encouraged but not required.
To post a photo on this thread:
1) Go to your page that has the photo you would like to post.
2) Find the code located toward the bottom right side of your page. The code is on the right side of the word "share".
Copy that code and paste it in this thread.
Good luck and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.
@agima Brendan, sorry for pulling you into this as well, however, we might need lot of help from you with this challenge. You are the only local expert in lighting that I know.
Although I started this topic as One-light Portraits, I realized some may not be interested in portraiture, so for involvement from lot of people, I expanded it to any subject.
Can some sort of reflector be used as fill? I'm not sure if we should strictly adhere to one and only light. I feel reflector might open up for some more creative options. We will still have one key light. I'm open to any suggestions/input regarding the rules for this challenge. @kali66 Kali, please help?
@cgarner Wow, great pictures, Charlotte! Thanks for sharing them here. These are great examples that one need not use special photo equipment for this technique.
@ikamera Thanks! That was also taken just using the desk lamp, in an otherwise dark room.
Just taken today's using the light from one window for the weekly theme. Tried to do a slight high key but without multiple sources of light.
As for reflectors, you can make a simple homemade one using a sheet of crumpled aluminium foil, taped onto a piece of cardboard, works pretty well. This sends a diffuse light back onto the subject depending on where you place it.
@semjaja Sem, beautiful low-key examples, and to see that they were done with flashlight only is inspiring. Thanks for posting your shots here. I'll go check your other shots as well.
@lambda Beautiful low key of your son! I say you have succeeded in lighting your subject. I'm glad you are enjoying the technique challenge. You can also try different positions for your light source - side lighting, back-lighting, top-left, top-right etc. It's interesting how different positions can convey different moods for the same photo. Looking forward for more experimentation/entries from you.
@semjaja Sem, very mysterious. Do you use focus assist and then switch to manual focus? I would imagine focus might be challenging with these kind of shots.
@ikamera ..wondering if this counts for a single source of candle light since i used 2 candles for this picture..realized that after i took the picture.
@ikamera it depends, sometime I'll pre-focus and take my chances with focus but for this one, I tethered the camera to the laptop.
I find that much easier if I'm doing close-up self portraits.
@smithak I agree it is kinda confusing, both the light sources and the subject itself. Is that love sign the subject or the candles themselves? The challenge is to light your subject with one light. The picture is absolutely beautiful so as the quote, however, it may not be the best example for the technique in question. Please try again?
@ikamera thank you for the feedback. I got confused with single source of light versus single source of light on the subject.Now that I understand the challenge better, I will have to try again.
@ikamera After a lot of failed attempts, this was the only photo I could salvage. Thanks for the tips; I will continue to try different things and see what works! :)
@ikamera i don't see why not, I use the EOS Utility software that came with my camera (1100D), there's an option there for Camera Settings / Remote Settings that will allow you to operate your camera via the laptop with your USB cable.
I've never used it but I have read that you can tether your camera via Lightroom too.
Sorry for not being active for a while on this thread due to travel and a minor family issue. Anyway, I have to say I'm overwhelmed at the response for this challenge. Everybody took this challenge very well. Lot of pictures and amazing ones at that. I'm already dreading having to pick final 5 or 6 from this pool.
@miata2u Peggy, like how you broke the rule of thirds and centered those roses. Nice lighting. The bullets pic is mysterious with the lighting you used.
@lambda Amit, very nice portrait of your son. The low-key lighting really highlights his beautiful brown eyes. Next time, try moving that light closer or diffuse to make it a bigger source, both might help avoid that tiny hotspot on his forehead and nose and make for even spread of light. Other than that, it's perfect, moody and great example of 1-light lighting.
@linustwizell You are welcome Linus, I'm finding being active in the different challenges set my people is really helping me stay motivated and have more support for my project.
@happysnapper65 Great shadow achieved with one light. @smithak you've done it this time. The light is just enough to highlight the shape of the bottle and the writings on it. @nadaa Nada, fav! I have to try this sometime. Excellent use of 1 light. @semjaja You are pro at this 1- light low-key portrait thingy. :-) @lambda Beautiful! @lisatork Super like! Love her expression. @linustwizell Unique take on 1-light lighting. @cgarner Charlotte, thanks for spreading the news about this challenge.
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Although I started this topic as One-light Portraits, I realized some may not be interested in portraiture, so for involvement from lot of people, I expanded it to any subject.
Can some sort of reflector be used as fill? I'm not sure if we should strictly adhere to one and only light. I feel reflector might open up for some more creative options. We will still have one key light. I'm open to any suggestions/input regarding the rules for this challenge. @kali66 Kali, please help?
Please share your examples here for inspiration as well.
Just taken today's using the light from one window for the weekly theme. Tried to do a slight high key but without multiple sources of light.
Happy to help out where I can . :)
So please don't hesitate to ask.
Here are a couple of my one light photos.
@semjaja has done lots of these
see here
http://petapixel.com/2009/06/07/make-your-own-aluminum-foil-reflector/
I took these two with just a little flashlight as the light source (but not for the challenge, took these a few weeks back)
I find that much easier if I'm doing close-up self portraits.
I've never used it but I have read that you can tether your camera via Lightroom too.
all lit by either a desk lamp or a torch, I liked the idea of showing how different lighting angles define the face, like phases of the moon.
This was taken using the torch app on my i-phone and playing around with the shadow. Minimal processing required.
Lit by one LED flashlight
@miata2u Peggy, like how you broke the rule of thirds and centered those roses. Nice lighting. The bullets pic is mysterious with the lighting you used.
@smithak you've done it this time. The light is just enough to highlight the shape of the bottle and the writings on it.
@nadaa Nada, fav! I have to try this sometime. Excellent use of 1 light.
@semjaja You are pro at this 1- light low-key portrait thingy. :-)
@lambda Beautiful!
@lisatork Super like! Love her expression.
@linustwizell Unique take on 1-light lighting.
@cgarner Charlotte, thanks for spreading the news about this challenge.
Single speedlight at 1/4 power at top left of subject.
Lit by flashlight only
The TV was the light source here!