photography help

[kimkracun]

Any recommendations for taking photos after dark?

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I only got a couple decent pictures at night on our last trip, this was with a 2 megapixel Digital Camera (hey its small and it was cheap! )

DBf has a 5 megapixel digital camera and his night pictures always come out, as long as the thing you are taking the picture of has lights on it (i.e. Cinderella's Castle) you should be fine not using the flash, since the flash tends to distort the image. This is assuming that the pictures will come out at all.

What type of camera are you planning on using?

 

[kimkracun]

I have a Nikkon n75. I have extenal flash and several lens. I am considering a filter for pictures after dark and was wondering if it would help. I have a digital, but I am still old school 35mm. Love my Nikkon.

 

[civileng68]

I use a Minolta 8.0 Megapixel camera.

When taking photos after dark you need to use a very slow shutter speed. Adjust aperture as needed to adjust for "noise" in the photo.

If the camera allows shutter speed adjustment, use it.

http://mistermouse.proboards56.com/index.cgi?board=mk&action=display&thread=1126140851


Make sure you have a mini-tripod. Even SLIGHT movements that you cannot see with the naked eye will blur a night photo. You need to NOT use the flash unless you are within 6-10 feet.

At night, stillness of the camera is the biggest factor.

 

[civileng68]

Here is a cool effect you can get at night with a 4 second shutter.

 

[AbbysFamily]

I have a Nikkon n75. I have extenal flash and several lens. I am considering a filter for pictures after dark and was wondering if it would help. I have a digital, but I am still old school 35mm. Love my Nikkon.

Most filters aren't going to help. The key is to let in the most light possible, so the lense with the widest aperature is going to be best.. (smaller F number)

That said... Straight lenses (not zoom) will be better, and for the best shots a tripod and remote trigger help too.

It also depends on WHAT you are trying to get after dark. Even with an external flash, you still going to have to be close to use it.

If you going for castle/etc dont use flash!

 

[Goofy DS]

Hold really, really still !

 

[civileng68]

Hold really, really still !

I would highly recommend a mini tripod (you can get them at Target or Walmart). They are only like 5" and extend to over 10". You can place them on a table top or anything solid, like a trashcan top, or fence railing, etc.

it really helps.

Even holding still at night will create some blur.

 

[henrylovespooh]

If you're trying to take pictures of Spectromagic, I did it with my Canon 35mm camera and only took pictures close-up so the flash would work. The lights of the parade helped keep things bright. They came out good. My fireworks pictures did not come out very good, so I am trying to read up on using my manual settings to change aperature and get better ones.

 

[AbbysFamily]

If you're trying to take pictures of Spectromagic, I did it with my Canon 35mm camera and only took pictures close-up so the flash would work. The lights of the parade helped keep things bright. They came out good. My fireworks pictures did not come out very good, so I am trying to read up on using my manual settings to change aperature and get better ones.

In general the rule with fireworks is aperature wide open - and LONG exposure. Anywhere from 1/4 sec to 2 sec seemes best for me...

This page of mine was done with a canon rebel (on a tripod with varying long exposures)... They look better in print, I never invested in a great scanner.

http://skyjammer.com/~charlier/pictures/fireworks/