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Magic-cloth-technique

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by WJaekel on Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:02 pm

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I'm thinking of going to Iceland for photographing Northern Lights and came across Tony Prower's website on which he describes the technique he uses. Looks fascinating to me - at least his low light landscape photographs and aurora shots are stunning, IMO.

http://icelandaurora.com/blog/2010/07/2 ... technique/

There are more links and examples on this page. I hope I don't tell an "old story". Anyhow, I wonder if anybody has tried the technique ?

Regards

Wolfgang

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by E.J. Peiker on Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:36 pm

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I used that technique on this film image from 2001

My "cloth" was my black sunglasses case:
http://www.ejphoto.com/images_NM/NM_WhiteSands02.jpg

E.J. Peiker http://www.EJPhoto.com
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by Chas on Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:37 am

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It is simply dodging in camera. We did this in commercial photography way back when with 4x5 and tungsten lighting, and advertising during long exposures. In fact I did it with the Tech Series group during our waterfall shoot last week to bring out detail in dark areas. We used our hands covered with black eye glass cloth.

Think of dodging a print to hold back light in specific areas to make it lighter, same principle.

Best,

Chas

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by penghai on Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:16 pm

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My brother (from Taiwan) visited me last year and we went together to shoot in Yosemite National Park. I brought my set of GND filters. He didn't even know what GND filters is. But he brought a piece of black card board with him. And I saw him moved the thing up and down during our shooting. And later he showed me this is his GND equivalent. With lot of practices, he gets really good.

This seems a technique kind similar to light painting. With light painting, you use a light source to paint. With the magic-cloth technique, you block light instead. But with a motion to achieve smooth "graduated" effect.

Eric

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by Les Voorhis on Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:11 am

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As Chas mentioned, many have used this for years and it is is indeed, in-camera dodging. I have used in the past (and will now make another one since I am thinking about this...thanks) a piece of black foam core with jagged edges cut on the bottom to aid in the "graduation" effect. Easy, cheap, light and fits in the bag or pocket easily. Thanks for reminding me of this technique.

Les Voorhis
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by Kanon on Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:58 pm

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Very cool, must out and test this

Andreas Kanon
[url=http://www.kanonphoto.com]www.kanonphoto.com[/url]

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by Greg Basco on Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:21 am

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I've always meant to try this out, and your post has put the idea back to the front of the pile. Thanks very much for posting this, Wolfgang.

Cheers,
Greg

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