in the night. Low light self model shot.

[ArtFreak]

I was playing around with low light the other day using the only willing model I had around (myself hahah). This was just after the sun set and there was only a little light left. I know the image quality isn't that great, but I thought I'd share it with you anyways. I have been experimenting lately with trying to capture magicky/otherworldly type feels in photographs. C&C welcome as I would love to learn more about low light and how to capture the feeling of night while compromising on quality as little as possible, as well as any ideas or suggestions on capturing interesting situations with a mystical feel.

 

[Derrel]

NICE! I love the very subtle blurring, and the lantern light and your facial expression and angle match up very well. As far as a mystical feel: 1) blurring/motion/time exposures/wind movement of clothing or plants. ALl those things add a feeling of mystery. In general, I think the LEAST mysterious feelings come from a single, brief moment frozen in time by a fast shutter speed. An instantaneous exposure, like say 1/500 second, has a whole different feeling than say, a 10-second exposure, where things might move a bit, blur a bit, show some feeling of "time". 2) Multiple exposures/multiple images/movement in a still image. Using a Neutral Density filter, or simply dim, low light, set up for a 30-second exposure, and have the subject occupy three positions for 10 seconds each, at different placements within the frame.

 

[ArtFreak]

Thank you! I love your idea of three different positions in a long exposure. You can be sure I'll be experimenting with that today! hahah

 

[Designer]

Wonderful idea! I think if you had a little more darkness it would help. I love the way the lamp illuminates the shrubbery as well as the model. Here I think you could position the lamp a little higher to cast more light onto your face. Whether you look up or at the camera is debatable, but maybe just a bit more drama. The tiny bits of lighter sky or wall, or (?) is a distraction, so that is why I suggested more darkness.

If you were going to do this again (please?) may I suggest; find something like a high table or something to hold the lamp higher, or a regular table and you sit in a chair. Make sure the light hits you more in the face. Stare, glare, or just look at the camera. Try some shots where you are just looking beyond the camera.

 

[ArtFreak]

I definitely planned on doing this again!
Until then, here is another one from the same night that I darkened the edges of in post and cropped out the bits of sky. It doesn't have the blurred bushes like the other and I wish my face was in focus...but it has the stare/glare you mentioned! Next time I'll take your advice and try to get the light higher.

 

[ArtFreak]

And another...I think the B&W makes it feel much darker. If I didn't love the yellow/orange/pink light so much with the green and blue I'd B&W the others too.