| Author | Thread |
|
|
03/13/2006 01:25:59 AM · #1 |
If you have a Point and Shoot type camera you too can probably still enter the 2 Second Exposure camera. You will need to have a basic understanding of how your camera works and follow some basic photography rules. It may be tricky, but I know you can do it! How do I know this? Half of my shots rated six or better by you the voting public were taken with a simple 3.2 megapixel Oly P/S camera!
First off, use a tripod. If you don't have one, borrow one! Better yet it may be a good excuse to buy one. My photography improved by leaps and bounds when I finally started using a tripod.
Two, turn your flash off! If you've tried this and gotten crappy shots, see my first tip above!
Three, you may have to do some reading here. Check your manual. You may have to trick your camera into long exposures. I don't have camera specific tips for this. If ya got tips on this, post them here!
Lastly, believe you can do it! I did things with my OLY that people thought weren't possible! Why? Cause I didn't believe it was impossible.
If you have tips to help out those with P/S cameras, please post them here! |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:46:42 AM · #2 |
Assuming you don't have either aperture- or shutter-priority modes (or you could just set the shutter speed), I find the best ways to slow down the shutter are to set Exposure compensation to a Plus value, and to meter off a darker (darkest) part of the scene instead of the usual highlight exposure. Both of these will force the aperture open and the shutter to slow down. You may have to lock the exposure and re-frame.
You could shoot through a neutral-density filter (or the equivalent) to slow down the shutter more than conditions would otherwise warrant.
In addition to using a tripod, try to use the timer so you don't move the camera triggering the shutter (if you don't have shutter priority, you probably don't have a remote or cable release either!). |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:49:55 AM · #3 |
Tripod alternative: My first long exposure shots were taken with my camera sitting in the Y of a tree or on a wall or hood of the car, etc. Use the timer to trigger the shot so no movement will effect the shot.
|
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:50:37 AM · #4 |
| cool, im going to learn something new about my camera, can i do 2 seconds? who knows but ill give it a shot. Great tip about exposing compensation, i do know how to do that :) |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:52:27 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
If you have a Point and Shoot type camera you too can probably still enter the 2 Second Exposure camera. |
Good advise.
However, I think it's not easy to get a correct 2-second shutter speed :( It depends on whether 2-seconds is a must and is it grounds for DQ if the EXIF shows other long shutter speeds? |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:53:16 AM · #6 |
Guys. I mentioned this to someone tonight when they were afraid a little P&S won't cut it ;)
This was taken with my P&S. No flash and held against the wall.
 |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:54:40 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by crayon:
It depends on whether 2-seconds is a must and is it grounds for DQ if the EXIF shows other long shutter speeds? |
There are no special rules, so anything goes. No DQs for not using 2s... |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:55:00 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by TooCool:
If you have a Point and Shoot type camera you too can probably still enter the 2 Second Exposure camera. |
Good advise.
However, I think it's not easy to get a correct 2-second shutter speed :( It depends on whether 2-seconds is a must and is it grounds for DQ if the EXIF shows other long shutter speeds? |
not meeting the challenge isnt grounds for a dq so no it wouldnt. |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 01:56:34 AM · #9 |
My thoughts from the other thread ;)
Originally posted by Rikki:
I think the trick here is "deception". Creat a photo where your audience would think your exposure is set to a 2 second exposure indeed. Look at Patrinus' entry in 4-5am. His clearly wasn't taken between that time but the voters thought he did. Not having a 2 second EXIF data shouldn't be grounds for DQ and i agree with SC. Sure it caused an uproar after the fact but hey, isn't photography about "seeing" and if deception is part of it, so be it ;) Remember that not everything you see is real ;)
just my two cents ;) |
|
|
|
|
03/13/2006 02:04:30 AM · #10 |
Self timer can also be helpful.
|
|
|
|
03/13/2006 06:33:27 PM · #11 |
|
|
|
03/13/2006 06:38:44 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by srdanz:
Originally posted by crayon:
It depends on whether 2-seconds is a must and is it grounds for DQ if the EXIF shows other long shutter speeds? |
There are no special rules, so anything goes. No DQs for not using 2s... |
If it will not be disqualified at least try to get as close as you can to 2s please.
|
|
|
|
03/13/2006 06:42:41 PM · #13 |
I just discovered the other day that my camera will pull 4 seconds in the Fireworks preset! During the day! I was playing with traffic shots and was just trying everything I could think of.
Basically any setting that was pre-made to work at night will be a good way to go.
For the life of me I can't get my camera over 1.5 seconds in manual though. Yup, it's a P&S!
Edit---
As for the "2 Seconds", I'd like to know what the SC has to say before I stick my ass on the line with a shot at 1.8 seconds or some such thing. I don't have that kind of control.
Message edited by author 2006-03-13 18:44:01.
|
|
|
|
03/13/2006 07:22:14 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by sdunsmoor:
Edit---
As for the "2 Seconds", I'd like to know what the SC has to say before I stick my ass on the line with a shot at 1.8 seconds or some such thing. I don't have that kind of control. |
We debated about whether we needed to modify the challenge, and decided it should stand as-is.
It's a fact that many cams don't allow manual setting of shutter speed. If you're close, you're certainly meeting the spirit of the challenge, IMO; 1/4 second prolly doesn't meet it, but certainly 1.8 seconds (or 2.3 seconds) does! In any case, DNMC is not a DQ-able offense, however if your shot could well have been done with a much shorter exposure, it may not sit that well with the voters.
Let's all give folks a little breathing room on this. It can be very difficult to trick a cam into exposing for an exact time and still get the intended shot. A damn sight more difficult than making the setting on a DSLR!
This should be a fun challenge, especially for those who have little or no experience with long exposures. It's good to be forced out of our comfort zones :-)
|
|
|
|
03/14/2006 06:01:35 PM · #15 |
Thanks Kirbic. Now I can play too!
|
|
|
|
03/14/2006 07:49:29 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by sdunsmoor:
I just discovered the other day that my camera will pull 4 seconds in the Fireworks preset! During the day! I was playing with traffic shots and was just trying everything I could think of.
Basically any setting that was pre-made to work at night will be a good way to go.
For the life of me I can't get my camera over 1.5 seconds in manual though. Yup, it's a P&S!
Edit---
As for the "2 Seconds", I'd like to know what the SC has to say before I stick my ass on the line with a shot at 1.8 seconds or some such thing. I don't have that kind of control. |
My Nikon p&s has a museum setting.. and I just tried 2 shots with it which both ended up at 2 sec. Just in case anyone else has that setting and wants to try it.
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/29/2025 09:31:11 AM EDT.
