JeremyD
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2013
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 36
- Location
- Canada
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Greetings everyone!
I have created my own 'niche' in my local market capturing proposals in Niagara falls under the fireworks. I was lucky with my first proposal because it was in the winter and the snow acted like a reflector and lit up the scene with beautiful colours and reflections of the fireworks. However when the season changed I am faced with new low light challenges that I love to encounter.
Here are the settings I am using for most of these photographs. I am using my lowest aperture ( 1.8 ) with my 50mm prime and manual focusing the whole time. Since the proposals are at night my manual focus doesn't work in these circumstances. Since I have a full frame camera (5Dmkii) I am able to bump up my ISO so typically I am using 1600 to 3200 depending on how much light I have in the scene, my clients don't typically care about the noise since I reduce it a lot and it is in the contract that the photographs will not be tack sharp because of the situation they are putting me in.
When it comes to capturing the photographs with the fireworks I am using ambient light only expect for picture #99. I have done three proposals now, the first time I only used ambient light, the second time I used ambient light for the firework scene then for the creatives I used my YN-560iii flashes with my pocket wizards and put them in bushes and on ledges and bounced it off the floor or used it as direct flash. The third time I actually brought light stands which really aloud me to get creative and have a unique style with a dramatic look.
Here are some shots from my first proposal:
#1
Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-Proposal-Engagement-Photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#2
Niagara-Falls-Proposal-Walk-Photography-Jeremy-Daly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#3
Fireworks-Niagara-Falls-Proposal-Engagement by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr#4
Here are some shots from my second proposal:
#4 (Ignore the right image, its not in focus..But I really like the left image)
Romantic-Proposal-Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-on-the-maid-of-mist-cruise-night-love by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#5 This scene has ZERO light, so I have a flash in the push to the left and bounced it off the ground, which gave it some cool shadows on the wall. Next time I might add two for symmetrical shadows)
Niagara-Fallsview-Casino-Resort-Engagement-photography-proposal-wedding-jeremy-daly-fireworks- by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#6 I had a flash on a ledge bouncing off the ground, I am not keen of the composition but I like the scene of the falls in the background and the dramatic sky. For this shot I used the flash to freeze the subjects, then I used a slow shutter speed ( around 1/40th) to capture the ambient light of the background.
Proposal-Engagement-Niagara-Falls-Photography-Garden-attractions-hotels-locations-USA-Canada by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#7
Niagara-Falls-engagement-peace-love-happyness-joy-Jeremy-Daly-Wedding-Photography-Ontario-Canada-USA by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
Here are some shots from my third proposal: I brought my own light stand for this one which aloud me to get creative
#8
Niagara-Falls-Romantic-Proposa-July-4th-fireworks-photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#9
Niagara-Falls-Proposa-Engagement-Wedding-Photography-Ontario-Toronto-Videography-JeremyDaly-Fireworks-tourist-activities-magazine by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#10
Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-Proposal-Egagement-Photography-Weddings-Magazine-bridal-creative-commercial-photography-jeremydaly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#11
Niagara-Falls--Sheraton-on-the-falls-hotel-Garden-Hard-rock-cafe-proposa-fireworks-canada-day-photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#12 With this image I had my light stand behind them to get a highlight around them, then I had another flash just on a rock bouncing off the ground to make the scene glow. Now keep in mind there was ZERO lighting in this scene without my flashes, I couldn't even see them through my viewfinder trying to focus on them..
Niagara-Falls-Romantic-Fireworks-Proposal-Independance-Day-Canada-celebreation-love-engagement-weddings-magazine-bridal-jeremydaly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
Keep in mind that in most of these situations I had very little light and I could barely see them in my view finder so I was manual focusing the whole time and taking as many images hoping they are in focus.
I also produced a highlight video for the first two proposals, here is one from the second proposal:
So here is my questions to TFP community, I am trying to make a new system of how to capture these proposals so I can get more images in focus with a creative spin. I was wondering if there where any tricks and tips on focusing on subjects in the pitch black ? I was thinking perhaps after the proposal during the creatives I could give the client a little flash light to shine at me before we do a series of images at a scene then I can manual focus on the flashlight then ask him to turn it off then capture away as I guide them in some poses... But I am open to new ideas!
Also if you have anything in mind of how I could capture these images in a better way that would be very helpful! I am the only photographer in the area ( I live 1 hour and a half away from Niagara Falls) that is willing to do these shoots. My clients have asked other Niagara Falls photographers but they all back out since it is such a difficult lighting situation.. But now I have created my own niche in the market and I am getting more bookings from keeping up on my SEO and such.
My next proposal is next Friday and I will be bringing two light stands and some flashes with pocket wizards. I will also going to bring a little flash light for the couple to hold during the creative part of the shoot.
Personally I love doing these shoots since it gives me a big challenge to produce light in the dark, and it is fun to get creative! For the whole gallery of these proposals feel free to visit my main website at Jeremy Daly Photography or my blog at www.jeremydalyphoto.com/blog
Any feedback on the images would be cool, on a technical point I know they are not all in focus, or tack sharp, and other flaws due to the low light situation. Just feedback of how to make the next shoot more successful would be awesome!
