Maddie James
Candles make for great photography props, but they can be challenging to shoot due to their minimal light source. The key challenge is that the candle flame is very bright, while the surroundings are dim, resulting in a high-contrast scene that can be tricky to expose correctly. To capture beautiful candlelit photos, photographers must adjust their camera settings and experiment with different techniques. Candle photography requires careful consideration of lighting, composition, and safety precautions to achieve stunning and atmospheric results.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Camera settings | Manual (M) mode, aperture f/1.8, shutter speed 1/200 sec, Auto ISO |
| Camera equipment | Tripod, remote shutter release cable, self-timer |
| Lighting | Low-light, warm light, soft light, avoid flash |
| Candle type | Tea lights |
| Candle number | 10-pack |
| Candle placement | Prominent position, below or at eye level with the subject |
| Candle surroundings | No flammable material, no sheets or reflectors |
| White balance | Low light preset, custom entry between 2000 and 3000K, 5400 K |
| Exposure | Longer exposure, avoid blowout |
| ISO | 100, between 400 and 500 |
| Aperture | f/2.8, f/1.8 |
| Shutter speed | 1/1250 sec, 1/20 sec, 1/60, 1/100 |
| Additional light | Lamp with red or orange cloth, torch with orange gel |
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What You'll Learn
Use a tripod and torch to balance the bright flame with the environment
When photographing a candle, the flame is usually the focal point. However, candles present a unique challenge: the flame is very bright, but the surroundings are dim. This high contrast makes it difficult to capture detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of the scene.
One way to address this issue is to use a tripod and a torch. A tripod can be very handy for candle photos as it gives you the option to shoot longer exposures and blur the flickering movement of the flames. This can create beautiful, atmospheric shots. Additionally, a torch can help to add extra light to the scene and balance out the bright flame with the environment.
To further enhance your photos, consider using a small piece of orange gel to warm the torch light and match the colour of the flames. This will create a cohesive and natural look to your images. Experiment with different exposure times to capture the various colours in the candle's flame, from the dark centre through the reds and purples at the base to the bright white peak.
By using a combination of a tripod, torch, and gel, you can effectively balance the bright flame with the environment and create stunning candle photographs that capture the beauty and atmosphere of the candlelight.
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Adjust the exposure to create different effects
Candlelight photography can be challenging due to the high contrast between the bright flame and the dim surroundings. Adjusting the exposure can help create different effects and compensate for these challenges.
If you expose for the fire, the rest of the scene will become very dark, making it look like the candle flames are floating in the air. This can be a creative choice, but if you want to capture the details of the surroundings, you will need to adjust the exposure accordingly. Increasing the exposure time will brighten the surroundings, but it may also cause blowout in the flame, making it appear blurred.
To avoid blowout in the flame, you can use a faster shutter speed, such as 1/1000s, but this may result in a very dark image where even the wax near the flame is not visible. A longer exposure time, such as 1/20s, will brighten the scene and create a blur effect in the flames, giving an atmospheric look to your photo.
You can also adjust the ISO and aperture settings to control the exposure. A higher ISO will increase the camera's sensitivity to light, allowing you to capture brighter images, but it may also introduce more grain or noise into the image. A wider aperture (lower numerical aperture) will also let in more light, allowing for slower shutter speeds and reducing the risk of motion blur.
Experimenting with different exposure settings will help you create a variety of effects and find the right balance between exposing for the fire and exposing for the surroundings, resulting in captivating candlelight photographs.
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Use a warm gel over your flash to preserve the soft, warm candlelight
When photographing candles, it is important to preserve the soft, warm candlelight. The candle flame is bright, but the light it emits is soft and warm, and the surroundings are often very dim. This high level of contrast makes it challenging to capture detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of the scene.
To preserve the warm candlelight, you can use a warm gel over your flash. Gelling your flash will help match the warm hues of the candlelight. The colour temperature of candlelight is approximately 1500K to 1850K, so you will want to use a gel that brings your flash WB down to a similar level. A Full CTS gel will bring your flash WB down to around 2900K, which may be too warm, so you may want to use a 1/2 CTS gel, which will bring your flash WB to around 3700K to 3800K, leaving your backgrounds with a touch of warmth. You can also use CTO gel, which will give you a deep orange colour, similar to candlelight. You can also try stacking various orange and other colour filters until you match the temperature.
