This just in: Pope John Paul II is STILL dead.

[dolari]

Now that I don't have to worry about ruining endless reels of film, I took advantage of some of the day's events to play around with "composite photography." I like taking pictures of christmas lights, fireworks and generally "Bright Things against Dark Backgrounds." The problem is, if I take a pic with the flash, it washes out the lights. Take one with NO flash, and the neon will wash out the rest of the picture.

The idea here is to take two pics, one with the flash, one without the flash, and composite them together as transparent layers, and try to get a nice compromise. Some of tonights work:



Pic with flash:


Pic with no flash:


Composite:


Pic with flash:


Pic with no flash:


Composite:


Pic with flash:


Pic with no flash:


Composite:


Suggestions? Comments?

Comments

[ascian.livejournal.com]

One of the big differences I notice is the sky. The flash really kills it, no flash showcases it, and the composite finds a good medium between sky, detail, and the lights. I like it. Good job. :)

I love the frisco

[primalsoul.livejournal.com]

I have this wierd fascination with the frisco ... I try to hit it every time i go... i'm not sure what the attaction is.....

Re: I love the frisco

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

I love the place, myself. :) It's Very Local. I'm thinking of hitting the Top Notch next week.

[renahyrota.livejournal.com]

What? You mean the Pope hasn't risen from the dead as a supreme Lich yet? :|

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Flashes are evil.

It'd be a bit of work, but have you tried taking a no flash image, hand selecting the areas you'd want brighter (I'm assuming you're using some form of photo editor to do this), and adjusting the light levels?

Another interesting idea would be (if you have a tripod and a digital that'll do this) to take the image using a longer exposure time; you'd get all the detail you'd like and the lights would be even brighter.

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're assuming I know what I'm doing when it comes to photography. :D I just point and click and the flash either comes on or it doesn't. :) Digital cameras are fun in that they do all the extraneous stuff for you.

Usually adjusting light levels in areas doesn't really bring out the detail that I want, or becomes so incongrous with the surround areas that it looks wierd.

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Watch Terminator for an idea of what could happen if you let the machines do all the thinking for you. (silly grin!)

As for light levels, you may need a fairly good photo editor to do a proper job of it; you'd have to manipulate your black and white levels at multiple points, such as using either the Levels or Curves options in Photoshop. You could also possibly 'burn' the areas that are too dark or 'dodge' the areas that are too bright and then adjust the overall brightness. 'Course, this takes a wee bit of expertise, but that comes with fooling around with such programs, as you've already begun to do.