I have created my own 'niche' in my local market capturing proposals in Niagara falls under the fireworks. I was lucky with my first proposal because it was in the winter and the snow acted like a reflector and lit up the scene with beautiful colours and reflections of the fireworks. However when the season changed I am faced with new low light challenges that I love to encounter.
Here are the settings I am using for most of these photographs. I am using my lowest aperture ( 1.8 ) with my 50mm prime and manual focusing the whole time. Since the proposals are at night my manual focus doesn't work in these circumstances. Since I have a full frame camera (5Dmkii) I am able to bump up my ISO so typically I am using 1600 to 3200 depending on how much light I have in the scene, my clients don't typically care about the noise since I reduce it a lot and it is in the contract that the photographs will not be tack sharp because of the situation they are putting me in.
When it comes to capturing the photographs with the fireworks I am using ambient light only expect for picture #99. I have done three proposals now, the first time I only used ambient light, the second time I used ambient light for the firework scene then for the creatives I used my YN-560iii flashes with my pocket wizards and put them in bushes and on ledges and bounced it off the floor or used it as direct flash. The third time I actually brought light stands which really aloud me to get creative and have a unique style with a dramatic look.
Here are some shots from my first proposal:
#1
Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-Proposal-Engagement-Photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#2
Niagara-Falls-Proposal-Walk-Photography-Jeremy-Daly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#3
Fireworks-Niagara-Falls-Proposal-Engagement by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr#4
Here are some shots from my second proposal:
#4 (Ignore the right image, its not in focus..But I really like the left image)
Romantic-Proposal-Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-on-the-maid-of-mist-cruise-night-love by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#5 This scene has ZERO light, so I have a flash in the push to the left and bounced it off the ground, which gave it some cool shadows on the wall. Next time I might add two for symmetrical shadows)
Niagara-Fallsview-Casino-Resort-Engagement-photography-proposal-wedding-jeremy-daly-fireworks- by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#6 I had a flash on a ledge bouncing off the ground, I am not keen of the composition but I like the scene of the falls in the background and the dramatic sky. For this shot I used the flash to freeze the subjects, then I used a slow shutter speed ( around 1/40th) to capture the ambient light of the background.
Proposal-Engagement-Niagara-Falls-Photography-Garden-attractions-hotels-locations-USA-Canada by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#7
Niagara-Falls-engagement-peace-love-happyness-joy-Jeremy-Daly-Wedding-Photography-Ontario-Canada-USA by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
Here are some shots from my third proposal: I brought my own light stand for this one which aloud me to get creative
#8
Niagara-Falls-Romantic-Proposa-July-4th-fireworks-photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#9
Niagara-Falls-Proposa-Engagement-Wedding-Photography-Ontario-Toronto-Videography-JeremyDaly-Fireworks-tourist-activities-magazine by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#10
Niagara-Falls-Fireworks-Proposal-Egagement-Photography-Weddings-Magazine-bridal-creative-commercial-photography-jeremydaly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#11
Niagara-Falls--Sheraton-on-the-falls-hotel-Garden-Hard-rock-cafe-proposa-fireworks-canada-day-photography by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
#12 With this image I had my light stand behind them to get a highlight around them, then I had another flash just on a rock bouncing off the ground to make the scene glow. Now keep in mind there was ZERO lighting in this scene without my flashes, I couldn't even see them through my viewfinder trying to focus on them..
Niagara-Falls-Romantic-Fireworks-Proposal-Independance-Day-Canada-celebreation-love-engagement-weddings-magazine-bridal-jeremydaly by JeremyDalyPhotography, on Flickr
Keep in mind that in most of these situations I had very little light and I could barely see them in my view finder so I was manual focusing the whole time and taking as many images hoping they are in focus.
I also produced a highlight video for the first two proposals, here is one from the second proposal:
So here is my questions to TFP community, I am trying to make a new system of how to capture these proposals so I can get more images in focus with a creative spin. I was wondering if there where any tricks and tips on focusing on subjects in the pitch black ? I was thinking perhaps after the proposal during the creatives I could give the client a little flash light to shine at me before we do a series of images at a scene then I can manual focus on the flashlight then ask him to turn it off then capture away as I guide them in some poses... But I am open to new ideas!
Also if you have anything in mind of how I could capture these images in a better way that would be very helpful! I am the only photographer in the area ( I live 1 hour and a half away from Niagara Falls) that is willing to do these shoots. My clients have asked other Niagara Falls photographers but they all back out since it is such a difficult lighting situation.. But now I have created my own niche in the market and I am getting more bookings from keeping up on my SEO and such.
My next proposal is next Friday and I will be bringing two light stands and some flashes with pocket wizards. I will also going to bring a little flash light for the couple to hold during the creative part of the shoot.
Personally I love doing these shoots since it gives me a big challenge to produce light in the dark, and it is fun to get creative! For the whole gallery of these proposals feel free to visit my main website at Jeremy Daly Photography or my blog at www.jeremydalyphoto.com/blog
Any feedback on the images would be cool, on a technical point I know they are not all in focus, or tack sharp, and other flaws due to the low light situation. Just feedback of how to make the next shoot more successful would be awesome!
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