Using Bulb mode and Flash

[Trevor Quinn]

Has anyone ventured into using OCF with long exposures/Bulb mode?

Planning to go out over the festive season to get some nightscapes and thought of throwing a portrait into the mix - obviously he/she will need to be lit.

How would one light a model in a well lit area (town square) on a long exposure without making a mess of the light trails etc?

 

[HoppyUK]

Easy in theory. Set exposure for the background, and adjust the flash power for correct foreground exposure.

The key to success is mainly to ensure zero movement of the model during the whole exposure time. If you can't guarantee that, then the model needs to be set against a dark area of background, with minimal ambient light falling on them. In practise though, you may find there's a bit of leeway on that and although the result might not be quite perfect, it will look plenty good enough.

 

[markmullen]

As Hoppy says it is well doable. If you find you're struggling you can always shoot two frames, one long exposure for the background and a normal exposure for the portrait and then blend the two.