taking night pictures
 

just been to the trafalgar 200 fleet show and great display. Thought, new camera, get some great shots. How wrong!!!!!

All came out horribly, so........

Any hints and tips on taking dusk/night time pics? Particulary things like fireworks? What lens/aperture/shutter speed etc?

Tried with mine on sport/landscape/night...adjusted the speed slooooooow amd its didnt work. Didnt use a tripod - could this be the cause?

Any help V.appreciated!

What exactly are wrong with the pictures? Is it a digital camera or 35mm film?

To photograph fireworks you need to put it on a tripod then leave the shutter open on the B setting (which most digitals dont have!!) then cover the lens with your hand untill each firwork goes off then take your hand away. This helps stop ambient light overexposing the picture.

What camera do you have Paul

I've got a Fuji S602Z for when I'm feeling 'artistic' and a small pentax optio s5i for when I'm out and about.

If I knew I was to do some evening/night photos I would take the Fuji, as it allows for total customisation of the settings, which is essential when shooting at night.

I have had some great results at night shooting with long exposures (2 or 3 secs)...but of course this does mean you need a tripod for stability otherwise the shots come out all blurry.

If you are shooting close range (ie people just infront) then you should be able to get away with the flash on your camera, but once the target is more than say 12 ft away (total estimate) then the flash is useless. It always makes me giggle on tv when you see people taking piccies at concerts or footie matches at night...all those flashes going off...none of those are ever going to come out as the flash will struggle light up a subject 12 ft away let alone 120ft!

The only real successful way is to use longer exposures, which will mean subsequent apeture changes to suit.

If you camera allows for shutter speed selection, it should compensate the aperture for you...most modern cameras do unless you have everything switched to manual (not recommended for 99% of your piccies).

It is a bit trial and error...but stick with it as most modern cameras can give great night shots if used correctly.

Paul has a Canon 350D. I'm interested as well as we've just got a Canon 300D.

OK, slow aperture speeds ...

Just noticed you mentioned fireworks too...no tripod needed there, although it does depend on range etc...and they are fairly easy to catch on film.

Post an example of what you did manage to catch...it'll help with figuring out what went wrong.

Where's Guido when you need him!

think it may be due to no tripod...just been doin a bit o research and they all say use one. The affect is camera shake I think, I'll try and post one for you to larf at!!

[Edited on 29-6-2005 by bradders]

have a look........

Brad,

Get a tripod mate - what you're seeing is camera shake.

Then set your 350 to night pictures with no flash and I'm certain you won't get that again.

HTH

Cheers!

Scott

that's camera shake alright.
I always look for a wall or someone's head to rest on.
your not far away though small aperture long exposure is the way to go

yep...the same camera settings but with a tripod would have given you a nice shot.

Further playing with settings and post-production (croping/colour etc)would improve it still further.

Your closer than you think...