Welcome

There are a few things that I almost always carry when I'm out photographing landscapes: my tripod, filters, extra batteries—and a flashlight.

I've carried one for years.

At first, it was simply a practical piece of gear. Once the sun goes down, a flashlight makes it much easier to find things in your camera bag, adjust your tripod, and safely make your way around.

But a flashlight can also become a creative tool.

One of my favorite uses has been light painting. When the ambient light disappears, a little carefully controlled light on the foreground can bring a subject back into the photograph.

The problem is that a traditional flashlight isn't really designed for this.

Its concentrated beam can create bright spots and visible lines, and getting even illumination across a foreground can become a much bigger production than you might expect.

That's why I was intrigued when Maven introduced the TALON Pocket Studio Soft Lights.

Instead of carrying a flashlight and trying to modify its beam, TALON is designed to give you a small, soft light source that can go almost anywhere with you.

And for a landscape photographer, that raises an interesting question:

Could a small soft light become just as useful in the camera bag as a flashlight?

That's what I've been exploring—and it's the subject of an upcoming YouTube video.

When the Landscape Gets Dark

One of the things I enjoy about landscape photography is that the photograph doesn't necessarily end when the sun goes down.

In fact, some interesting things can happen after sunset.

The sky can still have color. The landscape can take on a completely different mood, and a foreground that looked ordinary during daylight can become an important part of the composition.

But there's a problem.

Once the natural light disappears, that foreground can become almost completely black.

You can try to bring it back in postproduction, but there are limits to what you can do with pixels that were never really recorded. Pushing a dark foreground several stops can introduce noise and unnatural color, and sometimes the result simply doesn't look right.

That's where light painting can help.

The idea is not to make the foreground look artificially illuminated. You're simply adding enough light during the exposure to reveal texture, shape and detail.

I've used a flashlight for this for years.

But there is a learning curve.

A flashlight produces a fairly concentrated beam. If you're not careful, you can create obvious lines across the foreground or uneven areas of illumination. You may find yourself moving the flashlight back and forth, changing its distance and making multiple exposures just to get the light right.

It can become a production.

What I really wanted was something different: a small, soft and controllable light source that I could simply carry with me.

That's what caught my attention about the new Maven TALON Pocket Studio Soft Lights.

Maven TALON MINI

The TALON MINI is particularly interesting from a landscape photographer's perspective.

It's pocket-sized, folds down for carrying, weighs just 178 grams, and can run for up to about an hour from its internal battery. It can also operate continuously from USB.

The case is crush-resistant and doubles as a stand, and the light can be mounted to equipment you're already carrying.

That's important to me.

I'm not interested in adding another large piece of equipment to my camera bag just because it's interesting.

If something is going into my bag, I want it to solve a problem.

And that's where I see the potential here.

Instead of carrying a flashlight and trying to figure out how to soften the beam, I can have a small light specifically designed to produce softer illumination.

It also opens up possibilities beyond light painting—particularly for photographers who work after dark, photograph close-up subjects, or want a small amount of controlled fill light in the field.

I'm going to be putting the TALON through its paces in an upcoming YouTube video, including looking at how it works in a real photographic situation.

So if you've ever carried a flashlight for landscape photography, this is something you'll want to watch.

TALON Kickstarter is open, click here

Behind the Image
When the Light Is Almost Gone

Some of my favorite landscape photographs happen during the few minutes when most photographers have already packed up.

The sun is gone, but the sky isn't completely dark yet.

That's often when I start paying more attention to the foreground.

Sometimes a small amount of light can make the difference between a foreground that simply disappears and one that becomes an important part of the photograph.

The key is subtlety.

You don't want the viewer thinking, "Someone used a flashlight here."

You want them thinking, "That's beautiful light."

Richard's Tip of the Month
Don't Be Afraid of Darkness

When photographing after sunset, don't feel that you need to make every part of the photograph bright.

Dark areas can create depth, mystery, and visual weight.

If you're experimenting with light painting, start with less light than you think you need.

It's much easier to add more light than to fix a foreground that has been over-illuminated.

Monthly Photography Challenge
Stay Out a Little Longer

This month's challenge is simple:

Stay out for 15 minutes after you would normally pack up.

Watch what happens to the scene as the light changes.

Look for a foreground subject that becomes interesting as the ambient light disappears.

And if you have a small light with you, experiment with adding just enough illumination to reveal that foreground.

You may discover that the photograph you were waiting for happens after the "official" photography is over.

Featured YouTube Video
Coming Soon: A New Way to Carry Light

I'm currently working on a video about the Maven TALON Pocket Studio Soft Lights and how I think they could fit into a landscape photographer's camera bag.

I'll be looking specifically at the TALON MINI and, most importantly, whether a small soft light can actually improve the way we work in the field.

Featured Blog Post

Maven Filters is launching its new Talon folding LED lights on Kickstarter, with three models designed for photographers and content creators. Explore the Mini, Pro, and Max, compare their features, learn about introductory pricing, and find out what Maven says about production, credibility, and expected delivery.

Click here for the Blog Post

Gear Corner
Maven TALON MINI

A pocket-sized folding soft light with an internal battery, USB-C operation, and a case that doubles as a stand.

For me, the interesting question isn't simply whether it's a good light.

It's whether it's small enough that I'll actually carry it—and useful enough that I'll reach for it.

That's the test I apply to every piece of gear.

The TALON Kickstarter launches October 13.

Learn more about TALON

Field Notes
A Thought to Leave You With

For years, I carried a flashlight because I needed light.

Now I'm interested in carrying a light because of what I can create with it.

There's a difference.

Photography is ultimately about controlling light, whether that light comes from the sun, a filter, a reflector—or something small enough to fit in your pocket.

So the next time you're out photographing after sunset, don't be in such a hurry to pack up.

The light may be changing.

And there may still be a photograph waiting for you.

Live Long and Photograph.
— Richard