Later:
It seems to me that the Olympus "Live Comp" settings, somehow often result into very bold images. (Over the top in terms of colors). It is a theory... I suspect this, albeit I am not 100% sure due to that the exposure works different compared to a normal classic "B" longtime exposure, where ALL in the image gets brighter, the longer you exposure. With "Live Comp" this is not exactly the same case. There is no true accumulation, other than the highlights. And there too it is restricted, and depends more on the strength of the light (torches, etc).
"Live Comp"
Since in these photos, the "Live Comp" exposure times was restricted to 0.5 seconds. (This can be set in the camera between 0.5 seconds and 60 seconds). That of course, affects the very first frame to take - the reference image how bright or dark you wish it to be (in this case, the lunch room).
Then, the camera endlessly adds further 0.5 seconds exposures to the image; which means it adds highlights to an already existing image (e.g to the first "reference photo") Shadows and darker parts of "middle gray", are not accumulated like in a traditional longtime exposure.
Somehow i also feel, that the image output always feels a little bit less predictable with light painting and "Live Comp". Since light paintings are made out of light sources - those tend to become too bright at times. (I am not saying this is true. It is what i suspect. On the other hand, also "B" longtime exposures are at times a "hit or miss"). Yet, somehow i feel less sure about the final output when i use "Live Comp". It feels as if the light paintings more easily become too bold and bright - compared to the "B" longtime exposures.
On the good side...
What of course is super cool with "Live Comp" - is the flexibility in terms of environmental, existing light levels. Despite very bright light sources near by (such as flood lights) - the image gets NEVER overexposed, even if you during the night expose for 3 hours ! That would be simply impossible with a normal, classic "B" longtime exposure.
Pro & Contra
So, this "Live Comp" technique has both advantages and disadvantages. Overall it is on the positive side, because you can do really cool things without any stress of time - in environments which are not really that dark. It also means, that when it is mid June, when the nights are bright in Stockholm - I can still do light painting.
Earlier that was almost impossible (because if often needed at least 25+ seconds), and my light painting tools where not always bright enough - at the same time, the accumulated "B" exposure would make the surroundings too bright after 20-30 seconds. Which in two examples became visible...
Here; from 30 May in 2010 at 02.40 with Daniel and Per-Olof in the works.
We went into a little park in Stockholm-Enskede
being not so dark anymore, at around 02.40. I used the long "glowing home of Poi Stick" from New Zealand, which wasn't exactly super bright. Using "B" longtime exposure setting for 22 seconds, and the 24mm lens aperture was set to ƒ3.5
The background, was already too bright, which i had to make darker in Photoshop. So, the light levels at this point where already too bright for longer light painting with the traditional classic "B" longtime exposure setting.
This was earlier, at 01:48 - exposures for 54 seconds (24mm ƒ3.5 at ISO 100).
Even earlier at 00:52 (at the darkest point in Stockholm 30 May 2010) - exposed for 31 seconds (24 mm ƒ4.5 at ISO 100).
"Live Comp" cutting off effect
One thing I don't like with "Live comp" is, the cutting-off effect. That is the spot somewhere between light and dark, where the accumulated exposure cuts off. As it doesn't affect the shadows, but does "print in" additional highlights, the transition is somewhat unnatural compared to how things look like using "B" longtime exposures.
Look at the first images of the LIGHT ORB - which has a bit of a strange "artifacts" surrounding it. Then look at the latter, natural light orbs - they are perfectly clear, smooth and without any transitional artifacts.
Given the flexibility of "Live Comp"
doing longtime exposures even in not so dark environments - makes it extremely useful ! I don't think I would been able to paint the lunchroom during many minutes, if i would have used the traditional "B" longtime exposure setting. For that, the light in the lunchroom was simply too bright. The price I pay, is that some transitions in tones, look a bit weird or "digital" so to speak. |
