Thread: video recording with blacklight

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the light coming from the object after being illuminated with UV is now VISIBLE light and should be bright enough for your camera to record properly

the problem with that is that is is not uniform light - i must respectfully disagree here - the problem is that without the even distribution of normal (white) light digital photoresistors see islands of (rather brilliant) light on nothing (black) and over expose the image - you will have to go manual on most settings (aperture/focus/etc) - and allot of the digital recorders dont let you. i am not saying that it isnt possible - just tricky to get right even after you know your equipment. it will take a fair amount of trial and error to get your equipment to tweek the way you want. so i guess - get out the DVR manual and start experimenting.

also - trick from photography: put all your lighting behind the camera.

I did go on to talk about some of the problems associated with a "bright spot" on a black background, overexposure and focus issues. To be honest, doing this with a video camera is a lot harder than just taking a single photo so I will agree that video under these circumstances is problematic. In any case, its just like taking good fireworks shots. It takes the correct setup.

Originally Posted by theVanyr

the problem with that is that is is not uniform light - i must respectfully disagree here - the problem is that without the even distribution of normal (white) light digital photoresistors see islands of (rather brilliant) light on nothing (black) and over expose the image - you will have to go manual on most settings (aperture/focus/etc) - and allot of the digital recorders dont let you. i am not saying that it isnt possible - just tricky to get right even after you know your equipment. it will take a fair amount of trial and error to get your equipment to tweek the way you want. so i guess - get out the DVR manual and start experimenting.

also - trick from photography: put all your lighting behind the camera.

fireworks... good parallel - good point!

try looking up photography on fireworks - prob more on that subject that ghosts in blacklight. also try talking with a professional photographer, or barring that - the photography instructor at your local community/city college.

I would say just POINT AND SHOOT!!! A lot of people have posted videos of FCG's on Youtube on most of them look pretty darn good. If you have a problem with washout, Just grab a can of flat black spray paint and hit the 'shadow' areas of the ghost. Before you spend so much time and frustration on the solution, first make sure there is a problem. The flat black background is what I would be concerned with first.

I agree with Rookie, it is only digital after all.... so there isn't any cost for development
(Just delete what you don't like).
I use to teach photography for the YMCA youth programes
and experience is the best teacher. Every Pro Photographer will tell you in honesty that you will shot more junk than you like and you will get the best shot when you didn't even try to think it out.

{{Just do it}} That what I say and do.