October 31, 2021
Kids
· Tips & Technique
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My very first blog on my new website. A few days ago, before my website was launched, Stu from Studio8, who has done an incredible job of creating this website, messaged me to ask if I’d have a blog ready for the website launch? “Oh yeah” I said, but I had nothing planned!
That evening we were taking the boys to see the Blackpool illuminations, perfect location to show you a little dance floor trick to liven up your dance floor images.
To do this, you really need to be in manual mode, you’ll need to set your exposure for the ambient light you would like to include in your image. For these Blackpool illumination images, my settings were: iso 100, shutter speed 1/4 second, f8. This meant I included all the lights in the background but no other distractions. In my camera flash menu, I set the flash to “rear curtain sync” this is the important part. This allows you to drag the shutter ( take a longer exposure ) firing the flash at the end of your exposure, freezing your subject.
Now with the flash gun also in manual mode, placed on camera and pointed directly at my subject! I had a grid and magmod sphere added to the front of my flash. The grid helps to direct the light, avoiding spill and the sphere defuses the light helping to avoid highlights. My flash was set at 1/128 power, obviously you can adjust this if needed.
Here in Blackpool, I was doing exactly the same as I would on the dance floor, getting close to my subject using a wide angle lens, pressing my shutter release, while moving the camera around. Moving the camera around creates the light trails in the background, the flash then fires freezing your subject.
Hope this makes sense?
You don’t have to understand all the settings above, but when you see your crazy dance floor images, you’ll understand that these effects were created purposely and not a faulty camera.
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MATT PATE | CHESHIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY