Poll - night photography

[Damien_Demolder]

More an enquiry than a poll this week - about taking pictures outside at night. Do you do it much, if at all? If not, why not? And if you do, what do you like to shoot, and what are your secret techniques?

Now we're in the thick of winter, and the longest night is on its way, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips.

Head to the homepage to take part.

[APchris]

I have done a bit and been pleasantly surprised what can be achieved and that was with a Casio compact (I know Casio is a bit of a rude word around here at the moment )

Now I have my new DSLR I'll be trying out some more after dark photography soon

[TimF]

Not something I've done, but I was up at Red Dot today and Ivor showed me some pictures he'd taken at the O2 Arena and a walk round London at night using a pre-production 21mm f/1.4. All at maximum aperture, and they looked very excellent indeed to me.

[beejaybee]

And if you do, what do you like to shoot, and what are your secret techniques?

Star fields. No secrets but I do use flat frame subtraction & image stacking to improve the quality, and very severe curves to lift detail in faint nebulosity.

[RogerMac]

I spent a pleasant evening walking round York yesterday evening doing after dark street photography using a very old film camera and it left me in no doubt that the secret is fast primes

Roger

[APchris]

And if you do, what do you like to shoot, and what are your secret techniques?

Star fields. No secrets but I do use flat frame subtraction & image stacking to improve the quality, and very severe curves to lift detail in faint nebulosity.

Interesting What camera/lens do you use, and have you posted any examples of your work we can see ? I ask because I was once interested in astronomy.


I'm going to have to Google "flat frame subtraction" and "image stacking"

[zx9]

I quite like a bit of night time street photography, mostly buildings but sometimes people. I use both the G9 and 5D, I never use a tripod but usually find a suitable building, tree, lamp post or bench to press the camera against. The IS on the G9 helps with longish exposures, as do my f2.8 zooms for the EOS.

[beejaybee]

What camera/lens do you use,

Usually a Canon 5D with 300mm & 400mm lenses - sometimes shorter for wider field views.

I have posted a few examples, they're mostly a little oversize for this forum but you could try

M41 (400mm)
The Pleiades (400mm)
Comet C2007W1 (Boattini) (300mm)

"flat frame subtraction" and "image stacking"

Flat frame subtraction removes vignetting, which is a particular problem as it is necessary to use very severe curves to bring out faint nebulosity. Image stacking is one way of building up long exposures, thus improving signal to noise ratio, it also has the effect of being able to remove the effects of aircraft trails etc. which you don't want to show up in the final image.

[Done_rundleCams]

.... as it <u>never </u> involves a tripod nor monopod although, on occasion,
I have been known to borrow a car's rooftop or a park bench. Also, it
usually involves 'higher ASA's' or flash ( ) and if people are
involved ... it is, generally, not their best moment See below for some examples:

PHOTO #1)

Click Here

PHOTO#2





PHOTO #3





PHOTO #4





PHOTO #5 -- the late Steve Clark --




Cheers,

Jack

[Scphoto]

I like night photography, just don't get a chance to do much of it.

Did some in Birmingham recently - link

I mostly use a tripod, though the latter 3 on the link use a combination of window ledge and work folder. No real special tips other than keep the tripod steady and use mirror lockup.

Don't really have a main subject, but the linked ones are Birmingham and Buildings. I do like traffic trail shots, but I wonder if the night equivalent of smooth water?

[APchris]

Usually a Canon 5D with 300mm & 400mm lenses - sometimes shorter for wider field views.

I have posted a few examples, they're mostly a little oversize for this forum but you could try

M41 (400mm)
The Pleiades (400mm)
Comet C2007W1 (Boattini) (300mm)

I'm amazed at what can be achieved with an ordinary camera and lens and kind of expected some sort of telescope to be involved, I particularly like The Pleiades.

I've been reading up on flat frame subtraction (the opposite of dark frame subtraction) and image stacking (an interesting technique that has uses outside astrophotography)

[FujiSigmaNolta]

I don't do as much as I would like now but I used to try and do more and was also more experimental when I was using film. I don't carry my tripod as much as I used to either.
This one here was one of my favourites and I sold a few A3 sized prints of it:



It was taken with Kodak Ektachrome 64 and if I remember well it was 17mins at f11, with a Vivitar v635 and a Vivitar 28-210 f3.5-5.6. I dug this one out of my negs/trannies, of which I never realised how many I have.I haven't been giving my scanners any use either and that is very bad.

[Benchista]

I do very little, which is daft because I enjoy it.

[daft_biker]

M41 (400mm)
The Pleiades (400mm)
Comet C2007W1 (Boattini) (300mm)

They're like negatives of my dust tests Good though....I'm doing well if I can get the moon to show up!

I've done a little night photography using various techniques.....

Low ISO landscapeson a tripod.
Action with flash and prefocusing on the jump(not much choice with a 300D since the AF is so useless).
And (surprise, surprise!) macro...handheld with flash but the flash has little focus lights that come on with a double half press of the shutter button so I can see what I'm doing and freeze the subject movement even if it is pitch black, raining and windy

[Nod]

I enjoy it when it's warm enough to be outside, so generally only on holiday in the Med. Aircraft light trails, moonlit beaches and jsut-post-sunset if that counts as night). No secrets, unless using a little clamp/tripod thing clamped to sunbeds is a secret. Haven't done quite so much in digital years but will be getting back into it!

REALLY looking forward to the lower noise at higher ISO of the D700, not to mention the FF. Does anyone know how well it handles noise at longer exposures?

[Brendan]

Yep
either with a light Giottos CF travel tripod, or with my Nikon D3 and 28mm f1.4 - 'available darkness shooting at ISO 6400

[Wheelu]

Light reflecting on wet surfaces looks very attractive at night.

It's important to get the metering right, you often have to lose shadow detail in order to avoid burning the highlights.

At this time of year it's ***** cold work though!

Here's an example Night street Paris

[Done_rundleCams]

Light reflecting on wet surfaces looks very attractive at night.

It's important to get the metering right, you often have to lose shadow detail in order to avoid burning the highlights.

At this time of year it's ***** cold work though!

Here's an example Night street Paris

Hi Bryan,

A superb shot -- my comment on your flickr page

Well captured

Cheers,

Jack

[Starjack]

Yes.

I really enjoy this time of year since it gets dark early and I often go along the Thames and capture reflections in the water or events along the South Bank.

[Wheelu]

[A superb shot -- my comment on your flickr page

Well captured

Cheers,

Jack

Thanks Jack. I have responded to your question about the location as I am best able, but will have to consult the Mrs to be more precise.