With daylight savings coming to an end, I feel that low light photography is the next chapter to which I need to set my attention. I’m attracted to the mood that’s created by deep shadows and soft edges in low light photography. The amount of high contrast added with artificial light makes night time portraits seem dramatic and conceptual.
The learning curve or learning low light photography is quite steep. I have failed multiple times and will continue doing it, but that’s What it takes. One thing I dislike about it low light photography is how it depends on extra equipment such as lights, c-stands, and modifiers. So, the idea of having to carry additional equipment to a casual photoshoot in the street at night doesn’t sound feasible to me, mainly because I work by myself..
Even though low light shooting requires a slower workflow, I’m looking for a way that allows me to work quickly. So, as I choose to work at a fast pace in low light conditions, things like street lamps or storefronts become very useful. For that reason, I’m seeking for a way to get consistent results even when street lighting isn’t at its best. With that in mind, for this photoshoot with Alessandra, I decided to experiment with a portable LED light when we met in Midtown on a late afternoon, just past rush hour. On this shoot, when available light wasn’t possible, I pulled out my portable LED lamp and holding it at arm’s length, I shot my camera set with a high ISO and fast shutter speed. The camera I used was my Fuji compact camera with a telephoto lens converter set at zone focusing. It’s a camera that provides me with the best ISO performance, and I primarily use it for street photography but makes shooting portraits a tad challenging. .
I understand that low light shooting has become easier thanks to image stabilization and better ISO performance in newer mirrorless cameras; but, the experience of pressing the shutter button on an older camera when taking someone’s portrait for me is hard to trade-off. Hearing a flapping mirror lets me know a picture was taken and feels reassuring. A mirrorless camera, on the other hand, seems to make the process of taking portraits a little robotic, and even less challenging.
Alessandra is an active, creative person. A published author and musician, I was excited to finally have Alessandra in front of my camera. You can find Alessandra on Instagram as @ali_zagame and check out her latest song in the youtube link I share at the end of this post.