Torchlights and Photography?

[kelccm]

That's the idea. To further even out the light, even a piece of white paper placed in between the torch light and the subject can help.

 

[earllevin]

Lots of use actually...

1) As Kei suggested - provide constant lighting,
2) Creative Photography
3) Provide more lighting to the environment
4) Videography
5) To give you lighting when you are tracking down some dark places.
6) etc

I love #5... I can imagine some adventures in caves and abandoned ships! plus #6 is funny: etc. = infinity

 

[overcrash]

Almost forgotten about this thread until 1 fateful night in Paris.
Was at the Eiffel tower attempting to take a portrait of the significant other and found the background light overpowering the subject in the foreground.
A flash will not do me any good.
Found a quick fix using the flashlight app on my Galaxy Note2 as a constant light source.
The fruit of it was a portrait of my gal, backdropped by the Parisian icon.

Now back in Singapore, I am looking for a flashlight that can do the same job and more - providing a constant source of light that aint overpowering when used in the night.
Any recommendations on what might be suitable?
Or how about sharing what torch you are using right now?

I did some research off the net and found some good place to purchase these torches:

- Amazon - > Romisen RC-C6 Flood-to-Throw Zooming Q3-WC 90-Lumen LED Flashlight Flashlamp Torch - Amazon.com
- Shining Beam -> Results for By Manufacturer:ShiningBeam
- Deal Extreme -> Cheap Cree Led Flashlight Torch on Sale at Dealextreme - DX

Any good flashlights to share?

 

[kelccm]

Those torch lights that you had shown in your links are fine. The key is how to diffuse the light. Cause these torch lights tend to be too concentrated or spot, which essentially gives you the same "caught-in-headlights" kind of look on your subjects as direct camera flash. Many methods you can use to diffuse the light, eg. use a portable mini flash diffuser, pass the light through a piece of translucent white paper, bounce the light off a wall/ceiling where available, bounce the light off a portable reflector etc etc....

 

[overcrash]

Those torch lights that you had shown in your links are fine. The key is how to diffuse the light. Cause these torch lights tend to be too concentrated or spot, which essentially gives you the same "caught-in-headlights" kind of look on your subjects as direct camera flash. Many methods you can use to diffuse the light, eg. use a portable mini flash diffuser, pass the light through a piece of translucent white paper, bounce the light off a wall/ceiling where available, bounce the light off a portable reflector etc etc....

thanks mate for the valuable sharing! that's one of the scenario i encountered that summer night in Paris.
I read somewhere about a portable soft box, that should have a similar effect as a portable mini flash diffuser?
Wondering where to get these items.
Any good recommendation to share?

 

[kandinsky]

Now back in Singapore, I am looking for a flashlight that can do the same job and more - providing a constant source of light that aint overpowering when used in the night.
Any recommendations on what might be suitable?

For portraits, I'd look into a small LED panel like the F&V z96 (Link: F&V USA | Z96 LED Light Panel). You can find it for US$70-$80 on ebay. The light is more diffused than torches (which typically have a single-emitter and a pretty focused throw), also comes with two diffuser panels.

 

[jameskkmok]

Torchlight is handy to carry around & easy to control the lighting. Get the right color temperature, not too cool or it give a blue cast. Most of my macro i work with available light & torch.
[IMG
Matang macro 2013-23 by jameskkmok, on Flickr

 

[kelccm]

thanks mate for the valuable sharing! that's one of the scenario i encountered that summer night in Paris.
I read somewhere about a portable soft box, that should have a similar effect as a portable mini flash diffuser?
Wondering where to get these items.
Any good recommendation to share?

Yep, I have one of these mini softbox to help diffuse the light from my torch....

Can't remember which shop I had bought it from. I found it at one of the stalls at one of the IT fairs. Cheap and useful. Just as long as you can find a way to secure the softbox on the torch, it can act as an extra diffuse light source for your subject. This mini softbox can be used for your external flashlight as well.

 

[crabball]

Or you can look at nitecore torches. Some models does have a diffuser (sold separately)