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Night Time City Scape Question
Oct 5, 2012 11:27:39 #
Tomorrow night, I am going to the Columbia Building Observation Deck to photograph Seattle at night. This is the tallest building in the area, and I am going to photograph the city with all of it's lights. Hopefully I will get there in time to see a beautiful sunset as well. I have never done shots like this, and was wondering what would be the best settings to use. I have a Nikon D5000, and will be using my 18-200 mm lens, and a tripod. I will be indoors, behind glass, and I am hoping that there won't be lights on in the inside to cause a glare. Any ideas on which settings to start out with?
Oct 5, 2012 11:40:40 #
ishuttertothink wrote:
Tomorrow night, I am going to the Columbia Buildin... (show quote)
Within an hour after sunset is what is called Blue Hour. The sky will look black to you but deep blue to your camera. Google the term.
Oct 6, 2012 07:42:30 #
ishuttertothink wrote:
Tomorrow night, I am going to the Columbia Buildin... (show quote)
Here's a good article.
http://www.exposureguide.com/photographing-cityscapes.htm
Oct 6, 2012 07:47:20 #
otsukardi
Loc: Honolulu, HI
I would start with Aperture Priority F 16, ISO 100. After that use Manual Mode and re-adjust the shutter & Aperture.
If you have cable release will be great else use self time. Good luck.
If you have cable release will be great else use self time. Good luck.
Oct 6, 2012 08:46:14 #
I would try to start shooting just before the sun goes down. Hopefully the city will be lit up by then but you will still have enough light to capture shadow detail without too long an exposure. You will still have the option for longer bulb exposures as it gets darker.
Remember our eyes adapt very well to changing light so it might be darker than you think because your eyes have adjusted to the light. Your camera on the other hand does not.
Remember our eyes adapt very well to changing light so it might be darker than you think because your eyes have adjusted to the light. Your camera on the other hand does not.
Oct 6, 2012 10:32:27 #
ishuttertothink wrote:
Tomorrow night, I am going to the Columbia Buildin... (show quote)
I've found glare from inside lights to be a major problem. One fix is to remove the lens hood and put the end of the lens flat against the glass. Then crop later as required. Second is to bring a piece of black cloth about a yard square, tape it to the glass with some masking tape, and use it like a hood.
Oct 6, 2012 11:34:14 #
Make a hood yes, bring stuff to clean glass with. I like the "man on a mission attitude""
Check out Panorama section of our forum.
Oct 6, 2012 11:40:16 #
Thank you guys for all of your suggestions!! I do have a black cloth, and I am bringing a friend along, so I think I will put her to work. If I get ANYTHING at all worth posting, I will be sure and do so.
Oct 6, 2012 12:09:45 #
You might also wear black or a dark color to avoid your own reflection.
When it gets dark, remember you are recording the LIGHT, not the dark background! You can spot read on a brighter area & adjust from there.
When it gets dark, remember you are recording the LIGHT, not the dark background! You can spot read on a brighter area & adjust from there.
Oct 6, 2012 13:27:22 #
Oct 6, 2012 14:43:16 #
Check out Software and Computer Support for Photographers section of our forum.
Oct 6, 2012 15:44:14 #
Oct 6, 2012 17:09:49 #
Oct 6, 2012 23:39:52 #
ishuttertothink wrote:
Tomorrow night, I am going to the Columbia Buildin... (show quote)
While you're there, you might try HDR. Take a shot at "normal" exposure and then take one or two underexposed and one or two overexposed. Run them through an HDR program to combine all the shots into one. I use Photomatix (which you have to buy), but there are a number of similar packages available for free as downloads.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-high-dynamic-range-hdr-software.htm
Oct 6, 2012 23:56:12 #
Wabbit
Loc: Arizona Desert
Hey Doc ..... here's one for ya
Camera: Nikon D70s
Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
Shot at 18 mm
Exposure: Auto exposure, Program AE, 2 sec, f/3.8, ISO 200, Compensation: -1/3
Flash: none
Focus: AF-S, Center, at 2.8m, with a depth of field of about 6.5m, (from about 1.1m before the focus point to about 5.4m after)
AF Area Mode: Dynamic Area
Date: December 31, 2011 11:04:08PM (timezone not specified)
(9 months, 5 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 5 seconds ago, assuming image timezone of US Pacific)
File: 2,000 × 3,008 JPEG (6.0 megapixels)
412,756 bytes (0.39 megabytes) Image compression: 98%
Camera: Nikon D70s
Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
Shot at 18 mm
Exposure: Auto exposure, Program AE, 2 sec, f/3.8, ISO 200, Compensation: -1/3
Flash: none
Focus: AF-S, Center, at 2.8m, with a depth of field of about 6.5m, (from about 1.1m before the focus point to about 5.4m after)
AF Area Mode: Dynamic Area
Date: December 31, 2011 11:04:08PM (timezone not specified)
(9 months, 5 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 5 seconds ago, assuming image timezone of US Pacific)
File: 2,000 × 3,008 JPEG (6.0 megapixels)
412,756 bytes (0.39 megabytes) Image compression: 98%
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