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Using the Night Portrait Mode

Tokyo rainbow bridge
A great shot of Rainbow Bridge from a cafe on the shore of Tokyo bay. My pharmacist friend was visiting in Tokyo, and took this shot using his “night portrait mode”. Some cameras don’t have this option, but you can get the same effect manually. Raise the ISO speed, set the IV setting to quite light, use the flash and take a 3 second exposure. The trick is to explain to your subjects that the picture is a time exposure, and they mustn’t move for 3 seconds after the flash. I think that might explain the somewhat strained look on the young people’s faces.

Even though they look a bit awkward, you can still tell they are having a great time. I like that he thought to take the picture before they started to eat, so you can wonder what it is in their bowls. I asked. He said it was “loco-moco” – a tropical rice bowl affair with spam and a fried egg on top.

I love the extra signs and chairs in the foreground. It gives the classic city lights scene a sense of reality, as if to say, “Yes, some of us live here, and its a real place and time, not just a picture postcard.”

Once again, thanks to Tokunaga Masayoshi for the great snapshot.

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Posted in Guest Posts 1 year, 8 months ago at 5:01 pm.

7 comments

7 Replies

  1. Brian_Kirchdorfer Nov 11th 2008

    Thankyou for this info, i have a camera and you know what i can do with it? I can push the button on top and take a picture, if it comes out good, Great! If not well I'll take another! I am actually going to try to take pictures with purpose from now on!

  2. That's a fantastic picture. I totally agree about the chairs adding a little bit of reality to the scene.

    By the way, your new site layout ROCKS!

  3. jademayari Nov 11th 2008

    Fantastic job my friend :) You did it and I'm so proud of you…you're a star Deb

  4. hi i didn't know that bridge was even there but a great shot of it, it looks impressive with all its lights too,
    good stuff

  5. I also have been doing that all my life Brian, I'm with you, from now on, my pictures will have a purpose!!

  6. Beautiful photo! Thanks for the instruction. I'm going to try it tonight! I may even try to make my own version of “loco-moco”. Lol! And your site is lovely, btw.

  7. Debbie, these photos are awesome!! I'm dying to go to Japan, I love the people and culture – it's just so different to how things are down under! The shots really capture all that is so interesting and such a lovely mix of the ancient culture and modern society. Your site is looking fab Debbie!


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