How to photograph candle light - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

11/29/2004 03:38:33 PM · #1

Hey all,

I had a wedding client specifically ask me if I could make candle light look like a 'star'. I think you all know what I'm talking about, where the light is more light a star with long 'arms' than a blob of light.

I have no idea how to do that. I tried, and can't figure it out. Does it take special filters or lenses?

(P.S. I've decided to quit doing weddings. Sweet! I'm shooting the 6 or so I've got booked and callin' 'er quits. Brides are too high maintenance and they just make me dread shooting)

edit: sorry about spelling the thread title wrong

Message edited by author 2004-11-29 15:39:36.

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

11/29/2004 03:44:06 PM · #2

Yes, there are special filters for that called star effect filters. You can also choose how many lines you want coming out to create the star, like 5 or 7 ..not sure about what's available now but I used them when I was a teenager!

rich

Canon EOS-40D

11/29/2004 03:49:18 PM · #3

If you don't end up going the route of using an actual star filter on a lens, you can try doing it photoshop. There are a lot of tutorials on the web for this; the following search in google came up with several:

"star filter" photoshop

Good luck!

11/29/2004 03:52:43 PM · #4

Thanks! I was starting to think I was just an idiot for not being able to figure it out.

digistoune

Canon EOS-20D

11/29/2004 04:01:25 PM · #5

Curious, if you're not going to shoot weddings, what will you do? Or rather, what will you specialize in?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/29/2004 04:04:44 PM · #6

Originally posted by digistoune:

Curious, if you're not going to shoot weddings, what will you do? Or rather, what will you specialize in?

I decided over the summer that I want to be a band/media photographer. So I'm going to concentrate on that. Weddings are just such great money, and when you don't have a lot of equipment (due to lack of funds) you certainly need money - and lots of it.

I decided on the way to work today (my day job) that it's just not worth the money.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/29/2004 04:05:29 PM · #7

I have a Hoya CS filter that does that quite well and leaves you with a soft focus.

crabappl3

11/29/2004 04:07:00 PM · #8

With a small enough aperture you may also be able to achieve the same affect. f/16 or smaller may do it for you.

-danny

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/29/2004 04:07:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by crabappl3:

With a small enough aperture you may also be able to achieve the same affect. f/16 or smaller may do it for you.

-danny

I was experimenting with every combination of shutter and aperture imaginable - no go.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

11/29/2004 04:19:17 PM · #10

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Originally posted by crabappl3:
With a small enough aperture you may also be able to achieve the same affect. f/16 or smaller may do it for you.

-danny

I was experimenting with every combination of shutter and aperture imaginable - no go.

In order for the small aperture trick to work the candles would need to be far enough away to be nearly point light sources. You should then get stars, with varying number of points depending on the aperture design (number and shape of aperture blades). Some lenses will produce a more pronounced effect than others. A perfectly circular aperture will produce no spikes at all. Downside of this technique is, you need a very long shutter speed, or lots of flash fill, neither of which is desirable.
A hardware filter will do the trick, but will always leave you with a soft-focus effect, as noted in a previous response.
Doing it in PS is also a possibility. I've never tried this, but if I did, I'd select just the candle flames, copy them to two new layers, and blur one layer vertically, the other horizontally.
Sorry about your experiences wtih "bridezillas", LOL.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/29/2004 04:25:57 PM · #11

The effect requires small aperture and long exposure. Somewhere around f32 or more will give a good result. Probably won't work very well if the candle is flickering/ moving around in the breeze.

You can also use star filters but they'll give the same effect on any highlights in the image.

As an example, F13 for 30s, no filters or much of any post processing, at least not to get the star effect. It needs the small aperture and the long exposure, as the 'stars' are actually light diffusion around the blades of the aperture on the lens - it has to be stopped down quite a long way to have sufficient closure on the aperture to give the effect. You'll get the same number of points as blades on the lens aperture.

f16, 30s

Message edited by author 2004-11-29 16:27:29.

11/29/2004 04:29:15 PM · #12

Thanks Kirbic, did you edit the thread title as well? Thanks if so :-)

I've had all this anxiety building up about all the weddings I have lined up next summer and about all the 'potentials' who keep emailing and calling. And then I realized: I don't HAVE to do it! The simple fact that a GUY asked me to do 'star shaped candle shot' in itself is reason enough to quit. I mean, if he doesn't get that candle shot all hell will break loose.

:-)

11/29/2004 04:30:53 PM · #13

Nice work Gordon :-)

I'm a bit jealous of people who know how to do such great night shots.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/29/2004 04:33:20 PM · #14

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Nice work Gordon :-)

I'm a bit jealous of people who know how to do such great night shots.

My secret. Get drunk.

Every good night shot I've done has been after at least half a bottle of wine.... My favourite night shot I'd had about two...

Message edited by author 2004-11-29 16:35:28.

11/29/2004 04:36:15 PM · #15

Loves it!

lol

smokeditor

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/29/2004 04:39:12 PM · #16

There are special Star Filters that will take care of this effect for you, we use them alot in film and video work for night shots that need that star effect on lights. B&H has some instock

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=119

11/29/2004 04:44:32 PM · #17

Originally posted by smokeditor:

Do they just fit over the UV filter? Or do you have to take it off?

smokeditor

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/29/2004 05:00:28 PM · #18

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Originally posted by smokeditor:
There are special Star Filters that will take care of this effect for you, we use them alot in film and video work for night shots that need that star effect on lights. B&H has some instock

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=119

Do they just fit over the UV filter? Or do you have to take it off?

They are standard threaded filters, if your UV has threads on the front of it then you can mount a star filter ontop of it.
You do have to be careful of stacking filters though because you can cause vinetting around the edges.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/29/2004 05:02:00 PM · #19

That went over my head (I know what threads are but after that you lost me...) I've never used a filter other than my UV and have no knowledge on the subject.

But I'm gathering that it's just easier to screw the filter directly to my lens.

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

11/29/2004 05:17:09 PM · #20

I used a cross screen filter on this one. It screws onto the lens just like a uv. The print I gave them looked better. I dodged the flowers a bit and cleaned up the finger prints on the cross. Anyway, you get the idea. They loved it. Said it looked like their marriage was blessed. :D

Gordon, All your shots are great!

Edit: Removed photo from my port for space.
Hallellujah :D

Message edited by author 2004-11-29 20:44:15.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/29/2004 05:17:59 PM · #21

that's intense

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

11/29/2004 05:22:10 PM · #22

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

that's intense

intense good or intense bad? Doesn't really matter since the bride and groom liked it! :D