Submitter's name:	Alasdair Mackintosh
Title:	Cemetery Study
Gear used:	OM-4, Zuiko 21/3.5, tripod, Hanimex flashgun
Diaphragm:	f16
Shutter speed:	B
Film used:	Fujichrome Sensia
Technical information:	The camera was placed on the tripod with the shutter held open with a cable release. I fired the flash several times at different parts of the scene. To prevent the background street lighting from intruding, my faithful assistant held a cover over the lens between flashes. A few stray points of light in the background have been removed in Photoshop.
Subject information:	Our local cemetery, taken one dark evening. I tried a number of different shots using the same basic approach, but unfortunately many of them were too underexposed to be useful. This particular shot wasn't really indicative of the effect I was trying to achieve (I was more interested in illuminating the stones themselves than in the vegetation) but it's the only semi-successful one of the whole group. Still, experimenting is always interesting, and without the TOPE theme I doubt I would ever have tried this particular approach.
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Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

I like the results, though I'm positive I will NEVER venture out at night on graveyards to repeat the shot :) You did a very nice job on light painting the scene, and I like the colour the vegetation adds to the composition, it makes the composition a bit less scary.

Comment left by: Mickey Trageser (no e-mail specified)

Nice job. Exposure is good throughout. You could use a snoot to confine the flash spray. I'm not sure I'd venture into the cemetary either, but well done!

Comment left by: Brian Swale (bj@caverock.net.nz)

Excellent painting with light. The first time I've seen the results of it done outside, although professionals use the technique *all the time* when photographing interiors. I like the composition too, with the colours you have. No doubt the friendly spirits beneath helped a little .

Comment left by: bob gries (gries@nothingrhymeswithorange.com)

great use of color! i think the foliage adds quite a bit to the depth and sense of place.

Comment left by: Tim (groovyminolta@yahoo.ca)

You should have put a ghost image of yourself in, in front of one of the gravestones! heh. a hand reaching up from the ground would make this a damn creepy picture.

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