How to photograph in dark?

[TJV]

I think I will invest in the Black Jacket dark cloth when funds permit. Seems pretty essential to me. I was shooting today (just before twilight) and the image was crisp on the screen but as the light faded it became rapidly harder to judge detail at the edges of the frame.

On another note, it's a refreshing experience shooting LF.

[Richard Mahoney]

All good advise, thanks. I think one of the problems was my dark cloth, actually. It's, how can I put it politely... Well, I can't... Any pointers to what make / brand of dark cloth is most effective?.

I'm very fond of my picnic/table/dark-cloth:



Heavy dark blue cloth on inside, light checked cloth on outside, four domes attached by a local saddler for a few dollars. In the rain an oilskin can be thrown over everything:




Best,

Richard

[Joseph Dickerson]

I second the recomendation for the Blackjacket. I assume by the reference to your girlfriend using a "tourch" that you're not in the US.

You may not need the hybrid version. But if you do shoot were it gets warm the hybrid is much cooler. I have both.

I might also point out the Robert Oliver is the riff raff. I know, I taught him in high school much longer ago than either of us will ever admit.

The Blackjacket is one of the best things I ever bought for myself.

JD

[Jehu]

I keep a couple of these in my outfit:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...u=SPM593669701

I can set them at critical focus points. If the focus points are out of reach then I use a green laser. The Meade is the best I've found.

http://www.meade.com/laserpointer/index.html

Red lasers are much cheaper but they just don't stand out for focusing like the green ones.

[Harold_4074]

Another alternative is to carry two or three of the Mini-Maglites along. If you completely unscrew the front housing of one, the opposite end of the main housing slips into it to make a "stand" for use as a sort of electric candle. The bulb is tiny enough to serve as a very good focusing target, and can be used to help with composition as well. Because you are no longer using the reflector, the light can be seen from pretty much any angle except directly in back of the body.

A few ball bungies are also good for keeping the flashlights in places where they won't stand up unassisted.

[photobymike]

Don't forget to figure for the reciprocity of your film........

http://www.mikepic.com

[ki6mf]

Laser pointers as already described. If you are going for large depth of field you probably will focus between 12-40 feet in front of you. A small flashlight put at that distance will let you focus easily. I would work out a table with Depth of field and where to focus to get max depth of field then place the portable flashlight near where your table tells you to. The second most important piece of equipment is a folding beach chair to sit in for the long exposure!