How in the world was this taken?!

[MattyO]

I have 2 images here, and i simply cannot figure out how the photographer did them.

http://a442.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/im ... fadb89.jpg

and

http://a40.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/ima ... b4b69f.jpg

I understand there is obviously external lighting being used, probably 2 softboxes on the left and right.

But you need short shutter speeds to avoid movement blur in the models, and long shutter speeds for the city in the background.

i can think of 2 ways...

high iso shot and then obviously a large amount of noise reduction is done, but i don't think so as too much detail has been kept

or maybe its 2 exposures, 1 with the models in it, and another of just hte background well exposed....

either way, they have done it well. For those in the know... how do you take pictures like this?!

[ATJ]

Use strobes for the models and a longer shutter for the city. If the models are in a dark area, they would only be lit by the strobes which would also freeze the movement.

[BullcreekBob]

G'day

Sadly cynical, I am now thinking that if I get some nice beach girly shots, some of my OOF city nightscape shots and add an itsy bitsy piece of Photoshop.

As I said, I'm a sad old cynical grumpy bloke.

Cheers
Bob in Bull Creek

[MattyO]

i suppose the models would have to stay fairly still tho?

[ATJ]

i suppose the models would have to stay fairly still tho?

Not if it was dark. Strobes are usually 1/1,000s to 1/10,000s. Enough to freeze most of the movement.

[rooboy]

Not necessarily, the flash duration on most strobes is ~1/1000 of a second upwards. Unless they're sprinting, you won't have a problem.

Depending on the ambient light, you still may need a tripod for the background - the great bokeh in #2 would look horrible if smeared by hand-shake.

[Kyle]

If you use rear shutter curtain and expose for the rear of the frame you can achieve this shot.

Tripod is a must.

[Frankenstein]

...what was the question again?

Frank

[MattyO]

i guess teh model has to stay fairly still the whole time the shutter is open? or would the shutter speed not really be THAT long?

[Kyle]

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum ... p?t=277989

Have a quick read of jasons description on how he went about it

[phillipb]

These days, even basic point & shoot cameras have the ability to do this with the nightshot auto setting. The flash is the key as has been said already.

P.S. shouldn't there be at least some acknowledgment of the photographer?

[macka]

P.S. shouldn't there be at least some acknowledgment of the photographer?

Good point, if the images are not yours it's better to provide a link rather than embed them in the post.

[MattyO]

the images are on that models myspace...

i don't know who is the photographer, but its definately not me.

[Alpha_7]

Matty - As per the site FAQ, you should only provide links when they aren'y our own photos, and / or you don't have the photographers permission. (just a quick heads up). BTW, nice girls and great affect..

[Vodka]

Just read something about this technique the other day - it's called dragging the shutter.
http://www.planetneil.com/faq/dragging-the-shutter.html btw... I highly recommend the above flash technique tutorial. Easy to understand even for a beginner like me!

[byrt_001]

Matty - As per the site FAQ, you should only provide links when they aren'y our own photos, and / or you don't have the photographers permission. (just a quick heads up). BTW, nice girls and great affect..

lol....i remember a long time ago I was grill for posting photos that did not belong to me. i was waiting for someone to say something.....lol

matty: most of the time of just slow shutter speed. very simple, very effective. Set camera on tripod, manual mode, maybe 15/s at F1.8 and adjust flash accordingly.

[Yi-P]

I took this couple months ago, some may still remember?





1/8 @ f/4... and no blurr on the 'models'
Background is nicely exposed, DOF is just right at f/4 (anything smaller can have OOF faces, and amazingly, the background was in focus too.

[Matt. K]

I think those bikini clad girls in the foreground have totally spoiled those great cityscapes.

[MattyO]

sorry, i didn't realise about the linking

the post wasn't about the girls or the photo's rather just the technique to get the sharp subject in the forground and the well exposed background.

on a side note, does anyone know off hand if a sb600 or 800 work wiresless in rear curtain sync or would a cable help that?

[PiroStitch]

Yip, Wendell moved Also that movement helped create a dark outline around him to provide more contrast between him and the background.

First image you could probably achieve without shooting off camera. The second pic has the strobe on the right potentially fired through a diffuser or into a reflector to give it the softer appearance.