Night Pics with My New Camera

[JustAKid]

Alright all you photographers, I need some help!

I just bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ35. It's an interesting camera. I bought it because it has point-and-shoot characteristics as well as advance video recording capibility (hoping to ride myself of my video camera and just use one piece of equipment). I'm LOVE photography. I take about a zillion pictures, and actually do quite well just pointing my camera and shooting. I have even been asked to photograph a wedding, and people's children, all simply by pointing and shooting. I have NEVER messed with shutter speed, or apertures, or even shot in "scene" mode!!

Well, now, I have seen all of the wonderful night time pictures listed on the DIS boards, pictures of fireworks, and artistic photos that show movement by blurring and light and so on. Fortunately my new camera allows for manual settings (something I've never had on a point and shoot before) so I will be able to get those great night time shots. My shutter speeds range from 8-1/2000 and my aperture goes from f/2.8-f/8. Now that I'm able to tweek pictures, I have a couple of questions for low lighting.

1. When shooting fireworks, why does wind factor into the equation? Because it will move the camera? Would I like to be standing with my back to the wind?

2. What's the difference between JPEG and RAW? Someone mentioned white balance?

3. I have different modes for night time settings including fireworks, illumination, and night scenery. Obviously you can't read my manual to see what each mode does, but has anyone used these scene modes to shoot nightime scenes and how did it work out?

4. Should I use firework, illumination, or indoor-stage show guidelines (meaning shutter and aperture values) for getting shots of the outside lights in the parks?

5. And finally, my camera is fairly new and there is no remote shutter release accessory for it, so I'll be using a timer. If I keep my shutter open longer to compensate for this, will I get too much firework-trail-blur to see any bursts?

Thanks SO much in advance for any information. Sorry for the novel!

 

[JustAKid]

Forgot to mention that the camera has 18x zoom with wide angle built in (I heard that wide is better for night shots?)

 

[Frantasmic]

Using a tripod, long exposure (you don't really need a remote release for fireworks), and the right aperture, you should be able to get some good fireworks shots with your camera.

I suggest searching for the phrase "How To" in the photography forum. There are several threads that the great photographers here have taken the time to explain how to do these things with your camera. How to shoot fireworks, how to shot dark rides,etc.

Your camera lacks a few capabilities to take really good low-light pictures however. You need a decent sensor, a better aperture than the f/2.8 your camera is capable of, and high iso. While your camera does get good reviews and is among the better point and shoots, it will not take the type of low-light pictures you see by the dslr users in the forum. They may be better than other point and shoots, but don't be disappointed if your results aren't what you expect.

Now, that's not to say you shouldn't try and get the best pictures your camera is capable of doing. Learning manual and other exposure techniques will help you get really good results with your camera.

 

[kaffinito]

Here are the short versions for your answers.

1. When shooting fireworks, why does wind factor into the equation? Because it will move the camera? Would I like to be standing with my back to the wind?

Pay attention to the wind because when fireworks are shot off they give off smoke. If the wind is blowing the smoke towards you then you'll have smoky fireworks pics. If you can stand away from the wind you'll have a much clearer view.

2. What's the difference between JPEG and RAW? Someone mentioned white balance?

For your question on JPEG and RAW read this and take it with a grain of salt.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/raw.htm

White balance is important because the different settings in your pns give off a yellowish tint to night shots or can give off a bluish tint. I use my Lumix Tz5 set on fluorescent or tungsten to avoid the bluish cast and add a yellowish one. Why? Because it's easier to correct a yellowish cast than it is a blue one in post processing.

3. I have different modes for night time settings including fireworks, illumination, and night scenery. Obviously you can't read my manual to see what each mode does, but has anyone used these scene modes to shoot nightime scenes and how did it work out?

I have the same settings on my camera and used the night portrait mode to get clear night scenes. I suggest you go outside and photograph a set of lights at night to see what you get with the different settings. Or you can take some Christmas lights and plug them in a dark place like a bathroom and see what you get from that.

I have had good success shooting night scenes (not at WDW) with my pns, and really like the Lumix's because they give you the ability to shoot in lower light than most pns will.


4. Should I use firework, illumination, or indoor-stage show guidelines (meaning shutter and aperture values) for getting shots of the outside lights in the parks?

Now that one will take some practice in the parks! There is no way for me to tell if those will work or not. I don't have those settings on my Lumix. Usually at night I have my DSLR with me and a good low light lens.

5. And finally, my camera is fairly new and there is no remote shutter release accessory for it, so I'll be using a timer. If I keep my shutter open longer to compensate for this, will I get too much firework-trail-blur to see any bursts?

Use the timer, a tripod, and remember to adjust your ISO's for the fireworks. It's dark out at night but fireworks are very bright so instead of using high ISO use a lower setting like 200, 400, or maybe even 600.

Targus makes a cheap $20 tripod (found at Target) that would work really well for the Lumix. It's small, portable, and comes with a case yet is sturdy enough for a DSLR.

Also the Photo board has a really good how to shoot fireworks thread that will help you out a ton! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1474329&highlight=fireworks

 

[racreel]

Visit the How To Shoot: Fireworks thread for specifics on fireworks. There are also several other threads listed at the top of that one on other shooting subjects that you might want to check out.