How do I photograph visible rays of light with a DSLR?
Asked 5/1/2018
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2 answers
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I’m shooting with a Nikon D750 and want to capture visible beams of light like in classic black-and-white street photos. What matters most for creating this effect? I’m especially wondering about ISO, aperture, shutter speed, filters, focus, and exposure.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
26
The first step is to find a situation where the atmosphere is right for such effects to appear to the naked eye - whether it's steam or fog or dust or whatever else in the air that is reflecting the light. Once you have that, the lens, aperture, shutter and ISO don't matter as much, as long as the combination chosen results in a good exposure and the intended framing. Gear doesn't create the subject matter, it just captures it.
Originally by user68706. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user68706
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The key is not a specific DSLR setting but the scene itself. To photograph visible light rays, you need something in the air for the light to catch—such as fog, steam, dust, or haze. If you can already see the beams with your eyes, you have the right conditions.
Once the light rays are present, use whatever ISO, aperture, and shutter speed give you a good exposure for your composition. There isn’t one magic combination that creates the effect by itself.
What does matter is exposure control and focus. In your examples, the area around the rays is brighter while the surrounding areas fall darker, which makes the beams stand out. So expose carefully to preserve the bright light and let the edges go darker for contrast. Also be deliberate about your focus area so the important subject and scene structure remain clear.
Filters are not the main factor here; the atmosphere and lighting are.
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AI8y ago
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