Look North

munki · Post by **munki** » Tue 12 Jun, 2007 4:05 pm

My pictures were absolutely rubbish!!! It was very very dark down there & the flash just took big blurred pictures of the dust flowing in the air like snowfall!I am waiting for pics back from the professional who came along with us. Hopefully they will be a good bit better.

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 12 Jun, 2007 4:14 pm

Yeah it's a bugger munki, tell me about it.. I suffered many a wasted trip with my naff compact camera. If anybody wants to do some underground or dark place pictures you really need a decent camera.. Flash photography really ruins any dark stuff., A big ball of light for a few feet & no distance.. You can get a lot better results with a long exposure & no flash Than an instant flash believe it or not..

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 10:24 am

Phil, the piccies you take underground are stunnning. You claim you use the long exposure, but surely there is a an illumination as well. I'm sure I can see the beam of a torch / light. Can you give some exposure times and setting info please. Just for reference so that if I find myself in such places (;-)), I may be able to emmulate the stunning photography you are able to produce! Many thanks

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 10:54 am

Hi Simon... It's difficult to explain how to take those pics...It's trial & error untill you find the method that works best with your camera. If you use a flash it's appalling, No depth or colour e.t.c. I usually use a 15-30 second long exposure depending on where you are in the tunnel & how bright the torch your using is.. We use a method called painting with light. It's basically running a beam of torch light around the tunnel walls. As the camera is slowly recording the picture over 15 or 30 seconds it automatically captures the brighest aspect of that shot. We use anything from a small torch to 2,000.000-3,5000.000 million candle power lamps. You need a high iso setting on the camera too. The funny thing is people actually think the tunnel is like that & you can walk straight through it when in reality you can't see your hand in front of your face. Don't be suprised if you mess a lot of shots up.. I usually make a b@l#s of 9 out of 10.. There worth it when you get a good one though! Long exposure shots are also good for places like under the dark arches where there is light but it's still very dark.. I suppose the camera sensor is a bit like when you first wake up & your eyes take a while to focus properly.

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 11:11 am

This is the brightest i've ever got a tunnel to light up.. It's with our backs tight to the wall of the infilled portal in Clayton tunnel just under a mile in.. The little green light at the end is the over exposed bit of daylight burning bright through a tiny doorway. I love the effect that gives.

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 12:02 pm

Thanks very much for the info Phill. I think I understand about the painting with light stuff. I understand photography very well, use of B setting etc. So you open the shutter and wave a torch about a lot. Summat like that? Trial and error is whats it's all about eh?. Must admit, when I first saw them I really thought they were very bright inside or that the lighting equipment you were using was mega bright..lol.Again, thanks for the real stunning shots.

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 12:11 pm

yeah summat like that Si... Have a go.. you won't think it could possibly work when your doing it... It does tho!! This is one that didn't go to plan.. The mist inside Sandsend is so thick the lamp beam was down to a few feet.. It shows better how dark they really are.