Painting with light competition

[JuniorMC8704]

I thought this could a fun way teach a pretty cool photography trick that most of you probably don't know. Its very simple, and can have amazing results. It can be as crazy as you want to make it, just depends on how much effort is put in.

OK, lets call this friendly competition "Painting with light"

Heres what you do...

1. Turn off your lights and flow

2. Find a bright spotlight type flashlight.

3. Mount camera on your tripod.

4. Find a subject in your tank that has a lot going on behind it.

5. Take your flashlight, and from a top down position, direct your light over the subject coral ONLY.

6. Take the picture

Now this might be a longer exposure, so a tripod is a must. If you are savvy enough with your camera set your metering to "spot" or "center weighted", this will help give you the proper exposure.

Here is just an example of the results you can get. the following dendro is in the front section of my tank, and had boat loads of corals behind it.

People often wonder how to get the "all black" background, well heres the cheapest and easiest way. If you guys have fun with this, ill go into more advanced methods.

Ignore that this was done with NIGHTSEA gear, as the colors would be the only different result, and i will take another tonight to show this.

 

[Poseidon]

Nice frame!

 

[revhtree]

This sounds awesome! I will get some shots tomorrow evening! WOOT!

 

[reefermadness]

I dont think the dry ice will work in tank....

 

[143gadgets]

Awesome! You amazing with a camera!

 

[Paintguru]

How do you mount the flashlight to your tripod? Are you supposed to mount the camera on a different tripod as well?

 

[JuniorMC8704]

no you camera is on the tripod, the flashlight is hand held. You may even have another person hold the flash light for you. The flashlight must shining from over the top of the tank. The idea is to only light subject, and not the surrounding areas.

 

[Paintguru]

Ahhhhhhh it sounded like you had both mounted. I wasn't sure if any movement in the hand held light would cause blur in the shot. I'll try it one time this weekend.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Nobody has anything to post yet?!?! come on people, its fun, i promise.

 

[revhtree]

Yea I cleaned the tank and everything, but I need a flashlight! I'm getting one!

 

[BeakerBob]

OK Junior, I'll start! Here is a picture I took a number of years ago. I made a small spotlight from a 12 volt car bulb, put it in a tube with a movable lens on the end. This allows me to make the spotlight more concentrated or wider. I put the light behind the polyp just off to the side (the polyps were in the corner of my tank). This backlighting technique highlights the polyps and removes the distracking background.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Outstanding! Thats exactly what im talking about. Those new super bright LED flashlights work the best IMHO.

 

[143gadgets]

Sweet shot BB!!!

 

[revhtree]

Very COOL!

I am going to pick me up a light this evening I hope.

 

[BeakerBob]

Come on guys, I know you have the cameras, even if some of them are Canons!!

Here is one of a featherduster:

 

[JuniorMC8704]

so is anyone else going to give this a try? I thought this was a really unique idea to get you guys to take some pics.

Are you going to make me start shooting with my wifes point and shoot to convince you that a DSLR isnt the only way of taking good pics??

Dont make me go there! Im not even talking about the BIG point and shoots...ill grab one the size of credit card...

Alright thats it...its on:horse:

 

[rocko918]

I want to , just have not had the time to setup. I do really want to try it out.