davevalko

Light Sphere in the Forest

A 3 minute exposure in the forest with a high powered LED flashlight.

A 3 minute exposure in the forest with a high powered LED flashlight.
Read less

Canon EOS REBEL T3i

settings

Aperture f/8.0 ISO 100 Shutter 180/1

upload_date

Mar, 2014

Views

1474

Likes

+121

Awards

Action Award

Featured

Contest Finalist in Sci Fi Photo Contest

Peer Award

+69

Outstanding Creativity

+14

Superb Composition

Absolute Masterpiece

Top Choice

All Star

Exceptional Contrast

Superior Skill

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken just off the Kent Trail, near the M6 tunnel in Wyoming, MI.

Time

Sometime between 11pm and Midnight.

Lighting

The effect was created using a high powered LED light duct taped to a chain and spun around. This is photo is actually the 5th attempt to get the shot. The other attempts only showed the sphere and very little of the trees. After each attempt, I would check the camera to see how the exposure was and what portion of the trees needed painted with additional light. On the final attempt I had spun the light first, shut off the light and walked behind a tree trunk and proceeded to slowly paint the leaves and trees which achieved the final effect shown here.

Equipment

People are often surprised that this was shot on a Canon T3i. Of course the camera was on a tripod - it was a very long exposure. A simple manual shutter controller was used to keep the camera shutter open for the shot.

Inspiration

While running along the trail, I noticed this clearing in the forest. I had been shooting some night long exposures of the sky and of some fire spinning. Fire wasn't going to work in the forest so the high powered LED was the next best thing.

Editing

There is very little post processing. A boost of color, curves, and a boost to exposure.

In my camera bag

My bag includes my trusty Canon T3i, the Nifty 50, the 28-135, a Helios-44-2 lens, Canon 430EXII speedlite, Yonguno wireless triggers, Gary Fong Light Sphere, and to help with long exposures - a triggertrap.

Feedback

Always shoot RAW. Practice. This shot took 5 different shots. Observe the surroundings and get an idea of what else you may want to light. Set your ISO high for your test shots to quickly establish your focus. Get your exposure right in camera. Long exposures introduce noise and adjusting in Lightroom or Photoshop will increase the noise even when shooting RAW.

See more amazing photos, follow davevalko

davevalko

davevalko

Light Sphere in the Forest

A 3 minute exposure in the forest with a high powered LED flashlight.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow davevalko

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.