‘Night and low-light photography’ with Tony Worobiec
Jan 4th, 2012 by Malcolm Bowditch
On Tuesday 3rd January, at the first club meeting since the Christmas break, we welcomed Tony Worobiec who gave us fascinating presentation on ‘Night and low-light photography’. This was essentially based on his eponymous book that first appeared in 2009 and deals with the subject in very great detail. In fact, unless one’s special interest here is the night sky and star trails, the book (and the talk) covers pretty much all one could wish to know.
When viewed on the screen it was difficult to believe that such splendidly detailed images could be produced in lighting conditions that often required the photographer to use a torch when moving to and from a particular viewpoint. Furthermore, in landscapes and in the absence of artificial light, images possess a quality of luminosity and colour quite different from that obtained during daylight hours. Although this is presumably to be expected because the colour of the light illuminating the subject is so very different, the nature and quality of these images have to be seen to be properly appreciated.
Tony is a gifted communicator and the evening flew by as he gave this talk that was special in the sense that it dealt in detail with an aspect of photography with which relatively few of us are very familiar. Many of us left fired with an enthusiasm to try something different. Time will tell …
Malcolm Bowditch
I agree with Malcolm, what an inspiration Tony was. I left wanting to go straight out and try some of the shots we saw. Perhaps a group of us could go to some remote scenic place and have a photographic session. I still class myself as a beginner and I would love some guidance on low light photography.
Regards
Kath
I am in agreement about all the comments on the presentation on low-light photography. I have tried it myself with some success but am having some trouble with ‘noise’. Perhaps we will get some low light photographs in the ‘Points Cup’?
I too found the talk and the subject fascinating. I had set myself a project for the BFCC season of sunrises and sunsets. I now realise I have spent half the year looking the wrong way and photographing into the light, not with the light! Yesterday morning there was a lovely sunrise in Dewlish. Looking out of the windows at the back of the house for the first time since the talk, I realised that Tony was spot on: the colours are remarkable. All I need to do now is actually find a worthwhile shot!