Usually when I see a picture I took that has harsh shadows it quickly gets rejected. But, sometimes shadows can actually enhance an image. Below there are two images of essentially the same picture, the difference being the introduction of a light modifier.

The light from the side adds some contrast/texture on both, which you can see on the wall in the background. But when the side light was shot through some blinds the texture of the plaster on the wall seems to stand out even more. At least it does in my opinion. What do you think?

When I say “shoot through blinds”, I am referring to a flash. I actually wanted to shoot this using natural light, but it was rainy when I took this and since I had wanted the warm tones of a sunset I used a CTO gel on that flash. I used two other flashes as well; one with a DIY grid snoot to light the roses and another bare to provide fill for the pears and grapes. As a friend put it you can “create a whole nother world” using nothing more than flashes, light modifiers and some creativity.

I was very pleased to take a second place in the Film Noir weekly assignment over at the Digital Photography School

. I had it in mind to try to convey the song Private Investigations by Dire Straits in a picture and my result is shown below.

I used three strobes to take this shot, one with a DIY gobo to make the shadows of the blinds, one with a DIY grid snoot to light the papers and negatives and one to light the subject.

After a bad night of shooting last night I needed some photo therapy to make me feel better. I was trying to do some low key/film noir style shooting, but in the 5 minutes I had with the model and makeup artist, in front of a dozen other photogs I came away with NO good shots. In retrospect I think my issue was too much ambient light, but I guess I wasn’t prepared and confident enough to relax and see that given the conditions. Instead I was nervous and floundered around and got nothing. So this morning instead of my usual workout at the gym I went for a photo walk instead and did some shooting with the intention of seeing what I could get for the dPS 10 minutes from home black and white assignment. These are the ones I liked.

Well, sort of pyrotechnics … just some flaming steel wool on a wire, lit on fire and spun around. Be sure to know what you are doing and plan safety into this if you do try this. Be sure to wear proper protective clothing and gear (gloves, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, proper footwear and something to protect your head. Water nearby just in case, etc…

Seriously, don’t do this unless you know what you are doing!

Not really too far this time, I just went to the Boyertown reservoir for some pre-sunrise long exposure photos. I used my Coken ND filter on these along with bulb mode and my DIY remote shutter release.

And finally one processed as a high contrast black and white.