When using gels, it is important to tape them down securely, either to your lens hood or the top of your speedlight's head, so they do not move around while you are taking photos. You can also try using a rubber band to hold the gel in front of your flash. Additionally, make sure to set your camera's white balance to a low light preset, between 2000K and 3000K, to further preserve the warm candlelight.
Using a gel to warm your flash is a great way to avoid the harsh, blue-tinted effect of a flash, which can ruin the soft, warm light of the candles. With the right gel and camera settings, you can create beautiful, atmospheric candlelight photographs.
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Reposition the candle to change the mood of your shot
When photographing a candle, the position of the candle in relation to the subject can drastically change the mood of the shot. For example, candlelight appearing below the subject's face can make them look eerie. To achieve a softer look, move the light source higher, around eye level. This illuminates the subject's skin evenly, making them glow.
If you are taking a portrait, you can use the candle to light up your subject's face. This can create a warm, cosy, and atmospheric effect. You can also experiment with different lighting effects by changing the candle's position. For instance, you can create interesting shadows by placing the candle to one side of the subject, or you can use the candle to fill in shadow areas.
If you are taking a still life photograph, the candle could be the focus of your photo. In this case, you might want to try different compositions by repositioning the candle within the frame. You can also add more candles to create complex compositions and add visual interest to the foreground and background.
Another way to change the mood of your shot is to adjust the white balance settings on your camera. For candlelight photography, you want to preserve the warm, orange glow of the flame. Therefore, switch your camera to the low light preset or enter a custom value between 2000 and 5400 Kelvin.
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Use a fast prime lens to capture portraits in dim light
When photographing a candlelit scene, you may want to capture the warm, atmospheric light cast by the candle on your subject's face. This can be tricky, as candles don't emit much light, and the contrast between the bright flame and the dim surroundings can make it challenging to record detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of the scene.
A fast prime lens can be an excellent tool for capturing portraits in such low-light conditions. Prime lenses have fixed focal lengths, resulting in simpler designs and often superior optical performance. They typically have large maximum apertures, such as f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/1.2, allowing more light to enter the camera and improving low-light capabilities. This feature helps achieve a shallow depth of field, creating stunning portraits with beautifully blurred backgrounds.
The wide aperture of a fast prime lens allows you to work with natural light more effectively. It enables you to use faster shutter speeds and lower ISO settings, resulting in sharper images with less noise. For example, when photographing a candlelit scene, you can use a fast prime lens with a wide aperture to capture the warm candlelight on your subject's face while avoiding underexposing the surroundings.
Additionally, the compact size of prime lenses makes them lightweight and easy to handle. They often feature advanced physical designs, including durable constructions, weather resistance, and protective coatings. Some prime lenses also offer on-lens controls, such as customizable buttons and switches for changing between manual and autofocus modes, simplifying your workflow and allowing you to refine your focus quickly.
When using a fast prime lens for candlelit portraits, it's important to consider the white balance settings. Adjust the white balance to the low light preset or a custom setting between 2000 and 3000K to preserve the cozy, orange warmth of the candle flame.
With its ability to capture stunning portraits in low-light conditions, a fast prime lens is a valuable addition to your photography kit, unlocking creative possibilities and helping you achieve sharp, aesthetically pleasing images.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a camera and a tripod. A torch can also be useful to balance out the bright flame with the environment.
Set your camera to Manual (M) mode with aperture f/1.8 (or your lens's widest aperture), shutter speed 1/200 sec and Auto ISO.
To avoid blurriness, use a tripod and a remote shutter release cable. If you don't have these, you can set your camera on a stable surface and use the self-timer.
You can avoid blowout by using a longer exposure. This will create blowout in the flame, but it will be acceptable as the rest of the scene will look okay.
Apply a warm (orange or red) gel over your flash to dim its impact and project a warm light.
