I’m sure we are all faced with the right situation when all seems right except someone turned the lights out. I not with interest in another forum topic on this site that some of you grab the fattest lens you can in the hope you can capture as many photons as possible. Others might twiddle the ISO up a thousand or two and for those who have missed it all, a quick grab of the curve in PS, turning it into something resembling a porn stars chest.
Yet grappling in the dark might be a more pleasant pursuit if you treated it like a love affair; a soft touch and a fleeting glimpse can be more satisfying than a bombastic and heavy handed approach.
In the shot below the only dominant light was the blue glow from the iphone the person is holding near his face. There was some incidental moon light about but barely enough to register on the metre. A bit of dodging on key elements of the scene helps bring out what first appeared to be (and probably was) a very underexposed image.
Waiting until the last moment for the Sun to sent its final rays over the horizon is a nervous exercise, especially when the clouds are about, but its worth the wait.
Even when the Sun has well gone, its worth hanging around. Your eyes will accomodate quickly and you will see the potential for photographing what I call ‘Dark Space’.
And just when you are about to pack up and head for the comfort of a warm fire and even warmer partner, someone turns the light on and spoils it all.
What the hell! Take a shot anyway.
