MORE LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Now that you’ve mastered fireworks photography, it’s time to once again step out of your comfort zone and experience a broader spectrum of night photography. Capturing any night scene is very similar to shooting fireworks, but there are a few nuances that you may want to note in the following instructions. I am posting 3 images, all with differing settings to help you gain a perspective of adjusting for each different environment you may face. First, the “Lights of the City” shot. There may be a more famous city for night photography, but there isn’t one that is more immediately recognizable than the city of Seattle. This image was captured at ISO 100, 60mm, f/5, at 8 seconds. It really is not that difficult because you can simply make an adjustment after your first attempt to either lengthen or shorten your shutter speed to create the desired result. The second image is of a tiny tea cafe in the city of Orange, CA. ISO 1600, 33mm, f/3.5, at 1/10 second. Did you notice the camera changes? I used a higher ISO, a larger lens opening, and a much quicker shutter speed. Because I had to stand in the middle of the street to capture this shot, it became necessary to increase my shutter speed for my personal safety. In order to do that, every other setting had to be adjusted to compensate for the faster shutter speed. If your camera is good enough, a high ISO is not problematic. And frankly, that will make the greatest difference in your shutter speed setting. Finally, my third image is from my living room. Since it was a low light shot, I think it compares to what we are talking about with our night photography, even though it is indoors. This image was ISO 100, 35mm, f/8, 5 seconds.

Don’t be afraid to give low light/night photography a try. Remember as with fireworks photography, you must use a camera that allows for manual control; and you must use a tripod. Although, for the tea cafe shot, I was able to hand-hold. But again, I was dodging traffic and it was necessary.

~ by photographyfree4all on May 15, 2017.