If you are planning on doing some night photography I have a few planning tips you will need to keep in mind prior to taking your evening shots:
You first want to choose a good viewpoint;
The second thing you will need is either a tripod or a solid base to place your camera on. Your viewpoint will depend a bit on what kind of shot you are after. I usually try to aim for somewhere that is above the ground (a set of steps, for example), but not always. There are many times that the best photos are taken at ground level.
I recommend a tripod or solid base simply due to the fact that your camera's shutter will be open for several seconds and you definitely want to make sure that your camera is absolutely still during that time.
If you are using a tripod you will also want to be sure you secure your camera using the screws provided. If you simply can't find a solid surface to place your camera on you can always try propping it up with something like a bag or jacket.
Once you have figured out how to secure your camera you want to set the shutter speed for a few seconds. I recommend starting with about 15 seconds.
If your camera doesn't let you control the shutter speed, set it to "night" mode.
Once you are set up (camera on a solid surface, self timer primed), you are ready to shoot.
Before pressing the shutter button you must first observe your scene. Is everything in it that you are hoping for? If you are looking to get streaking headlights do you see any traffic around?
Once you have your scene figured out you can finally press the shutter button.
Your self timer will count down. Special Note! - If you are waiting for something to appear in your scene, you will need to remember that your shutter speed will have to count down first - time for this.
When you hear the shutter click it is actually opening up so you want to wait. And wait, and wait . . . until it closes again. Remember, depending on the length of time you set it for, that this could take a few seconds.
Then wait some more. Because of the long exposure digital cameras take longer than usual to process the photo, so your preview on your camera's LCD screen may take a while to show up.
If you are wanting to try out night photography but don't have any idea where to start here are a few ideas on what to photograph:
Neon lights Streaks of car headlights and tail lights Available light For all of these you do need to plan a bit in advance. You want to find an area where you can safely photograph neon lights.
The first thing you do is find your solid spot, or put your camera onto a tripod, and then take a few test shots. If you choose neon lights be aware that they flash so you will want to keep the shutter open for a while in order to catch all the flashes.
For photographing streaks of car headlights and tail lights you will obviously want to find a spot that has a good bit of traffic, but again, be safe in your choice of locations.
One thing to try is to use something in the background as well; usually streaks of light photographed on their own can be a bit boring!
Now you can take your shot.
One thing to remember is that the longer you keep your shutter open, the more streaks you will capture. Obviously the more traffic you have the more streaks you will have!
Available light also has a part to play in creating a good night photography shot.
Sometimes a scene looks its best when set amongst inky-black skies. Sometimes, a little light works best, so shots just before dark really sets in are worth a try too.
The best bit of advice is to try both and see which captures the effect you are after best.
You will find that sometimes a 10 second exposure gets the look you are after. Sometimes you may need up to a minute.
If you practice you will soon get a feel for what you will need for any given situation.
You first want to choose a good viewpoint;
The second thing you will need is either a tripod or a solid base to place your camera on. Your viewpoint will depend a bit on what kind of shot you are after. I usually try to aim for somewhere that is above the ground (a set of steps, for example), but not always. There are many times that the best photos are taken at ground level.
I recommend a tripod or solid base simply due to the fact that your camera's shutter will be open for several seconds and you definitely want to make sure that your camera is absolutely still during that time.
If you are using a tripod you will also want to be sure you secure your camera using the screws provided. If you simply can't find a solid surface to place your camera on you can always try propping it up with something like a bag or jacket.
Once you have figured out how to secure your camera you want to set the shutter speed for a few seconds. I recommend starting with about 15 seconds.
If your camera doesn't let you control the shutter speed, set it to "night" mode.
Once you are set up (camera on a solid surface, self timer primed), you are ready to shoot.
Before pressing the shutter button you must first observe your scene. Is everything in it that you are hoping for? If you are looking to get streaking headlights do you see any traffic around?
Once you have your scene figured out you can finally press the shutter button.
Your self timer will count down. Special Note! - If you are waiting for something to appear in your scene, you will need to remember that your shutter speed will have to count down first - time for this.
When you hear the shutter click it is actually opening up so you want to wait. And wait, and wait . . . until it closes again. Remember, depending on the length of time you set it for, that this could take a few seconds.
Then wait some more. Because of the long exposure digital cameras take longer than usual to process the photo, so your preview on your camera's LCD screen may take a while to show up.
If you are wanting to try out night photography but don't have any idea where to start here are a few ideas on what to photograph:
Neon lights Streaks of car headlights and tail lights Available light For all of these you do need to plan a bit in advance. You want to find an area where you can safely photograph neon lights.
The first thing you do is find your solid spot, or put your camera onto a tripod, and then take a few test shots. If you choose neon lights be aware that they flash so you will want to keep the shutter open for a while in order to catch all the flashes.
For photographing streaks of car headlights and tail lights you will obviously want to find a spot that has a good bit of traffic, but again, be safe in your choice of locations.
One thing to try is to use something in the background as well; usually streaks of light photographed on their own can be a bit boring!
Now you can take your shot.
One thing to remember is that the longer you keep your shutter open, the more streaks you will capture. Obviously the more traffic you have the more streaks you will have!
Available light also has a part to play in creating a good night photography shot.
Sometimes a scene looks its best when set amongst inky-black skies. Sometimes, a little light works best, so shots just before dark really sets in are worth a try too.
The best bit of advice is to try both and see which captures the effect you are after best.
You will find that sometimes a 10 second exposure gets the look you are after. Sometimes you may need up to a minute.
If you practice you will soon get a feel for what you will need for any given situation.
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