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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Not your typical photographer

Shadow
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Aug 4, 2006, 10:48 PM

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Not your typical photographer	Can't Post

A few days ago I experimented taking a photo of the night sky. I didn't have my tripod with me but figured what the heck. Anyway, it looked awful as you can imagine, but the process was pretty cool and I started to imagine what imagery could be possible. So I googled Night Photography and found this guy
http://www.nightphotographer.com

He lights the "sets" with coloured lights and sets for a long exposure. Pretty cool.
I'd love to try something like this sometime.

Bill Kinkle
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Aug 5, 2006, 11:04 PM

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Re: [Shadow] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Very cool stuff.

I have been wanting to try delayed exposure photography for a few months now. One of these days I'll get time.

Shadow
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Aug 6, 2006, 1:59 AM

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Re: [Bill Kinkle] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Very cool stuff - I like how he lights the 'set'.

Tonight is almost a full moon, my friend and I went out at midnight and took a few shots. We ended up with less than desirable shots of the moon. They were blown out and there was lens flare. We couldn't manage to get it right, must be some way to take a pic of the moon, just don't know how right now.

We put the camera on the tripod and put the camera in av mode then shot down the street which was pretty dark. I don't know how long the exposure was but it took quite a while for the second click. It was such a cool look (I'd post it but we used my friend's camera, I didn't have mine as I was on the way back from a wedding).

I'd much rather take the camera out to the park or lake right now instead of going to bed. Maybe in my younger years... I know there will be a baby and a boy waking up in a few hours so I'd best not go out.

Fun though - I need to figure out those moon shots.

Bill Kinkle
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Aug 6, 2006, 10:16 AM

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Re: [Shadow] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

For those nighttime delayed exposure shots I use a remote for the shutter and use the bulb setting...makes life a lot easier. We have been getting some hellacious storms up in the northeast over the past few weeks and I have been out trying to get some shots of lightning....not easy at all.

videobear
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Aug 7, 2006, 2:56 PM

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Re: [Shadow] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Haven't done much astrophotography, but I seem to recall reading that to shoot the moon, set exposure as if it were a bright, sunny day (after all, it IS a bright, sunny day on the moon!)

I saw some amazing video taken with a Canon XL1 through a honkin' big lens...I think it was a 1000mm (35mm SLR). Made it look like you were in an Apollo capsule, preparing to make a descent in the Lunar Lander.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

Shadow
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Aug 7, 2006, 3:00 PM

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Re: [videobear] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks.

I read that somewhere too - I tried it last night but needed to adjust from what was suggested. Also, my portrait lens isn't the best for such a far away thing. ;)

I just ended up goofing around in the back yard, taking pictures of leaves in the dark to see what they would look like.

kevin
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Aug 8, 2006, 12:49 PM

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In Reply To

Here are a couple of Lightning Shots for you:

Shooting lightning can be scary. Wink

Kevin

Bill Kinkle
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Aug 8, 2006, 4:20 PM

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Re: [kevin] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Aw come on, you can't post way cool pics like that without settings. Don't be cheap! Wink

Vidiot Tech
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Aug 14, 2006, 12:39 PM

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Re: [Shadow] Not your typical photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Back in the bad old days of film (anybody remember film? Anybody? Ferris?) the rule of thumb for sunlit exposure (when you didn't have a light meter or an automatic camera) was f16 with the shutter speed set to the "ASA" of the film (ie: if using ASA 100 film, shutter at 125th; ASA 400 film, shutter at 400th, etc.)

Don't know how this might translate in the new digital world, what with "gain" being thrown into the mix...

And as 'bear said, the moon is a sunlit object. Very far away, but still sunlit.

As for interesting night shots I once shot an 18-wheeler at night, fully illuminated by only one flash unit: had the camera on bulb on a tripod with the f-stop set correctly for the distance of the flash to the subject, and carried the flash in my hand and "painted" the truck by flashing the whole 50-odd length with several flash discharges. Came out pretty well. You have to be aware of the relationship of your body to the subject and the camera, otherwise your "shadow" will show up on the exposure.

Steve