Bulb 30 secs shots

[Rob MacKillop]

Trying out digital bulb shots before attempting same with the RB67. Rhona in bedroom with dull light through curtains, 30 seconds exposure. For some reason it came out portrait format, and I include that here to show exactly how it came out. Then with pp in Nik with Antique Plate and same with Duplex.

Just an experiment...

DSCF8600 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr


Rhona First antplate by RobMacKillop, on Flickr


Rhona First antplateDuplex by RobMacKillop, on Flickr​

 

[Paul Lange]

Interesting Rob. I found 30 second exposures is a long time for people to pose still so I opted for a lens with inherent blur. This made it a feature of the image. Eyes are the buggers though, if they are visible and blurred the image can look a little disturbing.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Good point about the eyes, Paul. I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Pete Askew]

And a successful experiment I'd say too. I like the contrast between the blurred portrait and the sharp room. The fact that there is a portrait on the wall as well makes a sort of connection / comparison: the dead past with the living present. And the PP in the third version works very well, as does the crop. I also like the way Rhona is looking towards the right of the frame - you could emphasise this more by cropping a bit from the left. I realise this was mainly an experiment in long exposure but I do like the result.

 

[Larry Bolch]

Long exposures open interesting possibilities. Of course they are ideal for fireworks and lightning at night, where one can capture detail in the environment as well as the subject. My favourite film for architectural interiors was Ektar Professional 25. It could do a 100 second exposure without reciprocity failure, and being ISO25 allowed for very long exposures. The hidden feature was that people could walk through the room and not even register on the film unless they stopped for a while.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Interesting, Larry. I used the X100, but I want to get more familiar with the technique before trying it with my Mamiya RB67.

Pete - I confess I didn't really think too much about the details of the shot, but I do like the portrait on the wall, but I also like the bed posts on the left, so wouldn't want to cut in too close. I agree about the connection between living and dead, especially in this penumbral world suggested by the lighting.

 

[Mark Hoy]

Have you tired using a lower ISO to reduce the noise and a bigger aperture to keep the exposure the same? A shallower DOF might help the look you're trying to achieve as well.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Mark. Will keep that in mind. Appreciated.

 

[Mark Hoy]

To get the same exposure as the one posted (ISO3200 - f/16), assuming the light is constant/ the same power, you can try

ISO1600 - f/11
ISO800 - f/8.0
ISO400 - f/5.6
ISO200 - f/4.0
ISO100 - f/2.8

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I get it. Thanks. Might need to pay my model to sit for that long