Under the Floodlights with the Fujifilm X-T2

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Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/60 @ f2.8 ISO1600
Racing after sunset is part of the DNA of endurance racing and presents the photographer with some fantastic photo opportunities but also with some unique challenges.  I went trackside during the night practice session for the FIA World Endurance Championship event at the Circuit of The Americas in Texas with the Fujifilm X-T2 and the XF50-140mm f2.8.

 With floodlighting and car headlights getting the right exposure is going to tax any automatic exposure system so I set the shutter speed, aperture and ISO manually to ensure that the variation in light doesn't affect the end image.

Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (50mm) - 1/30 @ f2.8 ISO400
The image above of the no42 Strakka Racing Gibson is a good example where I exposed for the pool of light and waited for the car to cross into the correct place.  The autofocus system on the X-T2 was able to track the car perfectly, in fact I used the AF-C setting for all of the pictures on this page.

Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (50mm) - 1/60 @ f2.8 ISO1600
One of the major issues with night photography during a racing event is flare from the headlights, which are VERY bright.  The trick is to expose for the ambient light, not the lights themselves, and then shoot just before or just after the lights are head on into the camera.  The shot above of the no8 Audi R18 is a good example of this.

 The beauty of the Fujifilm X-T2 is the Electronic View Finder that shows you the exposure of the image before you press the shutter release.  This enables you to set the right exposure for the conditions.  If you want to have a car in silhouette under the floodlights you can adjust the aperture or ISO accordingly. Or if you want to see the details in the car, as in the no44 Manor Oreca at the top of the page, the settings can be adjusted.

Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/80 @ f3.2 ISO800
Night photography is all about using the available light to the best advantage whether it is floodlights or car headlights.  It can certainly produce some dramatic images.

Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/80 @ f3.2 ISO800
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/8 @ f2.8 ISO400
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/15 @ f2.8 ISO800
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/60 @ f2.8 ISO1600
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/30 @ f3.6 ISO1600
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/30 @ f3.6 ISO1600
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/15 @ f3.6 ISO800
Fujifilm X-T2 + XF50-140mm f2.8 (140mm) - 1/8 @ f2.8 ISO400

Comments

  1. Unknown28 September 2016 at 13:18

    Hi Jeff, with the X-T1 &X-T2 being ISO invariant, do you ever shoot at a lower ISO and push the image in post?

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    Replies
    1. Macsport28 September 2016 at 15:07

      Andy, thank you for reading the blog and for commenting. In answer to your question, yes, I do it when I need to. The RAW files stand up to a couple of stops under exposure and pulling back in Lightroom in Post Production but you have to watch the noise in the dark areas. It isn't something I do a lot but I know the sensors are quite capable of doing this - which is good to keep at the back of my mind when shooting.

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