Digital Photography At Night

1

night photography questions :(?

i have a canon digital rebel xti, and i was trying to take night pictures of the sky because it was doing some crazy lighting scenes. But it would not focus at all. I even tried the "night' mode and it was terrible. Do i need a special lens or is there something i need to do differenenty?

First you will have to set your camera to "M" manual exposure, and switch your focus to "M" (off) and focus to infinity. Have a sturdy tripod (if you do not have a tripod you can use a bag of sand, rice, kitty litter anything that the camera can rest on and stay stable). If you do not have a cable release then you can use the "Self Timer". Set your camera at ISO 100, go for a 10" sec exposure to start at F~9. or F~11. In most case you want to be able to shoot when the storm is at a good distance across a big valley, or along the coast if that is where you live. If this is a good storm you will be able to time when the lightning strikes (ie., every 15 seconds when you count to 10 press the shutter, your exposure will give a few seconds before and after your lightning).

If you can change the settings for your self timer to fire sooner this will help, if not you will have to compensate for this to get your image. Take a look at your image on the back and if you see the "lightning" then you are good and just continue. If you go to long of an exposure on digital cameras you will get "Noise" little white specs that look like it is snowing and that is no good.

Here are two pictures I shot from my balcony, I do it every time a storm comes around my house.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfotos100/647358524/in/set-72157600529710732/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfotos100/646490857/in/set-72157600529710732/

Also think SAFETY while doing this you do not want to stand in an open field, or under the only tree in a field. If the lightning comes to close leave the area!!!

Hope this helps,
Kevin

How to Shoot Architectural Digital Photos : Taking Architectural Photos at Night


digital photography at night5
digital photography at night5