Darker Days Ahead: Creepy and Spooky Imagery in Low-Light

The fall season marks the shorter days and longer nights about to come, and the favorite holiday, Halloween, is also just around the corner. Not only does it bring the scariest of stories and goosebump-inducing myths, but also the intense surges of imagination. In what other way can we creatively make the most out of the darker days and pitch-black nights than with analogue photography? Here are a few ideas to celebrate Halloween with a film.

Only in a Flash

Taking photographs with low light or no light? No problem. Just being out a flash with you to get the instant light source you’ll need for your image. This will also result in more intense and sharper focus on your subject while creating an instant vignette around the photograph. Use this method for intense and glaring portraits to create suspense!

Forsaken Closed Places

Want to make a horror movie aesthetic out of your photographs during the daylight? Doable by simply visiting abandoned and deserted structures in your local area. These places are mostly enclosed and lack lighting and polished furnishing, creating a naturally gritty effect. Limited natural light sources like doors, holes, and windows will highlight and dramatize the place through the grit. So, feel free to use your favorite color negative films like the Lomography Color Negative 400 for this!

Neon in Terror

Who said color should always be flashy and loud? You can add the terrifying element with bursts of color against a solidly dark background by using darker, more vivid hues for lighting. Take for example this series of Halloween portraits and still shots by cfehse. The use of a fast film (between 800 to 1600 ISO) improves control and intake of light and details. That’s why these shots keep the enigmatic element in them, through the controlled intake of the colors.

Ghosts In the Dark

Lastly, what’s low-light photography for Hallow’s Eve without having fun with some multiple and long exposures in closed places and in evenings? Bring those favorite ghoulish stories of yours to life. Ideally you’d want to shoot with a black and white film, but color negative film can work too if you prefer playful spirits over nightmarish ghosts.

What’s your analogue agenda for Halloween? Share them by commenting below!

written by cielsan on 2020-10-19 in #tutorials #halloween #tipster #creative-photography