Fuzzy street lamps (Page 4): For some reason this is not making sense to me, and I suspect even less sense to someone new at night photography. My suggestion was not intended to...

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Bill P wrote:

Yes they can use the blinkies and such, but be realistic. Using them takes not as much experience as just setting on manual or just using bracketing, but it does require some knowledge and experience.

For some reason this is not making sense to me, and I suspect even less sense to someone new at night photography.

Bill P wrote:

Digital will allow this person to experiment with different settings to get the look he wants.

Your suggestions presuppose a certain level of knowledge, and yet in your first sentence you say the OP is new to night photography. Rationalize that.

My suggestion was not intended to presuppose a certain level of knowledge, it is to give the person new to this a starting/base point, whether he is using Auto or Manual modes.

I would have thought it more useful than a suggestion as this;

Bill P wrote:

best choice is to set up and bracket till you get what you want. You've got to be smarter than the meter.

that gives the new night shooter no idea or advice where to start from, prior to any bracketing/tuning.

From my own experience I have found that my Nikon matrix metering gives a reasonable start point for night scenes, but of course experience automatically makes me aware of how matrix will treat say a scene as I posted with roughly equal areas of dark, mid and bright compared to a scene that the op posted. These same principles being similar to daytime shooting.

tinwhistle

Awful lot of really complicated advice given out for what is really a very simple problem. First of all resting the camera on the car window will never work. We NEED a good solid tripod. All you really need after that is to stop the aperture down as far as it will go f22 or there about, will produce nice star burst lights. Keep in mind that a rock solid camera is the key to the whole thing.

no12mo

Grahame wrote:

Here's a night shot with street lights taken with the following settings that may give you some ideas;

Camera on tripod, 16mm lens, 20 second exposure, f/8.0, ISO 100. Exposure time for this shot was based on the fact that I did not want to get star trails but did want to try and get vehicle light trails included.

That's an excellent shot and well thought out. If one is going to be specific about requirements such as blown out lights. This is the kind of attention that is required. A good lesson in capturing night scenes that includes strong pinpoints of lights

Alan

Bill P

Grahame wrote:

that gives the new night shooter no idea or advice where to start from, prior to any bracketing/tuning.

From my own experience I have found that my Nikon matrix metering gives a reasonable start point for night scenes, but of course experience automatically makes me aware of how matrix will treat say a scene as I posted with roughly equal areas of dark, mid and bright compared to a scene that the op posted. These same principles being similar to daytime shooting.

What you have said makes perfect sense for you but for a rank amateur it is surely confusing. I have had many experiences sitting down with an aspiring photographer and try to explain how aperture works. Many of the can't get the concept of smaller number bigger hole.

Things that seem obvious to you may not be to others.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Bill P wrote:

I have had many experiences sitting down with an aspiring photographer and try to explain how aperture works. Many of the can't get the concept of smaller number bigger hole.

I'm sure equally many of us have come across the 'experts' who do not have the ability to teach.

Bill P wrote:

Things that seem obvious to you may not be to others.

So what is it that you did not understand in my reply to you?

Bill P

I can't give my answers to your questions in this forum, Let's give it a rest.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

no12mo wrote:

That's an excellent shot and well thought out. If one is going to be specific about requirements such as blown out lights. This is the kind of attention that is required. A good lesson in capturing night scenes that includes strong pinpoints of lights

Alan

Thank you Alan.

The reason I posted that example was that it included 'street lights' as mentioned in the ops first post plus a lot more within the scene that to me was as equally important for varying reasons, some mentioned.

In addition it would also give a beginner some idea of settings/range that can produce reasonable results, e.g. starbursts do not always require f/22.

What is also of interest to me is that it was produced from a single frame that was taken at the 'exposure' suggested by the camera meter when in matrix metering, a good starting point. I did of course take further differing exposures either side of this.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Bill P wrote:

I can't give my answers to your questions in this forum, Let's give it a rest.

It appears your real interest here is not night photography or helping the op then?

Bill P

Yes, tha is indeed my real interest. But I can't imagine it's yours. Please please just give it a rest. I've asked several times but you won't let go. I'm not interested in joining you in your d**k measuring contest.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Bill P wrote:

I'm not interested in joining you in your d**k measuring contest.

But you decided to make it that and then continue with you inane comments? Strange.

Bill P

Grahame wrote:

But you decided to make it that and then continue with you inane comments? Strange.

But you won't just shut up and let it go.

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

I want to thank all who took the time and concern to post answers and advice to my question, especially appreciated are those replies that contained suggestions of specific settings as starting points such as the picture posted by Grahame with specific camera settings for me to try. I'll be out tomorrow night trying to put into effect many of the suggestions made in answer to my original post. The moon is full tonight, as attested by my cat Mimi, who goes bonkers on full moon nights, and will be nearly full the next two nights so I should be able to get in a good deal of testing. Suggestions and opinions are more than welcome to a newbie like me who is starting from ground zero with a DSLR camera.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

trapper1 wrote:

I want to thank all who took the time and concern ... (show quote)

Good to hear that you are going to go out and have another try and hopefully you can post some results.

Around full moon is a great time to use its light to illuminate subjects, but on the downside it can become addictive and you find yourself pre-planning shots, praying the weather will hold, then finding yourself going out at strange hours

Good luck

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

The Full Moon Express crashed here tonight in the home of the Wreck of Old 97. I was out there tonight but a light haze blocked any chance of making a sharp picture, however it will still be mostly full tomorrow night so will give it another try then. The best laid plans of mice and men......

Guy A. Loc: Concord, Ohio

To focus in the dark isn't easy, (DOF), considering all of the above helpful comments, tripod, ISO, and such, keep to the task and make continuous setting adjustments. Take notes. I would try various aperture settings and read all of the comments above to learn all you can on the subject. Then go out and shoot some automobile lights in a busy intersection. This is a blast.
G