Experiment with UV lights... Does it work for you?

[Ginger Pixie]

A shot I took when I was experimenting with my new camera, with a UV light on one side of her, and a strobe on the other.

Camera Model Name
Canon EOS 450D
Firmware
1.0.9
Shooting Date/Time
14/11/2008 19:10:28
Tv(Shutter Speed)
0.3Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F5.0
Metering Modes
Unknown
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
1600
Lens
-5.6 IS
Focal Length
40.0 mm
Flash
Off

[dhart]

It's interesting. Good job on trying something new. For me, it doesn't really do anything other than make me pause and try to figure out what is going on. Others, though, will probably like it. I think this is one of those love/hate type of photos, if that makes any sense!

[MAQ]

For me, it's about the mood you are trying to set. The UV light, dark dress, background all feel like halloween to me ... it might be an interesting effect if you were going for a spooky kind of feel .... my compliments on the creativity of the experiment . ..I wouldn't have thought of it.....

[sybren]

A two-light setup can give very nice results, and I've got the feeling you're quite close. The UV doesn't really matter to me, but the cool/warm contrast does. It seems that both light sources are lower than her face - try placing them opposite of each other, so one high and one low.

The UV does seem to be a bit over-exposed.

Digital cameras are hardly sensitive to UV light. Instead of using UV, you could simply try another strobe with a blue or violet filter on it. That would allow you to reduce your exposure time to 1/200th at 100 ISO, making the photo sharper and less noisy.

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by dhart

It's interesting. Good job on trying something new. For me, it doesn't really do anything other than make me pause and try to figure out what is going on. Others, though, will probably like it. I think this is one of those love/hate type of photos, if that makes any sense!

Thank you

It does make sense. I just had the lights handy (a friend was throwing them out, and I'm a magpie for shiny things, and lights count!) so thought I would see the kind of effect I could produce.

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by MAQ

For me, it's about the mood you are trying to set. The UV light, dark dress, background all feel like halloween to me ... it might be an interesting effect if you were going for a spooky kind of feel .... my compliments on the creativity of the experiment . ..I wouldn't have thought of it.....

Thank you.

Well, she is a 'wannabe goth' so, I guess she would appreciate the spooky feel! ha.

I'm all about experimentation until I have a clue what I am doing!

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by sybren

A two-light setup can give very nice results, and I've got the feeling you're quite close. The UV doesn't really matter to me, but the cool/warm contrast does. It seems that both light sources are lower than her face - try placing them opposite of each other, so one high and one low.

The UV does seem to be a bit over-exposed.

Digital cameras are hardly sensitive to UV light. Instead of using UV, you could simply try another strobe with a blue or violet filter on it. That would allow you to reduce your exposure time to 1/200th at 100 ISO, making the photo sharper and less noisy.

Thank you.

Yes she was sat on the floor with the lights below. I like your suggestion, and will try it. If I bought some coloured acetate, would that work as a filter for my strobe? (I have no budget at the moment!) Also as I havent got the cash to invest in proper lights, would simple angle poise lamps work if I positioned them close enough?

I appreciate your setting suggestions, cheers

[sybren]

If you want to learn how to light, check out http://www.strobist.com/ - it's a tremendous resource! One of the things you'll learn is the effect of moving lights closer and further away, and of course working with colours. When I discovered the website I read all the posts back to front

[villafane928]

i agree with alot of this advice here.....i just wanna add that her left shoulder strap slipping off should be fixed. its just giving the young one too mature of a look.

[wckeep]

Originally Posted by villafane928

i agree with alot of this advice here.....i just wanna add that her left shoulder strap slipping off should be fixed. its just giving the young one too mature of a look.

i have to agree here a bit. other than that i think it is a really cool shot