Looking for some technical advice

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/19/2009 08:31:25 PM · #1

I was on my front porch and noticed these huge icicles hanging from the street light between the snow covered tree branches. I really want to capture it, but can't figure out how. I'm using a 40D with a 28-135 canon kit lens on a tripod. I shot this in "P" mode and I don't have any filters. Now keep in mind, on the ground the snow is now thigh high on me and it's still snowing pretty hard, LOL! So, any advice on what settings to use to keep the light from blowing out and the icicles to show up.

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

12/19/2009 08:38:28 PM · #2

This is a tuff one because if it is hanging off your light source it means there is no light directly hitting them. This does make a challenge. Without a secondary light the only option I can think of would be to speed up your shutter to capture the light in hopes there is enough spill to get the icicles. Then combine them to this shot to maintain a more balanced feel. yeah yeah I know, you want it all in one shot.

Guess I am not the one who should have answered.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/19/2009 08:43:44 PM · #3

I guess I could try two exposures. How fast do you think the shutter speed needs to be to catch the ice and not blow out the light?

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

12/19/2009 08:46:43 PM · #4

The faster the shutter the dimmer the light should be. In other words the less light hitting the lens, so the faster you make it the darker the image (in theory) You could also increase the F which decreases the aperture making less light enter. This is the issue you have, there is too much direct light right above what you want to capture. If there was maybe another angle which you could hide the light with a branch while seeing the ice that could help as well, as well as maintain the backlighting of the tree.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12/19/2009 09:08:15 PM · #5

I don't have a clue, but I think it would make a wonderful shot if you lowered your perspective a little and hid the light behind the crotch of the tree. The backlighting might make this really cool. Or I could be wrong. *shrug*

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

12/19/2009 09:09:56 PM · #6

Thigh high!!!?????

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

12/19/2009 09:15:49 PM · #7

I'd set the over(under?) exposure & start with + or - 2 (I can never remember which way for night time shots, so I try one way and switch to the other when I guess wrong.) and adjust from there.

hmmm... I wonder if spot metering would do anything... hmmm, I wonder if I remembered to switch my camera off of spot metering from the last time I used it...

oops, Barry beat me to it while I was editing this.

Message edited by author 2009-12-19 21:18:51.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

12/19/2009 09:17:20 PM · #8

Can you spot meter on one of the brighter areas, lock in the exposure setting (AE button?), then shoot a bracketed set. Or lock the exposure as just mentioned and try a couple of manual ev adjustments for a combination that works for you. In the end one of the best alternatives will be to combine two shots, one exposed with details (like you've shown), and one that's substantially underexposed to show the icicles.

It's similar to shooting a subject with the sun in the frame. With the sun, most of the time you'd do what you've done with the photo you've displayed, in letting the sun (light fixture here) go over the top a bit to get the details in the shadows.

12/19/2009 09:49:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by Hipychik:

Thigh high!!!?????

Yes, but that's because it's blowing quite a bit out front. I measured in a spot protected from the wind and got 18 inches. But it's still snowing!

eta: And you owe me girl, for taking your weather this weekend!! ROFL!

Message edited by author 2009-12-19 21:51:29.