Tips for Nightime Pictures

[bdtracey]

Hey everyone!

After our last trip I noticed that ~80% of my nighttime shots came out fairly blurry. I was trying to use my camera without the flash, so I'm thinking that was the problem. If I use the flash it lights up everything in close.

Does anyone have some tips on how to take awesome nighttime pictures? I bought a Gorillapod tripod (google it, its pretty sweet) so I'm thinking that might help with the shake but we'll see. I'm still experimenting with a few different options. Oh yeah, the nighttime setting on my camera (Sony DSC-P93) really slows down the shutter speed so that I can't even hold the darn thing and expect a decent picture.

I'm really at a loss here and I hope you guys can help me out.

Thanks!

 

[ukcatfan]

You will probably get better results if you use a full manual mode. Not all cameras have that mode though. You would want to open the aperture as much a possible and bump up the ISO to as high of a level that you still find acceptable in terms of image noise. The tripod is a must for low light. If it is an image where the flash is required, see if your camera has different levels of flash output and turn it down. If not, you could back up a little and zoom in to frame the shot. The farther away that you are, the lower the amount of flash that will make it back to the camera. You should also see if your camera has a delay function. It is usually 2-10 seconds. Using that prevents any shake from you pressing the shutter button. The best thing to do is to practice at home before your trip.

Kevin

 

[MissionMouse]

Looking at the Sony DSC-P93 specs your camera shoots:
ISO 100 200 400
Aperture F2.8-F5.2 /F5.6-F10
Min Shutter 30 sec
38mm-114mm
White balance 5 settings

You really don't have a night time camera, but this doesn't mean you can't get some night time photos. Your lense is going to be one key items impacting your shot. You really want a lense with F2.8 or faster. I would recommend you shoot as close to 38mm as possible, ISO up to 400 with a tripod, flash off for exisiting light photographs. Then practice to get a feel of your camera and using other settings to see how much more you can get out of your camera (i.e. white balance, shutter speed (hopefully maual control since I see it does not allow aperture control).

If the camera does not have a remote activation button or delay feature, you want to ensure when taking a photograph. using a tripod, that you do not cause the camera to move by depressing the shutter button.

 

[bdtracey]

Thanks for the tips Kevin! I never thought about the zooming in thing with the flash! That's brilliant! If I have the flash on I'm perfectly fine. Here's an example, I was taking pictures of IllumiNations and we were on the Future World side of the lake right on the fence. With the flash left on I got a good picture but the shrubs in front of me all lit up.

How does the aperature thing work? I was messing around with my manual settings and I could change a few things...I'm not exactly sure what they were though. I think I can change the shutter speed, focal length (???), and ISO. I'm definitely going to play with it this weekend.

 

[bdtracey]

MissionMouse:

Thanks a bunch! In terms of my lens, I'm assuming the F2.8 is my F-Stop right? I have no idea what it means or what it does but I have heard about it before.

Thanks for researching my specs too!

What number of an "F" do I need for it to be faster? Higher or lower than 2.8? I think I played around with this and I could switch it between 2.8 and 5.2 but I don't remember being able to go as high as 5.6 or 10. What does the "/" mean for the aperature?

The great thing about my little tripod is that I can mount it pretty much anywhere (door handles, branches, poles, etc.) Then I can use my delay so I don't get the shake.

I can envision myself now....being on mainstreet right beside a light post, camera mounted on the tripod which is mounted to the light post getting awesome pictures of Wishes!

Thanks for all the help! I tried reading my manual but it was way over my head!

 

[handicap18]

This is the subject for this months Photography Board Photo Assignment. Take a look. Its just starting out, but as the month rolls along you'll find more and more pictures added. Many with some tid bits about how they came up with the shot and what their settings were.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1263766

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for the tips and links. I am trying to learn about this myself

 

[Yellow_Stitch]

I have basically the same camera, the Sony p100 and have gotten great results using a tripod and the program modes for night, night portrait and fireworks.
Tripod on trash can, night mode.

Night portrait

Fireworks mode

With that Gorillapod and knowing your camera's modes and using the self timer when possible, your Sony can give you good results. I'd love to have a D200 with a fast VR lens, but it ain't in the cards right now, so I try to make the most of what I have.

 

[robmags]

Where would I put my settings? Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[mecllap]

Great to see some tips coming up on this. I used to okay with the old 33mm, but haven't totally gotten the hang of the best way to use my digital at night. Thanks.