No cave trolls or balrogs here, as far as I know. :)
This is not a scene from Lord of the Rings, but is a section of the basement in one of the abandoned buildings at the old State Hospital in Traverse City, MI.
This is one of the "total darkness" sections, so the light was from a powerful (7000 lumen) portable light rig I built specifically to use in these environments. Originally the rig was capable of 9000 lumens, but that ended up being overkill, and was quite heavy to haul around as well.
I like this particular part of the building, as there really isn't a bad way to shoot it. There are several such places in these buildings, which is part of what makes them so enjoyable to go through again and again. Most people shoot this series of arches head-on. Some use individual lights behind each arch to light them up that way, which is a very nice effect. But the aisle is really not that long, and shooting them from this angle makes it harder to discern that. If you don't look closely you can easily imagine it going on for a very long way. It gives the illusion of eternity, but then lets you know very quietly that it is only an illusion. A very apt allegory for this building, given its history and its future.
2 comments:
Here is something I have always wondered, if it is totally dark how do you know how to compose and light the shot? It isn't like you just have a flashlight and go down there and shine your flashlight and automatically know what to do or how to do it. Setting aside the reality that there are photographers who are that good it just seems to me that even if you were that good it would still be very improbable to end up with shots like these so casually.
Dennis:
First, let me apologize for taking so long to get this comment posted and write an answer to your question. This fall I was very busy dealing with family medical issues, and I am just now catching up on things.
The answer is that while we most certainly do use flashlights to navigate with, lighting the scene was done with a portable battery-operated light rig that I built specifically for this purpose. It originally had 3 independently articulating focusable and dimmable LED light units with a combined maximum brightness of 9000 Lumens, but I pared it down to a two-light rig with 7000 Lumens max when I did this shot. That is still a LOT of light, but because of the way the light rig is designed I also retain a tremendous amount of control over that light.
But make no mistake, there is nothing casual about it. Even though modern cameras let you see the image you have taken right after you take it, there is still a LOT of experimentation/light studies that happen, and a whole lot of "close but not quite there yet" images. In addition, the angle I chose to use presented its own unique lighting challenges. Keep in mind that I am primarily a nature photographer, shooting architecture in total darkness is not something I have had a lot of experience with. LOL! There was a lot of learning to be done. This shot was the result of half a dozen day-long trips to the asylum over the course of several years.
Thanks for the great question!
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