Light City Baltimore

0 Comment Maryland, Photo essays, The Baltimore Sun

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While the success of Light City Baltimore may not be measured in hashtags, it is evident from the number of photos posted to social media that the festival is a
visual playground for photographers.

With more than fifty light installations and performances, there is plenty to challenge and inspire the photographer in each of us.

Here are a couple of tips to capture the best images from your visit:

Go at twilight. About thirty minutes after sunset, the ambient daylight and the artificial lights should be optimal for rich color while still giving the photo a sense of depth.

Turn off your flash. Unless you are trying to add some fill light for a portrait in front of one of the installations, your flash will likely have no effect or worse – cause your image to be under-exposed.

Use a tripod or a high ISO depending on the effect you want. A tripod will allow you to use a slower shutter speed for sharper photos. Just be aware that anything moving in your photo could be blurred at a shutter speed 1/30 second or slower. Many of the new cameras on the market have sensors that can handle ISOs of 6400 or more allowing for higher shutter speeds in low light situations.

Light City Baltimore continues through Sunday, April 3.

Light City Baltimore time lapse from Baltimore Sun's The Darkroom on Vimeo.