TBTphoto

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NIKON D300

settings

Aperture f/4.5 ISO 1250 Shutter 1/8

upload_date

Apr, 2013

Views

801

Likes

+79

Awards

Action Award

Zenith Award

Legendary Award

Featured

Staff Favorite

Peer Award

+26

Superb Composition

+24

Absolute Masterpiece

+21

Outstanding Creativity

+20

Top Choice

+13

Jaw Dropping

Superior Skill

Genius

All Star

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

PRO+

outstanding shot

Wow neat.

very cool

wow... fantastic shot....

Well done

wow stunning

PRO+

fantastic!

GREAT LIGHT, LOVE IT!

Nice

Superb image!

Platinum

Wonderfully done.

See all

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Engagement session, @ sunset hills California

love when brides want to do something sexy for the Groom. I always go with the softer side of sexy!

Infrared photo taken in southern california

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was one of my favorite from this shoot. I learned a lot that night about night photography that night. I took this photo with a couple that I had meet through a friend. At that time I wanted to get some practice with couples and posing, so we went to various spots in the Los Angeles area. I had saw this location before a while back and knew I wanted to try to photograph at that location at some point in time. I felt this couple would be the perfect couple to photography at this location. This was taken at Los Angeles County Museum Of Art. This area in front of the museum is called Urban lights. The location is open to the public and is popular for sightseers, if you ventured here you will know it is tricky to get a good shot without a ton of people in your background.

Time

This photo was one of my last photos taken of the session, we had reached the location just passed sunset and waited for the lights to turn on. I originally wanted to try some off camera flash practice with this couple. I wanted to try to get some ambient lighting, so I waited just after it got dark. I think it was around 7 p.m. The lights give off a great romantically feel which was perfect for this couple.

Lighting

Originally I had planned on using some OFC (off camera flash) with this location. I wanted to try to capture ambient lighting with a bit of fill flash. Funny thing, my flash triggers that I had just bought at that time failed to work. I thought I had missed my chance in taking a great night photo. I didn't give up with out a fight. I had placed my camera on the tri-pod and waited for the traffic of people to move along. I did not use any flash on my camera or off. I used the ambient light that I had to play with at the location. I learned a lot that night and feel some times things happen for a reason.

Equipment

Nikon D300, Nikon 50mm 1.8, Tripod

Inspiration

A year prior to this session I had drove passed the urban lights in Los Angeles. The lights are a form of art and I knew I wanted to try to photograph a session there. I had meet a really young loving couple that stated they loved LA. So I immediately thought of this location. I knew I wanted to do a night shot and was inspired to use some new flash trigger equipment I had just bought. When my new equipment did not work I was disappointed and felt I ruined the chance to capture something nice. I then quickly thought of just trying a shot with what I had in hand and was inspired more to get a night shot using only a camera, tripod and ambient lighting from the lamps. I wanted to capture the young fun love this couple had as well.

Editing

I did do some post processing using light room and Photoshop. In light room I adjusted the exposure a bit and took some yellow out of the photograph. Sometimes lights can cast a yellow or blue color to your photos. In Photoshop I edited out some people that did sneak into my shot, using the clone tool I easily fixed that. I think I did play with the contrast a bit too in Photoshop to get the dark colors and shadows to stand out a bit more. .

In my camera bag

I usually have two bags I carry for a shoot like the one I did at the Urban lights. I carry two cameras Nikon D750 and Nikon D300 for my backup. I have a Nikon 50mm lens, Nikon 24-70mm lens, Nikon 70-200mm and a 105mm macro lens. I also carry 5 Yongnuo flash triggers and about 4 Nikon SB speed flashes, a reflector and various Magmog flash kits. one tripod, one large stand and one small stand for my flashes. Yes a lot to carry but I love to always be ready for day and night shots because I never want to say "Darn I wish I had my _____ to do this shot" I want to be ready to be creative at any moment.

Feedback

Advice to others for capturing a similar shot, Always be prepared and willing. Even if you are not equipped with all the gear, try and see what you can get with only what's at hand. I learned a lot from this unban lights shoot, not to give up. I can always be creative no matter where, look around at the ambient lighting you will be surprised at what you can creative with just very little at hand. You will always walk away learning something new.

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TBTphoto

you light up my life

Behind The Lens

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