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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Night Photography!
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 02/12/2006 06:16:37 PM · #26
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Can I ask a dumb question... I've always wondered how you meter for a scene that takes hours to expose? I mean, how do you know if it should be an hour exposure or a 3 hour exposure?


In my experience night shots rarely go over 5 mins if there is moonlight or distant lights.

I tend to experiment a little, start with a shot at 3 mins, then jumps of about 30 seconds to a minute. On cold nights I jump back in the car whilst the cable release holds the shutter open ;-)
 02/12/2006 06:22:00 PM · #27
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Can I ask a dumb question... I've always wondered how you meter for a scene that takes hours to expose? I mean, how do you know if it should be an hour exposure or a 3 hour exposure?

meter with highest ISO and largest aperture and adjust from there (as detailed in earlier post. If the scene is too dark for the meter to give a good reading, shoot and look at the histogram -- adjust time as needed.

David
 02/12/2006 06:36:54 PM · #28
Originally posted by Gordon:
Watch the night photography video on Radiant Vista


Gordon,

What an excellent video. Very informative. Thanks for the link. If anyone else sees this thread then take 40 minutes and watch this video.
 02/12/2006 07:57:31 PM · #29
Originally posted by Falc:
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Can I ask a dumb question... I've always wondered how you meter for a scene that takes hours to expose? I mean, how do you know if it should be an hour exposure or a 3 hour exposure?


In my experience night shots rarely go over 5 mins if there is moonlight or distant lights.

I tend to experiment a little, start with a shot at 3 mins, then jumps of about 30 seconds to a minute. On cold nights I jump back in the car whilst the cable release holds the shutter open ;-)


I haven't played with night photography much but have just always wondered how people figure out such long exposures. Thanks!
 02/12/2006 07:58:14 PM · #30
Originally posted by David.C:
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Can I ask a dumb question... I've always wondered how you meter for a scene that takes hours to expose? I mean, how do you know if it should be an hour exposure or a 3 hour exposure?

meter with highest ISO and largest aperture and adjust from there (as detailed in earlier post. If the scene is too dark for the meter to give a good reading, shoot and look at the histogram -- adjust time as needed.

David


Thanks, David. Those are good too. I hope to do some night photography this year when the weather warms. I will remember your tips. Thank you.
 02/12/2006 08:05:10 PM · #31
I am thinking of buying a locking cable release on ebay. Will I need it?

that is the question

02/12/2006 08:12:59 PM · #32
Jen this was a screen capture of the video



the f2.8 is just assumed because he used a lens where the max was 2.8 Always open your lens as far as it will go.
 02/12/2006 08:51:21 PM · #33
Originally posted by rex:
Jen this was a screen capture of the video



the f2.8 is just assumed because he used a lens where the max was 2.8 Always open your lens as far as it will go.


Thanks, James! I just finished watching the video. It was really great. I saw this frame and wrote down the info.

Thank you for your help!

Btw, I have the timer cable release for my 10D. I've used the lock several times while trying to get star trails from the back deck - nothing fancy, just playing around to see how the noise was, etc. I found the lock very useful. I think I paid $150 for the release (overpriced plastic, imo!) but I do like it. Eventually I'd like to use it to play around with some time-lapse photography. Just not enough time in the day.
 02/12/2006 08:53:22 PM · #34


Aperture: 16
ISO: 200
Shutter: 30 seconds

Shot around midnight.

If you always open the ap. to 2.8 you'll never get a photo with a great DOF You can shoot at higher apetures. I have several at f22 even.

How I do it. (started bck in film days)

I set my camera to "something, anything auto or semi auto" and then press the button. I count the seconds until I hear the shutter click. I look at ithe picture and then set the camera to manual and make my own adjustments from there. It's not rocket science but it does take experimenting and playing with to get going the first couple of times. I would suggest the first time you do it, make sure it's not bitter cold or your toes might suffer LO.

I try different things, longer time, different apeture, different ISO. If you get confused set your camera back to a setting you know and let it pick how long to expose it again and count again. The camera doesn't always pick the best but it can give you a general area in which to start. If you already know your camera tries to overexpose on auto you adjust for it in manual after your test shot. I always take many exposures when shooting night photos. Never only one 'cause a little breeze can goof it up. I will also move the camera a few inches from time to time to make sure I don't have a green glare from lights.

I can't help with longer than 30 seconds 'cause I do not yet have a shutter release. Back in the film days I did do up to 10 minutes exposures and I used the same ideas as above with with different settings all based on what the camera wanted to do on auto.
 02/12/2006 08:54:07 PM · #35
I am looking at the Canon RS-60E3.

Not sure if it locks though for bulb mode.
 02/12/2006 08:59:37 PM · #36
Originally posted by rex:
I am looking at the Canon RS-60E3.

Not sure if it locks though for bulb mode.


Not sure how accurate this is, but it says it DOES have a lock:
LINKY
 02/12/2006 09:02:38 PM · #37





02/12/2006 09:09:35 PM · #38
Originally posted by rex:
I am looking at the Canon RS-60E3.

Not sure if it locks though for bulb mode.


I have this one, it does lock.
02/12/2006 09:17:54 PM · #39


02/13/2006 01:04:14 AM · #40
Originally posted by Gordon:
Watch the night photography video on Radiant Vista


Those are great videos, shame i had to pollute my computer with quicktime to view them.
 02/14/2006 06:09:20 PM · #41
Owen,

Great images but it would be nice if you posted your details in the shots so we can tell how you achieved those results.
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