How to capture crazy colors at the very end of the blue hour: tutorial
This article is a complement to the “Perfect Settings” documentation page
The blue hour is one of the most visually stunning times to create light painting images. The deep blues, vibrant oranges, and soft purples make for a breathtaking backdrop. However, this magical window of time is usually short, with settings needing constant adjustment as the natural light fades. But what if we could extend the blue hour and capture those colors for longer?
Pushing the Boundaries of Camera Settings
Traditionally, we’ve worked within a range of ISO 100 to 1600 until it became too dark, at which point we’d switch to star photography with ISO 3200. This method has always produced great results, but it also meant a distinct transition between blue hour and night photography.
We decided to push the limits by using extreme camera settings earlier—what if we shot at f/1.8 and ISO 3200 at the very end of the blue hour? By accelerating the progression of our settings, we discovered that we could maintain the vivid blue hues for longer, capturing stunning colors that would otherwise fade too quickly.
The Key Adjustment: Flashlight Power
One important factor in this technique is adjusting the intensity of the light painting tools. As we increase ISO and widen the aperture, the light from our flashlight becomes significantly brighter. Without dimming the flashlight, the light painting shapes become overexposed, losing the balance between subject and background. To counter this, we gradually reduce the flashlight power, keeping our compositions well-exposed and harmonious.
Digging in the archives: poorly exposed images
The theory remains the same: expose for the background first. I’ve know this for a long time, but was I afraid of pushing the camera settings too far? I’m not sure, but these are two missed opportunities from the past (2016 and 2017)
2sec, f5.6, iso1600 - 2016
2sec, iso800, f2.8, 14mm - 2017
Pushing the limits at high ISO and wide aperture
4sec, f1.8, iso2500, 14mm - 2023
4 sec, f1.8, iso3200, 14mm - 2023
Experimenting with new techniques is always an exciting challenge, and this was no exception. The adjustments required quick thinking, careful flashlight control, and a willingness to break from traditional settings. But the results speak for themselves: deeper colors, a longer shooting window, and an overall more dynamic workflow.
If you’re a light painter who loves the blue hour, this technique might just become your new favorite trick. Give it a try, tweak the settings to match your style, and let us know what you discover!