Canon 5DMarkII 24-70mm f/2.8L (40mm) 1/4 sec. at f/14 ISO 100 Canon 580EXII
Welcome to my world of Bad Light Photography. I’m constantly photographing great situations in mid-day contrasty light (bright highlights, dark shadows). I internally tear at my mind pondering, “What can I do? Think creatively!” I believe in the ancient Chinese proverb: Crisis = Opportunity.
A couple of years ago I was traveling in the lesser-known state of Chattisgarh in India, photographing some of the numerous tribal groups. I stopped at Kangrapada village to make images of the Godaba Tribe’s fast-moving Dhemsa dance. It was a cloudless day at the stark hour of 2pm. They were outside, ready to dance, under big trees. The first thing I always do when I see a situation that I’m interested in photographing is to ask myself, “What is the problem?” Well, this problem was very evident: the light was mottled bright light and deep shadow, beyond the contrast range of my sensor (about half the range of the human eye). They were dancing under the shade of the trees, but it was an inconsistent pattern of light and shade and beyond the dancers was a glaring background. “What can I do? Think creatively!” Eureka, an idea: Pan and Flash!
I set my Canon 5DMark II camera at ISO 100. Then made an exposure for the lowest shutter speed possible of the dancers when they were the shade. That was ¼ sec. at f/14. Perfecto! My starting point for thinking about panning is 1/15 sec., but the slower the shutter speed the more dramatic the background blur. However, the problem with panning people at very slow shutter speeds is that the feet (and the hands) move at a much faster speed than the torso, so they can “ghost out”, disappear completely, and you are left with an image of a footless, handless torso drifting through space.
This is when using direct, bright flash is very helpful (I was using a Canon 580EXII, but a pop-up would work great in this situation). A flash burst is about 1/800th sec., so it will accentuate and freeze that moment within the blur. So it gives an illusion of sharpness with a blur. I always expect mistakes and misses so I “panned and flashed”for dozens of frames. I experimented from 1/15th sec. to ¼ sec. shutter speeds (aperture was not important). I was standing a bit away from the dancers and I needed a bright burst to make an impact, so I probably was on + 1.7 EV with the flash pointed directly at the dancers without a diffuser.
I had a number of interesting images to choose from but this frame I liked the most. The troublesome, splotchy light was smoothed into lines that mimicked the stripes in the women’s dresses. The multiple feet are not a problem as they enhance the feeling of the dance. If you look carefully you can see how the use of flash sharpened the toes and heels. The background of people, bushes, bicycles blurred into patterns of color.
I actually love it when there are problems because then I’m forced to think of a creative solution. Most of my initial photographic ideas are ones that are familiar to me and come easily. As the brilliant Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his diary:
“Life is pretty simple: you do some stuff.
Most fails. Some works.
You do more of what works.
If it works big, others quickly copy it.
Then you do something else.
The trick is to do something else.”
25 comments
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December 9, 2013 at 12:44 am
Leusher
I love this image, perfect example of of being creative in less than optimal lighting situation.
December 11, 2011 at 10:10 am
Andrew Graeme Gould
A singular image born of adversity!
December 8, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Christine
So now I need 3 Nevada Weir T shirts:
“What is the Problem? What can I Do?” along with
“If you don’t Try, you don’t Get” and
“Fight Inertia!!!”
Inspirational as always. Thanks!
November 10, 2011 at 6:24 pm
John
In regards to measuring light in bad light situations…do you find that altitude affects a light meter? I am experiencing a shift in how I need to interpret my light meter while in Cuzco.
Back home I set my camera meter to underexpose by .7 of a stop. In Cuzco I need to set my meter to -1.3 or -1.7, The only environmental difference I am aware of is altitude. 10,000 ft vs. sea level. I am using the camera’s internal meter. i.e. Reflective not incidence.
Google was no help.
Love the bright colors of your shot and the sense of motion.
A corollary quote to Leonardo’s might be this one by Michael Jordan the basketball player.
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
-Michael Jordan
November 12, 2011 at 11:06 am
nevada wier
John: Your meter should not be thrown off by altitude pressure. However, the contrast is extreme at high altitudes (shadows go very black) and THAT could be throwing off your meter. Love the quote! Nevada
November 12, 2011 at 11:36 am
Rusty Lewellen
Am I correct in assuming that when you are higher altitudes, there is less atmosphere and humidity diffusing the light so the sun is brighter? This would explain the higher contrast, etc. More light = the need for more exp compensation to compensate. In addition, as you go higher in altitude, your oxygen levels drop so you are more loopy and you might see your pictures in a different “light”! (Esp if you have a few local beers!) Ha, ha.
October 26, 2011 at 9:35 am
Dustin Hatcher
Great read, thank you Nevada! I’m going to try this at a wedding reception some time and see what kind of results I can get!
October 25, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Shariq M. Bijli
Nevada, thanks for sharing some useful tips. There are accidental or unwanted blurs and then their are intentional blurs. Intentional blurs make a picture worth more than a thousand words like the ones you create. I love your work, especially focusing on the various tribes. Hope I can join you on your next photography trip in India (I live in New Delhi). Although I’m primarily a wildlife photographer, I love photographing images & portraits depicting native cultures. Keep those wonderful blogs coming. Cheers 🙂
October 26, 2011 at 10:45 am
nevada wier
Thanks Shariq. You live in one of the most fascinating countries in the world! I hope you get a chance to travel around. I’m on my way to New Delhi next week, but just passing through on my way to Rajasthan. It is Pushkar time! Then to South India. Cheers! nv
October 26, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Shariq M. Bijli
You are welcome Nevada. Pushkar is a grand affair and photography opportunities are endless. However, be careful of some of those “pro models” who will try to milk money for a pose once they see a photographer with a fancy camera. Southern India has its own charm. Especially Kerala – culture, architecture, natural beauty, and excellent seafood. Hope you are headed there. Considering you are a frequent visitor to India, I hope we can meet and I can join you on one of your tours in the future. My wife’s expecting our second child around mid November 🙂 so till then all my trips are off. Have a great stay in India.
