Sometimes you see a new flashlight or LED panel and you instantly know you just have to have it. You give yourself all the excuses you need to buy it. Can I afford it? Yes. Do I want it? Yes. And do I NEED it? Yes!!
This was the case with a recently released, Zhiyun Fiveray M20C, a colour changing RGB LED panel light with barn doors, diffuser and a honeycomb grid adapter all included. I'm usually a bit sceptical with the promised specs. but after watching a few YouTubers extolling the light's virtues, I took the plunge.
So Amazon relieved me of £ 159.00 and off I went in to the dark with hopes of new colours.
This is a selection of what I got:
The Grumpy Old Bridge Troll
For this shot, I set up the M20C on a light stand at the rear of the frame and adjusted the barn doors on the light to suit. I didn't use the diffuser or the honeycomb grid; I couldn't see the point.
The fog on this evening in Padley Gorge was thick and I knew it would look great lit up in the dark.
The orange beam is made by adding a colour adapter on to my head torch. To the keep the beam of light within my silhouette, I used my hood pulled forwards a little further.
All shot in one exposure, I was accused today of using AI to create this image. Just say no to AI!
A slightly more subtle version of the above shot:
And another with a beam of light from my Olight Marauder Mini flashlight. The beam this thing emits is incredible! I'm looking forward to getting out with this light soon!
The Gear
This is the Zhiyun M20C:
I've had this for around 2 weeks and it's already showing signs of wear and tear. I don't think it was designed for someone like me in mind! (A destroyer of lights!)
Shortly before the battery died...
Now comes the achilles heel of such a light. When used on full power, the light dies an abrupt death after 40 minutes. I've now bought an external battery pack to keep this thing going a little longer.
On a side note, I look like a Michelin Man in this photo on account of wearing so many clothes to keep warm!
A night in Hopton Tunnel
Another night in the dark with the new M20C, this time in Hopton Tunnel. Conditions were not as good as Padley and I improvised. I was going to shoot these with a few smoke pellets to add to the atmosphere but as it turned out, the smoke pellets were at home! Damn!
This is the M20C at the rear of the frame and a red gelled flash just in front of camera, out of sight.
Teal Nights
One of the advantages of an RGB light is the ability to dial in fairly unique colours. I looked up the RGB colour value for teal and set the saturation to 100%. It works for me!
It was just before this, the batteries died. Again
With the M20C batteries dead, I improvised and pulled out my trusty Godox flashgun. Much more reliable and good for 500 shots or more!
Wet lens
I've started to make a habit of using UV filters on my lenses to protect the front element. It makes sense to add a filter which cost £ 30 or so where the lens I'm using here is £1400! Better the filter broken than the lens!
And as it turns out, a droplet of water had landed itself bang in the centre of frame making for a slight refractographic effect.
About me:
I usually specialise in shooting lightpainting images but occasionally dabble in urbex, landscape and artistic model photography. I'm always on the lookout for someone to collaborate with; the social side of photography is always good!
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