sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I've not done long exposure or night photography. Any books or sites on how to get started would be helpful.
Thanks

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

A few simple things you will need, or need to do.

Each lighting situation will be different, so you will need to adjust your settings after a few trial shots to get your desired effects.

1. A tripod is almost mandatory. If you can safely set your camera on a stationary surface, it could substitute, but I certainly wouldn't like to see my camera fall, so I always use a tripod for long length shots.

2. A wired or wireless remote shutter trigger is suggested, although, you could try using your timed release if you don't already own a remote yet.

3. You will most likely have to switch to manual focus, unless there are no moving objects in your shot. Even the slightest breeze will move a bush in the foreground, and could cause your camera to try to refocus, and ruin your shot. Often, there won't be enough light to use auto focus, but try it, then switch to manual after the camera has achieved it's best focus and check to see that it focused on what you would like to see in focus.

4. If you want to see more of the background in focus, you want a higher f-stop number, and will need to lengthen your shutter time proportionately. This is not a type of shot where you want a narrow depth of field in most instances.

5. ISO is a sore subject with many. If you push it too high, you will end up with a lot of noise in your shot. So, here again, you will have to play around with balancing your shutter speed against your ISO settings and the amount of available light. You will have to push it higher, just don't go too high, so that you end up with a lot of noise in the shot, rather than clear shots.

I had a photography class assignment to do this kind of shot. I drove to a shopping center garage roof, and set up on a corner, where I could shoot in 3 different directions, and capture the traffic coming and going. My best shot was looking up hill, and capturing the car tracks in the snow, with both the red and green lights lit on the same traffic light.

The fun part is experimenting.

Just make sure that you set up in a location, where your safety is not in jeopardy, such as a very slippery surface, or in the street, where you could be hit by a vehicle, or you're are at risk of being mugged or attacked, depending on where you plan to shoot.

I also shot my neighbors kids playing with glow in the dark necklaces, holding several different colored ones in each hand, and waving them around.

I'll have to review what my settings were for both my garage location and the kids with the glow in the dark shots, and I will let you know.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Thanks

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Boy am I having problems with yahoo this morning. But I finally got here with the data you can review.

I'm attaching the long exposure shot and the data for it.

Then I'll attach the data for the shots that I took with the kids and the glow in the dark necklaces, so you can see what I mean by noise.

Long Exposure Shot

(Download)

Camera Info

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Missed one of the files

Shot Details

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Here is one of the kids.

Kids with Glow in the Dark Necklaces

(Download)

Shot Info


Camera Info

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I will have to try it. Thanks for the info.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Check out this link.
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/six-reasons-to-try-long-exposure-photography/
Marion

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

There are a ton of videos on youtube about this. Well worth a couple of hours of your time. Some of my favourites are by Serge Ramelli, and if you like a bit of humour thrown in, DigitalRev, but there are a lot to choose from.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Thanks for your responses.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

Many, many,many videos on YouTube

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

One of our class members had her daughter dress up in a white nightgown, then they headed to a really old cemetary, and did a bunch of ghosting shots of her daughter walking among the tombstones.

We also did a bunch of light painting shots during class one night.

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Thank you Szalajj. I have not done long exposures yet and I will be experimenting soon. Your Steps on how to's will help a lot of newbies for long exposures.

BuddhaRunner Loc: Worcester, Massachusetts

Excellent advice! Thank you!