Coby - Low-Res
Sep, 2016Views
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Contest Finalist in Artificial Light Photo Contest 2017
Runner Up in On Stage Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in On Stage Photo Contest
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JoSmyth74
September 07, 2017
Awesome photo, love playing with lighting like this in venues. I'm yet to have a good play with laser lighting ?
RobClaysPhotos
September 08, 2017
Thanks @JoSmyth74! As it happens, the lights in this pic were revolving disco lights, but I've also photographed many events with lazers and, yes, they're definitely fun! You can see a few sample lazer pics on my profile somewhere (a bit further down)....
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken during the evening reception of a particularly awesome wedding in Whitefield, Manchester. The couple had put up a huge marquee on the grounds of the bride's parents' farm, and I was stood in the middle of an absolutely packed dancefloor as I took this picture, which is of the groom's young cousin, who had momentarily joined the band on stage. And he was really good!Time
This was taken later on in the evening, once all the formalities of the wedding were out of the way, and the guests were really letting their hair down.Lighting
There's quite a lot to say about the lighting, actually. There was no flash or lighting set up by myself, but the wedding band themselves had provided several rapidly-rotating disco lights, and I knew if I could time it right, there could be something good to be had. And so I tried. And tried. And tried again. And then, on my 29th attempt (yes, I counted!), I hit this picture. The lights themselves were spinning so fast (by my estimates, around 2 revolutions per second), that just to hit one at the right time was tough. But in this picture, there are two lights in play....there is the spinning light behind the boy, as well as the spinning light to the camera left, side-lighting the young singer. Catching both lights hitting the boy at the exact same split-second completely made this picture....Equipment
I was using a Canon 5D Mk iii with a Canon 16-35mm f2.8 lensInspiration
Whenever I see bright lights in otherwise dark situations, as was the case on this dancefloor, I know there's always potential for dramatic imagery. I'd be lying if I said I knew exactly how this picture would look before I took it, but knew that if I at least exposed for the highlights, something good may appear. I was so convinced of this, that 28 failed attempts didn't put me off....Editing
I only do basic editing in Lightroom....checking the basics such as exposure, contrast, vibrancy, etc....never actual photo manipulation. So what you see in this image is pretty much how it looked straight out of camera....In my camera bag
Because I'm predominantly a wedding photographer, I have a whole host of lenses, flashes, modifiers and triggers in my bag. If I'm honest, I have too much, but I struggle to let things go, so I have pretty much every focal length covered with a range of primes and zooms, my trusted 70-200mm being my most trusted workhorse.....Feedback
I like high contrast imagery, so I specifically look for dark situations where there is just a bit of light, which I can use to illuminate my subjects and draw the viewers focus directly to it. And sometimes, you just have to speculate and try things that you're not sure will definitely work......I'm always trying things out, some of which come off, some of which don't. But as long as I don't show anyone my failed attempts, no one need know about them (unless I happen to broadcast about them on the world's leading photography competition website. Ahem...)
