Changed my mind about using a simple flashlight for mall photos

I always thought my phone light was fine for quick shots, but my trip to the old Sunrise Mall in Fresno proved me wrong. I spent over an hour trying to get a clear photo of a faded mural in a dark food court, and the shadows just ruined every shot. A friend with me had a proper LED headlamp, and the difference in detail was huge. Has anyone else found a specific tool that made a big difference in getting good pictures?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna_foster4815d ago

Honestly I still use my phone flashlight for 90% of my urban exploring shots. That headlamp sounds like overkill and just adds more gear to carry around. You can fix a lot of shadow problems just by editing the photo afterwards, the apps are pretty good now. Sometimes the grain and weird shadows from a phone light actually add to the vibe of a decaying place.

gray615d ago

Seriously? I read a photography blog that tested phone flashlights against a cheap headlamp. The phone light is way too narrow and harsh, it just blasts one spot. A headlamp gives you wider, more even light so you can actually see the whole room you're trying to shoot. Editing can't fix what you never captured in the first place.

rowanellis5d ago

Last year I was trying to get a shot of an old boiler room and my phone light left half the pipes in total blackness. I bought a 15 dollar headlamp from the hardware store and it was a total game changer. The spread of light lets you see hazards on the floor and frame your shot properly. You can't edit in detail that just isn't there in the raw file. What kind of spaces are you usually shooting in?