Painting with Light

I learned a new photography technique…..

While writing this, I was listening to "Carry My Cross" by Third Day

This week, I tried a photographic technique using flashlights and spotlights after dark.  I went with two photo friends, David and Jo Ann, to an old church outside San Manuel, Texas, and took this photo at about 8:00 p.m. 

We set up and tried our best to focus in the dark, so it’s a little fuzzy.  But I wanted to learn the technique, and next time, we’ll use stronger lights to get better focus.  So what I did was, use my wide angle lens (Nikon 24-85 mm 2:8-4 http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/af/zoom/af_zoom24-85mmf_28-4d_if/index.htm) at about 28 mm, vertical aspect, and aperture about f4.  Started the exposure, then used the flashlight to light up the background trees, so it wouldn’t be a black void, and to light up the foreground.  This is SOOC processed from the RAW image.  The foreground is too bright, and I see what I need to do to improve the lighting.  This is a very rough first attempt, but I am excited about learning this new technique.  Here’s the other photo of the church with the moon visible.  Again, just a start, but how exciting to learn something new.