Attempt at night photo: I wanted to get this right in camera as I don't do any complicated post processing. But it was difficult to evaluate in camera so I may need to go back. I...

TB4 Loc: TX

I wanted to get this right in camera as I don't do any complicated post processing. But it was difficult to evaluate in camera so I may need to go back. I learned that painting the waterfall with a flashlight evenly wasn't the ticket since some of it was farther away and there were some rocks that were more reflective. Any suggestions?

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robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

TB4 wrote:

I wanted to get this right in camera as I don't do any complicated post processing. But it was difficult to evaluate in camera so I may need to go back. I learned that painting the waterfall with a flashlight evenly wasn't the ticket since some of it was farther away and there were some rocks that were more reflective. Any suggestions?

A good flash, longer exposure, open the apeture, up the ISO more or learn PP.

twowindsbear

Here's my WAG:

Figure out when the light of a full, or there about, moon will fall on the falls & take more photos then.

Good luck.

seemore_Stars

Low light photography is challenging. The big dipper is clearly visible. I like it, thank you!

seemore_Stars

Try upping the ISO to 1600. October 30th is the new moon.

TB4 Loc: TX

twowindsbear wrote:

Here's my WAG:

Figure out when the light of a full, or there about, moon will fall on the falls & take more photos then.

Good luck.

That's what I was hoping for but I don't know if the moon will be in the correct position to illuminate the falls vs interfering with the stars. I went out on a moonless night and found that I get star trails if I open up more than 20 or 30 seconds so I may need to perfect the flashlight painting if the moon doesn't help.

twowindsbear

TB4 wrote:

That's what I was hoping for but I don't know if the moon will be in the correct position to illuminate the falls vs interfering with the stars. I went out on a moonless night and found that I get star trails if I open up more than 20 or 30 seconds so I may need to perfect the flashlight painting if the moon doesn't help.

Oh, silly me. I thought you wanted a pic of the waterfalls, not the falls AND the stars.

My revised WAG - will involve at least 2 exposures - 1 for the stars & another for the falls and then combining them, in PP, into a composite photo.

Again, good luck.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

TB4 wrote:

I wanted to get this right in camera as I don't do any complicated post processing. But it was difficult to evaluate in camera so I may need to go back. I learned that painting the waterfall with a flashlight evenly wasn't the ticket since some of it was farther away and there were some rocks that were more reflective. Any suggestions?

If your interest is going to lean to night photography, you will, in my opinion, need to learn to do some post processing. you could succeed with a long process of testing longer exposure, higher ISO, waiting for a full and bright moon, but post processing with Lightroom or Photoshop would result in better photos.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

With the moon full, try 6 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600. If you want to try light painting of the falls at dusk when the sky still has, try 15 sec @ f/8, ISO 00. Fire a speedlite at the beginning of the exposure to illuminate the falls. For full dark, no moon 30 sec @ f/2.8 ISO 6400, which is what I use for astrophotography.

These are just places to start. if your camera does bracketing, and you have a remote release, play around with exposure.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

robertjerl wrote:

A good flash, longer exposure, open the apeture, up the ISO more or learn PP.

TB4 Loc: TX

twowindsbear wrote:

Oh, silly me. I thought you wanted a pic of the waterfalls, not the falls AND the stars.

My revised WAG - will involve at least 2 exposures - 1 for the stars & another for the falls and then combining them, in PP, into a composite photo.

Again, good luck.

You are correct. I want to get both exposed properly but without PP...

TB4 Loc: TX

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

With the moon full, try 6 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600. If you want to try light painting of the falls at dusk when the sky still has, try 15 sec @ f/8, ISO 00. Fire a speedlite at the beginning of the exposure to illuminate the falls. For full dark, no moon 30 sec @ f/2.8 ISO 6400, which is what I use for astrophotography.

These are just places to start. if your camera does bracketing, and you have a remote release, play around with exposure.

I appreciate this input. My real challenge is properly exposing the stars AND the waterfall in the same photo. I have been going out early in the morning but am then limited on experimenting by the sun rising at some point. I guess I could go out earlier to have more time OR with the time changing this weekend go out before sundown and spend as long as I want out there trying different exposures and painting techniques.

TB4 Loc: TX

twowindsbear wrote:

Oh, silly me. I thought you wanted a pic of the waterfalls, not the falls AND the stars.

My revised WAG - will involve at least 2 exposures - 1 for the stars & another for the falls and then combining them, in PP, into a composite photo.

Again, good luck.

Rats. I like doing my viewing on a iPad and don't have a PP program that will do composites. My old Nikon could do them in camera but I don't think my Sony will. I have lot of nice waterfall photos but the real challenge is to get them AND the stars properly exposed in the same photo.

TB4 Loc: TX

robertjerl wrote:

A good flash, longer exposure, open the apeture, up the ISO more or learn PP.

The flash will still strongly reflect the highlights near the left side and by opening up the aperture or increasing ISO I will lose the stars... I am wanting to stay away from PP.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

TB4 wrote:

The flash will still strongly reflect the highlights near the left side and by opening up the aperture or increasing ISO I will lose the stars... I am wanting to stay away from PP.

I wanted to stay with only simple PP tweaks too. Then reality whacked me up along side the head! I am gradually learning more and more PP.