Chinese Lantern Photography?
 

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place (I'm a newbie).

I would appreciate anyone's advice on night / low light photography of Chinese lanterns. (Hot air rising type, not static ones) how should I go about getting the right camera manual settings for effect.

My youngest daughter has just tragically lost her husband and she and my two grandaughters are coming to us in Cornwall for Christmas.

We have bought some in loving memory Chinese lanterns for them to launch on the cliffs close to where her late husband was born in Cornwall.

I have only just started digital photography (except point and shoot cameras) and have at my disposal a Canon 60D + remote release + EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens + EF 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM lens,a sturdy tripod and a Canon Speedlite 580EXII.

I bought the flashgun especially for this occasion and it only arrived two days ago. Having read the manual from end to end it is far from clear. :confused:

My guess to get the right effect there should be some natural light (Twilight) rather than total darkness.

The flashgun should maybe be mounted off camera on a second tripod and remotely fired from the camera.

If anyone has any advice (especially the speedlite settings to stop the shots from being blown out) it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

George :)

Hi

Firstly i am terribly sorry to hear about your loss, thats very sad indeed. I think its a lovely thing that you are doing and wish you luck in getting the right pictures.

I think its tricky as close up you will benefit from a flash but as they get further away i would be looking to get as much natural light as possible so i agree that twilight would be best, i think it would make for a better natural shot as you will have horizon light contrasting with rich lantern paper colours and the candles below. Also had you thought of getting a long exposure shot in bulb mode. It would make a stunning shot of the lights going upwards in their own light trail.

See the following links for my idea of good pics for inspiration:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ight-year.html

This i like for the perspective underneath:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gal...02/photography

Check 4th pic down:

http://pixdaus.com/index.php?pageno=...tival&sort=tag

And i love this, such a great photo:

http://holykaw.alltop.com/a-midsumme...r-poland-video

And finally:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agr...-lanterns.html

And i forgot to say that in light of how importantant to you this is, had you thought of getting out the next few evenings and practising releasing some cheap lanterns and getting the practice in capturing them. Having released some myself its actually tricky and its ideal if you have little or no wind. I had my first couple bouncing off of the roof of our house and nearly hit my mother in law in the head with one too!