Campfires: I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa this fall -- camping most of the time. I would love to know how to get great campfire shots, as I am sure some of the locals will...

Margo Loc: Clearwater Florida

I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa this fall -- camping most of the time. I would love to know how to get great campfire shots, as I am sure some of the locals will be by to visit and entertain.

jphrn

Margo wrote:

I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa this fall -- camping most of the time. I would love to know how to get great campfire shots, as I am sure some of the locals will be by to visit and entertain.

So many variables determine the outcome photo. Using the lowest number f-stop and shutter speed is paramount. Probably also a good tripod and lots of practice here in your own backyard. No kidding...if you can do so; build a campfire and take many shots at different setting while on the manual mode. That will help save some bitter disappointments for your exciting trip. If you only have an automatic point and shoot, I suggest you get on Ebay and find a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) that you can buy cheap that has a total manual option. None of the automatics will capture anything but the fire! Have fun while I eat my heart out with envy, Ha Ha!

Margo Loc: Clearwater Florida

Thank you. I have a Canon 450D XSi Rebel. I've had it several years now -- but just this last January have picked it up to use it regularly.

jphrn

Glad you are prepared. Be prepared for a lot of retina glare or red eye correction because if that African moon isn't real bright there will be lots of dilated pupils! Have fun!

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

Sounds like an exciting adventure. Hope you will see some wild game as well.

Margo Loc: Clearwater Florida

Yep -- should be in Kruger in time for a full moon -- I'm excited!

Mpeter45 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

According to the Kodak Master Photoguide, you should try ISO 400, 1/60 @ F5.6 for campfires. That is a ballpark figure, of course, but with a LCD screen, you should be able to check if it works.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Wow - what a treat - my best suggestion would be to do a trial run at some campground where you can have a small bond fire type setting - most are found in the groups camp site -15 or more people. and one thing for sure - photoshop / digital editing will save a lot of photos you think are lost-please share when you get back
Harvey

Margo wrote:

I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa this fall -- camping most of the time. I would love to know how to get great campfire shots, as I am sure some of the locals will be by to visit and entertain.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I have no experience at this. Keep that in mind......

You are going to have fire (bright light).
The light the fire puts out is not going to be anywhere near as bright as the fire.

I would think the important item is the people around the fire and their proper exposure. That is what I would expose for. And, that will probably happen.

So, you will "try" to keep the fire out of the image if possible. If it is included, it will be over exposed. Over exposed fire is not a terrible thing.

Someone, please correct me if this thinking is wrong. I'm just thinking out loud.....I need to go get some asprin...
Pat
(Snap Shot Guy!"

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

again I am going to jump in here with one of the strange things in Digital photography -
so you get a photo with all or part of the campfire in it and the rest of the photo is dark - FEAR NOT- you may be able to use you select tool and select around the fire when you have that fire encircled with the crawling ant - go to select>inverse go to image>image adjustments>brightness contrast (in PS7) and move the brightness slider+ and watch the image
This may work with the levels tool
and in CS4 under image>image adjustment> shadows/highlights after the image does it's jump into reality move the slider on each to you satisfaction.
These moves save and improve many of my photos.
Like I said do some practice on the expected problem before you go on your trip. -Things may be better than you think.
emerge

Jay Pat wrote:

I have no experience at this. Keep that in mind...... (show quote)

Bob1190 Loc: Hatboro, PA

Have great time. Wishing you the best!!

Margo wrote:

Yep -- should be in Kruger in time for a full moon -- I'm excited!

madcapmagishion

Margo wrote:

I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa this fall -- camping most of the time. I would love to know how to get great campfire shots, as I am sure some of the locals will be by to visit and entertain.

Or eat you!!!:mrgreen:

Margo Loc: Clearwater Florida

Wow - this place is the BEST! How nice people have given suggestions and commented. Thank you all.

As for you madcap - LOL - nice to start the day with a chuckle. :)

Margo Loc: Clearwater Florida

:)

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I played with this for a couple of hours without any success. Try everything you read here and let us know what works. I've seen some nice images of fire but I just can't figure it out.