Night shots - DPChallenge Forums

08/27/2005 12:47:02 PM · #1

Hi everyone =]

I was trying to take a night shot the other night and wound up with some problems. I'm still pretty new to photography so I have some questions about this image I tried to take:

How would you take this shot and get detail on the brick gate without leaving so much glare around the lights? And also avoid those blue spots showing up? I'd appreciate any help you can offer =]

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/27/2005 12:49:17 PM · #2

sorry

did that work?

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

08/27/2005 12:51:08 PM · #3

Shooting right into lights like you are limits your options. You could stop down your aperture as much as possible to reduce the flare effects (not sure if that'll work or not). You could also shorten your exposure and find another way to illuminate the wall, like a handheld flash while you're shutter is open.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/27/2005 01:02:30 PM · #4

Thanks strangeghost. I taught myself everything I know thus far and I'm still a little confused about aperture. Thanks for the good suggestion too but I'm a middle class family man and cant afford a handheld flash, or anything else short of a flashlight for that matter, all I got is my point and shoot digital camera and a cheap tripod on the way D=

I'll read up on aperture and toy around with it next time I'm in that neighborhood =] Thanks again

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

08/27/2005 01:14:56 PM · #5

Aperture is noted on your camera as F-stop. I'm not familiar with your cam but you ought to be able to make two primary adjustments in manual mode, shutter speed (how long the shutter is open) and f-stop (how wide the shutter opens up). Adjust the F-stop to a larger number, which means a smaller opening. If you play around with this in night shots, you'll find that larger F numbers lead to dimmer shots if the shutter speed stays the same (makes sense because a smaller opening is letting less light in).

As for the flash, not necessary. You can do it with a flashlight and "paint" the scene you're shooting while the shutter is open.