Okay, so last night I tried shooting some photos in the dark. I’ve done some night photography before, but this time I really wanted to play with artificial lighting. Let me tell you, it was a learning experience!
Getting Started: My Gear
First, I grabbed my trusty camera and a couple of lenses. I mostly stuck with my 50mm, figuring it would be good for low light. Then came the lighting gear:
- Speedlights: I have two of these – they’re basically external flashes that are way more powerful than the one built into my camera.
- Light stands: Gotta have something to hold the speedlights, right?
- Softbox: A softbox, to diffuse the light and get rid of harsh shadows.
- Reflector: I figured a reflector could help bounce some light back onto my subject.
- Wireless triggers: These are key! They let me fire the speedlights remotely without needing to connect them to my camera with wires.
The Shoot: Trial and Error
I started by setting up one speedlight with the softbox. I positioned it to the side of where my subject (my very patient dog) would be. I took a few test shots, and… woof, way too dark. I bumped up the power on the speedlight, and… still too dark. I ended up having to crank it up pretty high.
Then I remembered the reflector! I had my partner hold it on the opposite side of my dog, to bounce some of that light back and fill in the shadows. That helped a lot, actually. It made the light much more even.
I fiddled with the positioning of the light and the reflector for a good while. It was all about finding the right angle to get the look I wanted. I also played with the power settings on the speedlight – a little more power here, a little less there.
Next, I added the second speedlight. I used it without a softbox, aiming it to create a bit of a rim light around my dog. That gave him a nice outline and separated him from the background a little more.
The second light I will use without the softbox.
The Results (and What I Learned)
Honestly, it took a lot of experimenting. I took a TON of photos, changing things up slightly each time. I learned that even small adjustments to the light placement and power can make a HUGE difference.
I’m still learning, but I’m pretty happy with some of the shots I got. It’s definitely something I want to practice more.
I am pretty happy with the final results, next time I will get more prictice!
My biggest takeaway? Night shooting with lights is a lot of fun, but be prepared to spend some time figuring things out. And bring extra batteries for your speedlights – those things can drain power fast!