October 26, 2011 at 9:17 pm
nevada wier
Thanks Shariq, Oh yes, I’ve been to Pushkar a number of times so I know it well! Yes, will return to Kerala — love the food and everything else. Best of luck for your family. Congratulations! Nevada
October 25, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Ian Mylam
Inspirational. I often find myself shooting in similar situations where I only have a few hours in a place, and it is either a case of making the best of the bad light, or not shooting. I loved this line: “The first thing I always do when I see a situation that I’m interested in photographing is to ask myself, “What is the problem?” If there’s one thing I will take away from this post, it’s that line. Thanks for a thought-provoking post and for generously sharing your thought process.
October 26, 2011 at 10:46 am
nevada wier
Most welcome Ian. Actually that line can work in most situations in life! nv
October 25, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Rusty Lewellen
Yay!! Another Anatomy Photo!! More cool backstory!! This photo is one of my favorites because it is such a good example of creative photography that will intrigue a photographer while also captivating the casual viewer. It’s impressive on both (and multiple) levels. Thanks “meadeagle” for your comment, you said just what I was thinking!
One of the peeves I have about some “talented” photographers is the attitude they show toward other “student” photographers with regard to absolutes, established rules and how photography is some mythical discipline that can only be mastered by years of struggle and sacrifice. Sometimes for them, it’s more about their ego than about the picture or the fun in taking it. (You know, you’re not a real photographer unless you do X, Y or Z — like always shoot on manual, etc.) Nevada just does what it takes and/or what works to hopefully get the picture she envisions. Then she’ll freely admit if she just got lucky!! Based on her stories, I think of her as the female “Indiana Jones of Photography” based on the 1st movie quote, “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go!” She inspires me to go ahead and try to get 2 good shots out of 50 trying several different settings in low light just to see what happens! (Now if I could just learn to delete as many as she does…..)
Thanks for taking us along for the ride Nevada!! 😀
October 25, 2011 at 8:40 pm
nevada wier
Rusty. I’m the cheerleading gal for “try, try, try” and stomp on “should-s”! However, photography is hard and it can only be mastered by years of struggle. It is not a simple art (despite what my iPhone aps are telling me). Yet, I know what you are saying and I appreciate it. I get lucky because I experiment (with an idea in mind) so much and am hopeful for a new perspective. nv
October 26, 2011 at 9:34 am
Rusty Lewellen
Yeah, you’re right, it takes a lot of work and time to grow and that effort should be recognized. But you remind us to take risky pictures and not squander all that experience by just taking the same safe picture the same way every time. Mastering the fundamentals (please tell me, when will that finally happen, I’m still anxiously waiting…) gains us consistency and the ability to see and better predict what we will get or how to get it. Otherwise, it’s all still a mystery if you ask me! Infinite possibilities = Infinite outcomes. What I like about your blogs is (through your stories) the reminder that it’s OK to embrace the mystery, relax and be creative. Every picture doesn’t have to be “right” or a keeper but at the same time, every situation does have good picture potential if one is willing to reach for it. (As you say, use the fundamentals to get the decent “insurance shots”.)
Something that I find interesting are some of the phenomenal shots I see from people that have little real intended photography knowledge or equipment but they still manage to generate some incredible shots. Why? Because they don’t know enough to not try!! When I see some of the great shots my “less educated” scouts, students or friends create I have to wonder, what did they see that I missed!? I like to teach and through that, I try to learn and observe as much as possible from the students. I think Nevada is also hooked on this idea… 😀
October 25, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Sherb Naulty
Nevada, fabulous picture and post. Creative solution to that all too common problem of mid-day light and an interesting subject/event to shoot. Well done and thanks for the info. How did the other flash settings turn out? Keep the posts coming along with the helpful techniques, so much appreciated. Thanks.
Sherb
October 25, 2011 at 8:13 pm
nevada wier
Most were horrible… per usual.
But “if you don’t try… you don’t get” says nv wier
October 25, 2011 at 7:11 pm
meadeagle
Hey Nevada,
You are a great teacher. There is so much to think of technically before taking a picture, and yet so much opportunity to be creative, that it can often result in some form of paralysis. The cool thing about the way you communicate is that you are emphasizing the experimentation process, and not necessarily the end result. Something I’d like to keep in mind. It’s really all about discovery, no? Cheers, Sally (from Dan’s fb page)
October 25, 2011 at 7:14 pm
nevada wier
Honestly, rarely do I know exactly what I’m doing. I just want to do it differently. I figure failure “with aplomb” is better the success “with normality”. If you you know, (as I know you do) what I mean! nv
October 25, 2011 at 7:28 pm
meadeagle
I’m not sure I want to meet the person who always knows what they are doing! Furthermore, I think the idea of ‘failure with aplomb’ is an idea that could free up a lot of people – including me!
October 25, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Beate Dalbec
Thanks so much for sharing how this wonderful shot was done!
October 25, 2011 at 7:12 pm
nevada wier
thanks Beate! I appreciate your passion of photography!
October 25, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Chuck Swindle
Great blog and shot Nevada!!! This is why National Geographic hired you. I find your blogs very helpful!!
October 25, 2011 at 7:02 pm
nevada wier
Thanks Chuck! I appreciate your comment and support. I’m glad you like the new section. I think I’m finally figuring out what to write about on a blog (took awhile…)! nv