Night photos

[Dstarks]

Suggestions for taking pics at night of parades and fireworks?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

These are two totally different techniques. For basic fireworks to get the flowery explosions, you will need a way of stabilizing the camera (recommend a tripod) and a remote control (I used a wireless OEM from my manufacturer). Settings: Manual focus, bulb mode, f8-f11 (I use f11), Lowest possible ISO, exposure 2-8 seconds. I focus out to infinity and then slightly back it off. With the DOF everything should then be in focus. Try to get as many shots in the beginning because as the show goes on, there will be a lot of smoke. For the finale you may want to stop down the aperture to the smallest (largest number) because it will get very bright and its very easy to overexpose. A little more advanced technique is to use a Neutral Density filter. The ND filter acts like sunglasses and allows for much slower shutter speeds and you can obtain more explosions without over exposing the image. Depending on the strength of the ND filter used you may only get 4-5 shots per show.

For night parades if you do not use flash, it requires the use of a fast lens. I have used a 30mm f1.4 prime lens and I have used my f2.8 zoom lenses. I would not recommend using flash on the parts of the parade which are self illuminating. The flash (I'm talking about an external flash not the camera flash) will drown out the lights and ruin the effect. However, some of the night parades (Christmas is an example) have many non-lighted floats and characters where a flash (IMHO) is required. The perfect solution (which I will use the next time I shoot the night parades, ie, Christmas, Halloween) is to use two cameras, one with flash and the other with a fast lens. I understand that may not be an option for many ( I have a plethora of DSLR's) who only own one DSLR, then the only option is to switch back and forth between flash and non-flash. I tried that and messed it all up!

This is just my experience, others may offer different suggestions. These I know will work.

Edit: I forgot to mention for the night parades, the goal is to keep the shutter speed fast enough to prevent blur. This will entail opening the aperture and raising the ISO while using the fast lens. On the Pentax camera, we have a mode called Tav where you manually set the shutter speed and aperture and the camera will decide the correct ISO to obtain the correct exposure. This works well for those lowlight shots. I don't know if you have this option on the camera you use.

 

[photo_chick]

Very good advice given above.

I'm a fast prime shooter for night shots in general. I'm far too lazy to haul a tripod for fireworks at WDW so I tend to shoot my kids watching the fireworks. We also don't secure a spot before the fireworks start, we just get as close as we can on the fringes at the last minute (I know, very un Dis like of us) so that's where my priorities lie. Anyway, it's an approach to think about as far as capturing memories goes if you don't want to haul a lot with you.

 

[nbaresejr]

For night parades if you do not use flash, it requires the use of a fast lens. I have used a 30mm f1.4 prime lens and I have used my f2.8 zoom lenses. I would not recommend using flash on the parts of the parade which are self illuminating. The flash (I'm talking about an external flash not the camera flash) will drown out the lights and ruin the effect. However, some of the night parades (Christmas is an example) have many non-lighted floats and characters where a flash (IMHO) is required. The perfect solution (which I will use the next time I shoot the night parades, ie, Christmas, Halloween) is to use two cameras, one with flash and the other with a fast lens. I understand that may not be an option for many ( I have a plethora of DSLR's) who only own one DSLR, then the only option is to switch back and forth between flash and non-flash. I tried that and messed it all up!

Not to hijack this thread but I was wondering about external flash for night parades and was wondering if it was frowned upon or not. What I mean is there are announcements about video lighting and the performers but I didnt know if a flash like the canon 430ii or 580 would be too bright and distract the performers and cause a safety concern.

Last time I was down at WDW I found 2.8 was not fast enough for some elements without blur and tested with a flash (which come out good) but didnt use it because of my concern above.

thoughts?

 

[mom2rtk]

Not to hijack this thread but I was wondering about external flash for night parades and was wondering if it was frowned upon or not. What I mean is there are announcements about video lighting and the performers but I didnt know if a flash like the canon 430ii or 580 would be too bright and distract the performers and cause a safety concern.

Last time I was down at WDW I found 2.8 was not fast enough for some elements without blur and tested with a flash (which come out good) but didnt use it because of my concern above.

thoughts?

Plenty of folks will use a flash on the night parades. For MSEP it really defeats the purpose of what you are shooting, those beautiful glowing lights.

The Halloween and Christmas parades done at night during the hard ticket parties are another matter. GiannasPapa described the quandary quite well. Some floats have lighting, some don't. It's hard to get a good shot of the characters without some additional lighting. But it's not impossible. You can turn your flash on and off, but it's hard to keep getting that right. I have shot with a flash dialed down quite a bit and been happy with the results. I have also shot without a flash and been even happier with the results. But without the flash, there were indeed some shots that were blurry because they required too long a shutter speed. I will say that I do far better shooting without flash on those parades when I use a lens with IS. The floats do move, but not so much that you need super fast shutter speeds. My issues were more with my unsteady hands at pretty slow shutter speeds.

