Digital Diecast : Digital Tutorials
The Black Hand, The Mystery of the Lights
Feb 8, 2010 - 7:23:22 PM
  Hey, that topic title sounds like something right in line for this spooky time of year, huh ? But it really does kinda describe the technique used in this Shelby Mustang picture.

The Mustang was placed on a photo-set of black velvet, which really absorbs most light and makes for a very dark black background. The car was lit with a softened strobe off to the right and a slaved fill-flash bounced off a white board to the left.

I had set my camera on "Bulb" which means the shutter will stay open as long as I keep the button pressed down. While my right hand kept the shutter pressed my left hand was literally all black ....... because I had covered it with a black sock pulled up over it to my elbow. Thus, the "black hand" !

What this allowed me to do while the shutter was open was to press the switch on a small red LED keychain flashlight I had laying around and because my hand was black, it essentially became invisible.

Naturally, you'll have to have your camera stationary while all this Houdini stuff takes place. A good tripod is a real help ! Depending on what type of tricks you have planned while the shutter is open, you could quite possibly use a time exposure setting rather than "bulb". My Pentax has a 30 second exposure setting and that probably would have been enough. Check your manual to see what's possible with your camera.

You can read more digital photo tips from Mike by visiting the DCP Digital Diecast area of our forums HERE