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Underexposed!

By Bryce Mohan

Services for Real Estate Pros with Bryce Mohan Photography

August 28, 2008 11:30 AM

One of the fun things about photography is freeing yourself from the constraints 'rules' and just experimenting.

Take a look at the image below.

Would it surprise you if I told you I shot this in broad daylight?

In fact, it was supremely bright outside. I simply underexposed the image (significantly, 2000th of a second). This requires virtually no technical prowess (other then knowing how to set your exposure) and so is quite a friendly technique for those not keen on spending a lot of time with photoshop.

The key here is that by 'not exposing correctly' you are free to create dramatic and unusual photographs. Here's a standard exposure shot just a moment before the picture above.

So...have fun! Try new things, don't worry too much about getting things right...just enjoy yourself. :)

Cheers, -B

Seattle-Real-Estate-Photography

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Melissa Marro

Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL

Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

wow... simply amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Aug 28, 2008 01:14 PM

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor

Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ

AzLadyInRed

Bryce, this is sooooo cool. I love it. Now, how would I take photos of lightening. We're having a monoon right now, and my lightening photos didn't show up. Do I need to set them to the fireworks' setting?

Aug 28, 2008 03:18 PM

Susie Blackmon

Ocala, FL

Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

You are my hero. The more I shoot, the more I learn. I need someone like you around here to work for!

Aug 28, 2008 08:15 PM

Michael Cole

CPG Tours - Corona, CA

Awesome shot, Bryce! We might all be a bit surprised if we saw how they actually shot a lot of 'night' shots in Hollywood.

Aug 29, 2008 12:31 AM

Janice Sutton

1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA

Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Very cool! Thanks for the tips.

PS - I think I want to visit this place. Wherever it is!!

Aug 29, 2008 03:15 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

No, I wouldn't have known it was shot daytime. Great picture!

Aug 29, 2008 07:13 AM

Wendy Timmons

Move Home Realty - Temecula, CA

Temecula Realtor

Thanks for the great info! Everyday I am trying to learn one more tip to help with my photos. Thanks for helping with my tip of the day...You around tomorrow???????

Aug 29, 2008 08:09 AM

Bryce Mohan

Bryce Mohan Photography - Bellevue, WA

Vicki, glad you enjoyed it. :)

Tanya, cheers...experiment and have fun.

Kathy, thanks very much.

Maureen, lol...you go girl. :)

Melissa, thank you.

Teri, probably...you should stabilize your camera (tripod or sit it down somewhere in a pinch) and change the exposure time if you can to at least a few seconds. This should get you in the ballpark of where you need to be. Remember to get it focus properly the first time around as your camera won't likely be able to autofocus too well in the dark (make sure autofocus is off or it will try to refocus for each shot). Finally, get in the habit of just clicking that shutter button...you never know quite when the lightning will hit. :)

Susie, thank you - that is a very nice compliment.

Michael, exactly right...the infamous 'daytime filter night shots'. :)

Janice, it's south Tacoma...normally not a place most people would want to visit - lol. There are pockets of nice property of course (waterfront).

Sharon, thanks.

Wendy, I spend more time on AR than I should. ;) Stop by some of my 'old' blogs if you get a chance.

Cheers, -B

Aug 29, 2008 12:37 PM

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor

Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ

AzLadyInRed

Bryce, thank you....turning that autofocus button off and focusing first makes total sense and is a HUGE help. It's lightening and raining again tonight....I need to get myself a tripod....;-) When I was taking the fireworks' photos, I could sit and brace my arms on my knees, but it's too wet when it's raining outside. ;-)

Aug 29, 2008 03:46 PM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

Bryce, I cant say much but just to stand in awe with your amazing photography. Now, if I have some good photos, would you help me process them at the backend to salvage it?

Aug 30, 2008 11:46 AM

Beth Larsen

RE/MAX Sedona - Sedona, AZ

Sedona Arizona

It never would have occurred to me to try this, I'm just fascinated!

There's a shot I've only ever taken a 'mental photograph' of that might be a good candidate for this technique: driving down Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff to Sedona on a full moon night, where the light seems bright enough to show the crags in the faces of the rock walls. The obvious thing to do is probably a long exposure with a tripod, but do you think I could get a similar effect with your technique?

Aug 31, 2008 03:51 AM

Bryce Mohan

Bryce Mohan Photography - Bellevue, WA

Teri,cool...glad that was helpful. Autofocus can be a real pain in low light. I've got another trick for that but it's a longer story, I'll cover it in a blog at some point.

Loreena, thank you. You have some very nice work up here also as I've commented on in the past. I'd be glad to help you with any questions you might have. Trip sounds like it is going well. :)

Beth,that sounds like a fantastic shot. Go for it! BTW, here's a (somewhat) similar shot under the lighting conditions you describe. Coming back from a shoot one evening I was tired (and in trouble for being late if I recall) but I had to stop and get this 'moonset' next to by mailbox. Nothing fancy here, just a long exposure.

Lourdes, thanks very much. :)

Cheers, -B

Aug 31, 2008 12:25 PM

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor

Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ

AzLadyInRed

Bryce, I LOVE your moon shot!!! ;-) I'll watch for your post on that "other" trick you mention. ;-)

Aug 31, 2008 04:28 PM

Terrylynn Fisher

Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA

HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Great tips, makes it exciting to try and duplicate your photos...in our area of course. Beautiful shots.

Aug 31, 2008 07:07 PM

Bob Cumiskey

A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

US Army Retired, Your Sun City Center, Florida ~ Realtor

Bryce, Thanks for that tip. I have a few pictures I would love to try that with. Looks like I have a project in the works. LOL. Gee, should I really be thanking you for helping me spend more hours at the computer?

Sep 01, 2008 04:45 AM

Bryce Mohan

Bryce Mohan Photography - Bellevue, WA

Teri, thanks!

Terrylynn, glad to hear it...have fun. :)

Bob, but look at the positives!

You aren't burning gas
You'll get to post your own blog when finished
Your safely hidden from roaming Giant Robotic Weasels

Cheers, -B

Sep 01, 2008 10:58 AM

Carol Judd

New Star Real Estate - Vernal, UT

Vernal Utah Real Estate

Thanks for the advice. I love the photo and will give it a try.!

Sep 01, 2008 11:15 AM

Beth Larsen

RE/MAX Sedona - Sedona, AZ

Sedona Arizona

Bryce, thanks for the additional inspiration...unsure when the next opportunity (for the canyon) will be, but now I have an additional tool in my toolbox!

Sep 01, 2008 11:23 AM

Melina Tomson

Tomson Burnham, llc Licensed in the State of Oregon - Salem, OR

Principal Broker/Owner, M.S.

One of these days, I'll have more time to tool around and play with my camera. This is a great shot.

Sep 01, 2008 02:26 PM

Bryce Mohan

Bryce Mohan Photography - Bellevue, WA

Thanks everyone, just a reminder...get out there and experiment. :)

Sep 06, 2008 04:30 AM