Blue Dusk

A Trick with Tungsten Film

By Bob Couey

Blue Dusk Slow speed tungsten (ASA 64) gives the image optimum saturation while "fast" tungsten (ASA 160 or 320) is often too grainy and unsaturated. I selected Fujichrome 64T, found my SeaWorld subject and waited for the right time. The ideal exposure seemed to be about 20 seconds at f5.6. Results vary with exposure. While it's not crucial to have an absolutely clear sky for this technique to be successful, the sky should be predominately clear and definitely NOT overcast. Other (incandescent) lights in foreground offer color contrast and increases the drama. Photo © 2000-2007 Sea World, Inc. Used with permission.		A few years ago, I attended a photo exhibit of dusk and night photography. The pictures were compelling in design but most of all, I was impressed with a technique the photographer referred to merely as blue dusk -- "for lack of a better term," she said. Up until then, many of my dusk and evening photos lacked excitement. Sure, I managed to get interesting colors through the use of filters but I was looking for something much more dramatic -- almost icy. I liked the photographer's photos and wanted to simulate the effect. The photographer explained that achieving the deep blue sky meant shooting tungsten film outside in early evening. Since tungsten film is balanced for incandescent light and typically shot indoors under artificial light, the film will render a bluish cast if used outside. Normally, such a "technique" would be disastrous. But in this case, the tungsten film's blue shift gives the early evening sky an eerie, almost surreal deep blue color. Fortunately, tungsten slide film (E6) and tungsten color-negative print film (C41) will render the same effect. Timing is critical and the photographer whose work I admired took great pains to insist that timing will make or break the picture. The first time out, I shot too early and the film looked like a processing error had been made. All images were blue overall and monochromatic. "Too early in the evening," I thought. However, on my second try, I waited until the sky was completely dark, save for a slight blue, purple and orange glow on the horizon. About 25 minutes after sunset, I shot toward the horizon (from a tripod) and tried different exposures. The results were breathtaking. Soon, I was photographing a multitude of SeaWorld subjects with this fun and effective technique. So, try a tungsten film after sunset and you too can shoot a "blue dusk".

Bob Couey is the Photo Services Manager at SeaWorld San Diego. He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has received many awards for his corporate photography. Bob's work has been published in PhotoSecrets San Diego, A Day In The Life of California, One Digital Day, Popular Photography, People Weekly, and US Magazine. Send Bob an email. This article is © copyright Bob Couey 1999-2007 for PhotoSecrets / Photo Tour Books, Inc. All rights reserved.

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