Here's a couple I shot with a dialed down flash:


mk2partyparademickey by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_5042-1 by mom2rtk, on Flickr





And here are some I shot without flash:


Once Upon a Dream by mom2rtk, on Flickr



IMG_5845B by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_5649B by mom2rtk, on Flickr






I think flash on MSEP is just non-negotiable. I shoot with a 2.8 lens, but at 3200 ISO with IS capability:



Main Street Electrical Carriage by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[nbaresejr]

Mom2rtk,

Thanks for the examples. I had some good parade photos but there are very few. To me the IS feature is meaningless when shooting moving subjects. My 2.8 lens also has it but even your images at 1/125 show motion blur. Your images with the Flash look really good.

The way I am thinking is I am going to need a faster lens (30mm 1.4) or a FF camera that can shoot higher cleaner ISO.

I was at a wedding last week and talking to the photographer that had an 5d mkIII he said he usually shoots at ISO 6000 during the dark parties and can push it to ISO 10k with next to no noise.

Next to my t2i that can maybe be shot at 3200 with good noise reduction software. FF may be the way to go.........if only I had the money

 

[mom2rtk]

Mom2rtk,

Thanks for the examples. I had some good parade photos but there are very few. To me the IS feature is meaningless when shooting moving subjects. My 2.8 lens also has it but even your images at 1/125 show motion blur. Your images with the Flash look really good.

The way I am thinking is I am going to need a faster lens (30mm 1.4) or a FF camera that can shoot higher cleaner ISO.

I was at a wedding last week and talking to the photographer that had an 5d mkIII he said he usually shoots at ISO 6000 during the dark parties and can push it to ISO 10k with next to no noise.

Next to my t2i that can maybe be shot at 3200 with good noise reduction software. FF may be the way to go.........if only I had the money

The truth is that without a FF camera and the ability to shoot at much higher ISOs it's all an exercise in compromise. I have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 but choose my Canon 17-55 f/2.8 because I want flexibility to frame my shots differently as they move closer to where I am on the parade route.

Maybe you can get your hands on that new Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. I wouldn't mind trying it, if someone was willing to carry it through the parks for me. Until I get my own Sherpa, I'll need another plan.

I really liked the shots with flash, but after going flashless the next year, I decided I like those better, even with the bits of motion blur. I just like the warm glow. I think it better captures the feel of that parade for me.

 

[jimim]

Plenty of folks will use a flash on the night parades. For MSEP it really defeats the purpose of what you are shooting, those beautiful glowing lights.

The Halloween and Christmas parades done at night during the hard ticket parties are another matter. GiannasPapa described the quandary quite well. Some floats have lighting, some don't. It's hard to get a good shot of the characters without some additional lighting. But it's not impossible. You can turn your flash on and off, but it's hard to keep getting that right. I have shot with a flash dialed down quite a bit and been happy with the results. I have also shot without a flash and been even happier with the results. But without the flash, there were indeed some shots that were blurry because they required too long a shutter speed. I will say that I do far better shooting without flash on those parades when I use a lens with IS. The floats do move, but not so much that you need super fast shutter speeds. My issues were more with my unsteady hands at pretty slow shutter speeds.

Here's a couple I shot with a dialed down flash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/5539680285/
mk2partyparademickey by mom2rtk, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/5713756346/
IMG_5042-1 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

And here are some I shot without flash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/5325061360/
Once Upon a Dream by mom2rtk, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/6841178964/
IMG_5845B by mom2rtk, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/6841177056/
IMG_5649B by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I think flash on MSEP is just non-negotiable. I shoot with a 2.8 lens, but at 3200 ISO with IS capability:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28159731@N02/5325207046/
Main Street Electrical Carriage by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Ur shots without the flash are great also I think!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[mom2rtk]

Ur shots without the flash are great also I think!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thank you!

 

[nbaresejr]

The truth is that without a FF camera and the ability to shoot at much higher ISOs it's all an exercise in compromise. I have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 but choose my Canon 17-55 f/2.8 because I want flexibility to frame my shots differently as they move closer to where I am on the parade route.

Maybe you can get your hands on that new Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. I wouldn't mind trying it, if someone was willing to carry it through the parks for me. Until I get my own Sherpa, I'll need another plan.

I really liked the shots with flash, but after going flashless the next year, I decided I like those better, even with the bits of motion blur. I just like the warm glow. I think it better captures the feel of that parade for me.

The 18-35 1.8 is an interesting lens. I think i like the 30mm 1.4 on paper and in other peoples pictures but I think I would be like you in liking the flexibility of in my case my 17-50 2.8. I had the 50 1.8 and really didnt like it. Not sure if it was the focal length on the crop or the prime.

