How can I photograph a person at night and still keep detail in the background?

Asked 6/7/2011

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I’m shooting a night portrait with a Nikon D7000, Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8, and SB-900 flash. In aperture priority at f/2.8, ISO 400, and flash TTL, my subject is lit but the background goes very dark or black. How can I expose a person at night while still keeping visible detail in the sky or surroundings?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

14

Ok, so I totally misread the question.

Bulb mode, get your exposure right for the stars behind. Once you have this, set the shutter open for the required time, put the lens cap on / something over the lens (you'll have to count the time, the shutter needs to stay open).

Have your girlfriend stand where you want here, charge the flash and set it for the power you want. Take the cap off and fire the flash.

If you really want to have some fun, you could 'paint with light' on her using a torch to illuminate what you want. It takes some trial and error but you can get some fun effects.

==================== old answer One way of doing this, depending on the scene, is:

  • Use a tripod
  • Set your flash to 2nd curtain mode (so it fires just before the shutter closes rather than just as it opens)
  • Set your exposure settings for the background so you get the detail
  • dial down the flash power to an appropriate setting (this might need some trial and error to get right)
  • Tell the model to keep still
  • Take the shot!

The shutter will stay open long enough to get in some light from the background and the flash firing at the end of the frame will illuminate your girlfriend, because the flash is a short burst of light it will freeze any movement in her so you don't have to worry about losing sharpness in her features.

Originally by user3664. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3664

15y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Use the ambient light for the background, and the flash for the person. The easiest approach is to switch to Manual mode, compose the shot, and set exposure so the background looks the way you want first. Then add the flash to light your subject.

A tripod helps because the background exposure may require a slow shutter speed. The flash will briefly illuminate and help freeze your subject, even if the shutter is relatively long. You may need to adjust flash power/TTL compensation to balance subject and background.

If you want more visible night sky or surroundings, you can also raise ISO to allow a brighter ambient exposure. Rear/second-curtain sync can help if there is motion during a longer exposure.

For more creative results, some photographers use a long exposure and then fire the flash during it, or even paint with light. But for a straightforward result: expose for the background first, then use flash to fill the subject.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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