Light in the dark

[The Weird Witch]

This is a picture of my friend taken by candle light. I chose to take this picture by candle light as I wanted to create a pensive mood, does this come across?
I would love feedback on how I could improve the composition, is the picture too dark? Is the PP too much? Are the tones too cool? And of course any other way in which the picture could be improved.



Camera Nikon D40
Exposure 0.6
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash

[vjhoward]

I really like the idea. Been practicing doing a lot of "low light" and evening work myself. Here are a few thoughts:
1. Subject too centered, a move to the left may work.
2. For candlelight, I would expect warmer tones.
3. I wonder how it would look if you could not see the candle (may eliminate the expectation of warmer tones).
4. I do like the candle in the shot, what if it was move a little more up and right. It seems to be a little random where it is place. I know you were using it for light, but you could make it a subject of the shot.
5. Sharpness looks good. For "mood" shots, I will sometime change my Clarity to -5 or -7. This will soften the look (note, I use Lightroom for post and it has a clarity slider).
6. I don't get the pensive mood, probably expression on face vs. use of candle as light.

Take my thoughts for what they are worth...another learning and hopeful photog. Overall, nice effort.

[tyasa81]

i've been having this idea for a while so i think i might share what i had planned in mind but didn't have time for actual practice...

the idea is from birthday candle... since i had 5 relatives having birthday this 2 weeks and wanted something special for the blowing of candles...

the problem with your picture is that the candle is in the frame and fully blown out white... thus you lose some of the mood you are trying to create... if you try to get exposure right on the face then the candle will definitely blow out... so maybe you can try to add flash... expose for the candle .. around 1/40 iso 200 f 5.6 or equivalent... and add flash from low angle to the face with full cto.. and if you want if you want some ambient so it doesn't look too dark, just bounce another flash but on low power... using this method you can get a red flame candle and a similar lighting that simulates candle light... though it does require 2 flash off camera... good luck

as for your pic.. u captured a good expression... and also the light on the face is great.. keep shooting..

[S_Sanyal]

hello "Weird Witch" (I'm sorry it sounds strange calling someone that !!)

I like the picture very much, in terms of lighting, tones and expression. As composition tips are already covered above, I'll skip most of that as I agree with everything said so far (offcentre etc.)

I have 3 observations:

1. If you do choose to keep the candle in the composition, (I say "choose" as its really your discretion and call), keep significantly more of it, as a complementing element so that it doesnt look like its incidental as it does in this case...candles make for good elements and have a beauty of their own.

2. Another very striking thing is that due to the candle, not the face so much, your PP is very evident. I dont know what program you use, but there's this washout of the highlights in the flame as well as the body of the candle, just the way it happens if you increase fill light in Lightroom and increase blacks. This creates a halo with a hard edge which looks unreal and the PP becomes immediately evident!! This unfortunately is the case here (the flame has that un-real halo), so it may help if you are conscious of this point.

3. The purple tinge of your friend's shirt is a tad distracting as it seems to have a very vague level of light on it, neither lost in the darkness or reflecting the light of the candle... i know this sounds vague but its an observation, may be better if its either clearly there or absent in the kind of lighting you choose, the purple colour also adds some cheer to your otherwise moody shot

That said, I think the man's face is perfectly exposed, with tacksharp eyes, almost feels like is right here in front of me!!