Night Photography (Page 2): You may want to check out something like Bryan Peterson's publication "Understanding Flash Photography". Good luck on your quest.

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

llouie wrote:

Went to Zoo Lights in Phoenix AZ. Shooting with a Nikon D300 and 18-270mm Tamron Lens shot with different Apertures and Shutter Speeds and with Flash. My pictures were either too dark or too light(with flash) or blurred.
Did not bring my Tripod. What could I have done different?

You may want to check out something like Bryan Peterson's publication "Understanding Flash Photography".

Good luck on your quest.

paulied

Yes indeed night photography is definitely a challenge. I agree most heartily that a tripod is a must. However, that having been said, the next best thing is something you can use to support your camera (and yourself) to avoid "camera shake (light pole, fence, car top, anything that can keep your camera as rock solid as possible.

You might even want to try HDR, once you've bracketed your images, but you'll need software to achieve your results. I'm using Photomatix right now.

Oh, a cable release is always a great way to eliminate "camera shake" as well. And while you're at it try "mirror up". Experiment and see your results.

Cape Cod at "The Breakers"
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amehta Loc: Boston

llouie wrote:

Used a Canon for years. Nikon is far superior with their lenses and camera.

I shoot Nikons, but I wouldn't say that.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

llouie wrote:

Went to Zoo Lights in Phoenix AZ. Shooting with a Nikon D300 and 18-270mm Tamron Lens shot with different Apertures and Shutter Speeds and with Flash. My pictures were either too dark or too light(with flash) or blurred.
Did not bring my Tripod. What could I have done different?

Hello llouie. A tripod is a must for longer night exposures. It will help eliminate blur. When you used your flash did you lower the light output? If so perhaps a smaller aperture would help. If there were any movement a flash will help to freeze it. Post some pics and shooting info and I can help you better.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Nighttime... No tripod... ISO of 200... Did you consider a handstand or double back flip while tripping the shutter? I'm sorry. I try very hard to avoid sarcasm or negativity, but you put together a worst case scenario for yourself and then wondered why your results were disappointing!

If you have a tripod, any of the variables--ISO, aperture, shutter speed--are up for grabs. If you don't have a tripod, lacking a stone wall upon which you can set your camera, you're doomed to either blur, noise, or poor exposure. You must use a tripod for night photography.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

find a fence, bench, car, ground or something to set it on...self timer or mirror lockup.

amehta Loc: Boston

Cdouthitt wrote:

find a fence, bench, car, ground or something to set it on...self timer or mirror lockup.

A gorillapod works well with these.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

amehta wrote:

A gorillapod works well with these.

It does, if you have one...I was thinking more about the lack of one and what could be used in the environment.

I've also used my camera bag, like a pillow for propping my camera on. Of course having a swivel screen and live view helps a ton in a situaiton like this...Otherwise you look funny laying on the ground trying to look through a viewfinder.

dragon64 Loc: Stewartstown PA

The Saint KK4GO wrote:

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Many of my best nighttime photos were taken with my Canon A-1 or my F1 both with a f1.4 lens ( yep, film cameras). I haven't returned to those locations in recent years to try to duplicate those photos with my DSLR's to see the differences.

docrings Loc: Florida and Georgia

Three tips for night photography in low light conditions:
1. Tripod
2. Tripod
3. Tripod
4. Aperature priority (F11).
If you want some "sparkle" around lights, then shut it all the way down to the smallest aperture (highest number).

Good luck!

amehta Loc: Boston

docrings wrote:

Three tips for night photography in low light conditions:
1. Tripod
2. Tripod
3. Tripod
4. Aperature priority (F11)...if you want some "sparkle" around lights, then shut it all the way down to the smallest aperature (highest number).

Good luck!

You forgot on more:
5. Tripod
:lol:

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Why? Because of noise I assume? I think maybe noise on low light outdoor night shots is harder to eliminate in post process. Actually I took some indoor shots of people with auto which choose 6400 and the noise was removable without blurring the faces detail. Maybe 24 megapixels keeps some noisey pixels smaller? Is that a theory?

MT Shooter wrote:

At 6400 ISO on a D300 you don't have any chance at all of getting a night time shot worth keeping.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

llouie wrote:

Used a Canon for years. Nikon is far superior with their lenses and camera.

LL, if you were using a Canon, you could have used the 50mm f1.0 AF lens and you wouldn't even be asking this question! ;-)
SS

PS, which 50 1.0 is sharper, the canon lens or the Nikon lens?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I'd take the Voigtlander Nokton 17mm or 42.5mm f/0.95 any day over either one.

http://admiringlight.com/blog/review-voigtlander-nokton-42-5mm-f0-95/3/

I didn't think Nikon made a 50 f1

From Ken Rockwell's site:
Nikon sold a 50mm f/1.1 lens for its rangefinder cameras since 1956.

In 1962, Nikon designed and built a prototype 50mm f/1.0 NIKKOR-O lens for their rangefinder cameras (Rotoloni 2007, page 287). It was never sold because the rangefinder cameras had gone obsolete in favor of the SLRs we all shoot today.

Even if lens mounts had anything to do with lens speed, anyone in any online forum can calculate if Nikon can make a 50mm f/1.0 lens work through a 33.3mm hole, then one could jam a 50mm f/0.7 lens through the 43.8mm hole in Nikon's SLR lens mount.

f/0.7 is two stops faster than f/1.4, four stops faster than f/2.8, and six stops faster than f/5.6. f/0.7 is as far away from f/4 as f/4 is from f/22!

Lens mount diameters don't limit maximum apertures. Markets, dollars, size, weight and practical performance limitations of optics and AF systems are what limit maximum apertures.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

llouie wrote:

Went to Zoo Lights in Phoenix AZ. Shooting with a Nikon D300 and 18-270mm Tamron Lens shot with different Apertures and Shutter Speeds and with Flash. My pictures were either too dark or too light(with flash) or blurred.
Did not bring my Tripod. What could I have done different?

How do you use your flash, do you shoot in auto or set it manual? Always pay attention to the right distance between object and flash, light-fall-off is very rapid! Not bringing the tripod was not a wise decision.