Need help Hawaii Volcano/Lava at night: I have no idea on how to take night photos. I want to photograph the volcano/crater at night. I will be using Canon t5i camera with Tokina Ultra...

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

I have no idea on how to take night photos. I want to photograph the volcano/crater at night. I will be using Canon t5i camera with Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16mm f2.8 pro lens. Can someone help me with what settings to try and do I use on camera flash or turn it off? I have a fixed 24mm f2.8 stm lens that I can also take if it may be a better choice of lenses. Since its a once in a lifetime trip for me I really want to get a few decent shots of the lava at night.
zuzanne

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Do a little practice ahead of time. Shoot anything lit up at night. Flash is your option. It will light up what's near but if you don't adjust your shutter speed to allow for a longer exposure the fire will be pretty mundane. Check the net for details. You will need a tripod.

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

zuzanne wrote:

I have no idea on how to take night photos. I want to photograph the volcano/crater at night. I will be using Canon t5i camera with Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16mm f2.8 pro lens. Can someone help me with what settings to try and do I use on camera flash or turn it off? I have a fixed 24mm f2.8 stm lens that I can also take if it may be a better choice of lenses. Since its a once in a lifetime trip for me I really want to get a few decent shots of the lava at night.
zuzanne

You will need a sturdy tripod. I suggest Manual settings.
ISO set at 100
F/:2.8
Shutter speed at 25 to 30 seconds.
I used these settings to shoot a forest fire a few years ago from quite a distance.
You may need to adjust by looking and making changes to brighten or darken.
I think its a good place to start.

Here is the shot I did at these settings..
Good luck, I envy you.
Jim
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6010/5941765999_884a730c73.jpg Cochiti Fire at night from Pena Blanca by James Martin, on Flickr

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Jeese Jim!
That looks like a friggen lava flow...

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

SonnyE wrote:

Jeese Jim!
That looks like a friggen lava flow...

It was a very large fire. I was several miles away but had a good view of the action that night.
Jim

hippi Loc: Sedalia MO

no flash, use tripod if it is foggy at the crater forget it and come back the next day

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thank you all for your help. I am taking my tripod and wireless intervolmeter. I wrote down your settings Jim to take with me.
zuzanne

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

zuzanne wrote:

Thank you all for your help. I am taking my tripod and wireless intervolmeter. I wrote down your settings Jim to take with me.
zuzanne

I wish you the very best of luck.
I am envious and I hope you share when you return.
Jim

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

zuzanne wrote:

I have no idea on how to take night photos. I want to photograph the volcano/crater at night. I will be using Canon t5i camera with Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16mm f2.8 pro lens. Can someone help me with what settings to try and do I use on camera flash or turn it off? I have a fixed 24mm f2.8 stm lens that I can also take if it may be a better choice of lenses. Since its a once in a lifetime trip for me I really want to get a few decent shots of the lava at night.
zuzanne

That is a great Idea Zuzanne I'll be there too later this year, Oct, we hope.
A night shot will be in my plans also using my Nikon D800E and Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8.
I will shoot at 16mm and I suggest you shoot the same. Anything wider will really exaggerate the fisheye effect.
I will follow Jim's lead with the settings. 30 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 to 200. You should get some stars in the shot too.
I won't be using any flash unless I feel like lighting up the foreground to 100 ft.
Craig

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Hope you get there. I am really excited about my first Hawaiian Trip. I will try your suggestion of 16mm.

zuzanne

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thanks Jim, I will share when I return.

zuzanne

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

zuzanne wrote:

Thanks Jim, I will share when I return.

zuzanne

Don't forget that you can also shoot lava flow in the daytime....in fact, my guess is your better shots will turn out to be then. You will need an ND filter (neutral density) for daytime ...drag your shutter to get a more silky lava flow look. I would add a telephoto lens for tighter shots to show lava drips as well at your wider angles. If you don't pack a tripod - you need to find something to support the camera on if using shutter speeds less than 1/15 unless you are very very steady - esp if you should use telephoto or longer lens, 110mm or more!

Have a good time - I love Hawaii but tire quickly of their food. Nothing like returning home to a good ole Hardee's gravy biscuit :)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I didn't think I could be helpful, until now....
Something I got way back in 2014 (Ancient history!) is a Sirui carbon fiber Monopod.
Handy! Not a tripod, but also suffices as a walking stick.

Easily packs with your undies in your baggage.

They also make a tripod/monopod.
But I think this Mefoto Air takes the cake! Check out the David Flores video.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

SonnyE wrote:

I didn't think I could be helpful, until now.... b... (show quote)

I think that's about twice as much as I want to spend for a good monopod. But thanks for reminding me about one though.
Craig

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thank you for posting. I do have a monopod and a travel tripod. I will be taking the tripod as the monopod doesn't have the strength to support my heavy lenses.
zuzanne