I am really hoping the 70d has better ISO performance then the t2i. It could be my next camera but I am not very hopeful that Canon has improved RAW ISO performance at all.

Also, I hope I didnt come off as knocking your non flash pics. That was not my intention. I just like the flash images better because of the lower noise and them being sharper at original image resolution on flickr.

 

[photo_chick]

Noise is all relative. I have the 6D. Yes, it's cleaner but I still have to run noise reduction. ISO 12800 looks about like ISO 3200 on the T2i-7D sensors so it's better but not miraculous. So far the 70D looks like it's maybe a stop better than the T2i-7D sensors so again, still going to have to ETTR a little and process that noise well.

mom2rtk... as always, awesome! Keep rocking that crop and showing the gear snobs that crop cameras are indeed capable of producing fantastic images in the right hands.

 

[mom2rtk]

The 18-35 1.8 is an interesting lens. I think i like the 30mm 1.4 on paper and in other peoples pictures but I think I would be like you in liking the flexibility of in my case my 17-50 2.8. I had the 50 1.8 and really didnt like it. Not sure if it was the focal length on the crop or the prime.

I am really hoping the 70d has better ISO performance then the t2i. It could be my next camera but I am not very hopeful that Canon has improved RAW ISO performance at all.

Also, I hope I didnt come off as knocking your non flash pics. That was not my intention. I just like the flash images better because of the lower noise and them being sharper at original image resolution on flickr.

No problem at all. As I said, it is all about compromise. Different people will choose different areas where they are comfortable compromising. With the equipment I have my choices seem to be.

1) use flash and lose some of that warm glow, but have less noise and motion blur
2) go flashless and deal with the noise and potential motion blur
3) go prime but lose my wide angle and zoom options.

I've tried it all but the prime route. Maybe I should try that next? Actually we're going to DLR this year and unless they add a hard ticket party, we should finally get to see the Christmas parade in daylight. That should open up an entirely new option for me!

I am also waiting on the 70D to hit the market for some real world feedback.

Noise is all relative. I have the 6D. Yes, it's cleaner but I still have to run noise reduction. ISO 12800 looks about like ISO 3200 on the T2i-7D sensors so it's better but not miraculous. So far the 70D looks like it's maybe a stop better than the T2i-7D sensors so again, still going to have to ETTR a little and process that noise well.

mom2rtk... as always, awesome! Keep rocking that crop and showing the gear snobs that crop cameras are indeed capable of producing fantastic images in the right hands.

Thanks so much for the kind words Danielle!

You know of course that I'm salivating over that 12800 ISO you now get to use on your 6D, right? I actually upgraded from the Xsi to the T2i 3 years ago just for one extra stop of ISO. I will probably try very hard to get my hands on a 70D if it can offer me a similar step up.

 

[photo_chick]

You know of course that I'm salivating over that 12800 ISO you now get to use on your 6D, right? I actually upgraded from the Xsi to the T2i 3 years ago just for one extra stop of ISO. I will probably try very hard to get my hands on a 70D if it can offer me a similar step up.

You know, I was completely enamored with the usability of 12800 and 25600. it was specifically why I chose the 6D over the 5DmkIII. But now that I've had it for a while I want MORE! I don't think the quest for a cleaner image will ever end no matter what gear we have.

I'm looking at getting a 70D for a second body, for DH to use, and to keep using my crop only lenses on (OK, we all know I just want another toy). If it proves to be as good as the reviews show it, I'm on board!

 

[mom2rtk]

You know, I was completely enamored with the usability of 12800 and 25600. it was specifically why I chose the 6D over the 5DmkIII. But now that I've had it for a while I want MORE! I don't think the quest for a cleaner image will ever end not matter what gear we have.

I'm looking at getting a 70D for a second body, for DH to use, and to keep using my crop only lenses on (OK, we all know I just want another toy). If it proves to be as good as the reviews show it, I'm on board!

LOL. I can't even fathom ISO 25600 and there you are wanting more! But I probably would be too.

Ah, well.... I still remember years back seeing shots people were getting at 3200 and being incredibly jealous. The story of my life, I'm just always a few steps behind.

You'll pick up one of those 70Ds the day they come out and give me a thorough review of it, right?

 

[thesimson01]

Thanks for the advice!

Becaus i have a Pentax K-01, never heard about that TEV feature. But after some search, got a way to do it.

 

[traylorc]

Great shots mom2rtk!!

I totally agree with your earlier comment about turning down your flash. Last year I was shooting a night time parade at Disneyland, and my flash was much too bright in many of my shots. My shots were not significantly overexposed...but they had "a flash was obviously used in this shot" look. This year I am going to turn the flash down and I'm convinced I will be happier with my shots.

I would also say that having a camera with high ISO performance makes night time shooting much, much easier. I'm looking forward to some dark ride shooting.

 

[mom2rtk]

Great shots mom2rtk!!

Many thanks!