Can you share any resources which explain how to take night photography?

Question

Hey, I have a Canon T70. In a nutshell, it's my 1980's 35mm SLR Camera, with a ton of programmable features that you have with just about any SLR, such as the Aperture, ISO, Shutter speed, etc. I have a tripod to take pictures at night, and I am really excited to do so. However, I don't know how to properly take them. I tested out a roll, and took about 10 pictures, and only 1 came out =[

What are some good sites or links, or even just some advice that you could share in helping me? Thanks, I really appreciate the answers. Photography is my passion.

I do have the Canon speedlite 277T. I have avoided using the flash, and I haven't learned how to use it yet, but I will. Thanks for the tip!

Answer 1

I have successfully used the FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) Day & Night Exposure Guide for years. Use your camera in Manual Mode so you can set everything yourself.

Here is but one example, 'City Skyline In Distance':

ISO 100

f5.6 @ 15 seconds
f8 @ 30 seconds
f11 @ 60 seconds

ISO 200

f5.6 @ 8 seconds
f8 @ 115 seconds
f11 @ 30 seconds

EDIT: Read my answer, DigiDoc and you'll see its not a guessing game. Check my 2 examples at flickr.com/photos/8184104@N06

Answer 2

Night shooting is a little bit of a guessing game. If you do it regularly, it will be more of an educated guess.

Do the following in "M" Manual Mode. Use your built in camera meter to start. Shoot at whatever reading it tells you, then "bracket" some shots. To do this, keep your aperture at one f-stop, I'd recommend f5.6 or f8.0 (sometimes f11). Then move the shutter dial to the next slower speed. The scene might be very dark, and you get a reading in several seconds, of which you have to bracket accordingly. If it reads 2 seconds, then go to 4 seconds, then go to 6 seconds, etc.

All of this of course needs to be done on a tripod. I highly recommend you use a cable release to snap the shutter, or if it has a timer, use that. With such long exposures, you do not want to touch the camera if you can prevent it.

I know this blows a lot of film, but after awhile you get a better feel for it, and you won't have to bracket as much in the future, but you almost always have to bracket night shots. Use the cheapest film you can get for practicing, you might check the "expired" film bins at a camera store, you can usually pick up those cheap.

I personally like to stay with low ISO film around 100, this way your shots won't have that high film grain. It depends on what you are shooting and how you want it to look.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

you need a flash set up - if you can afford a power pack + flash heads, thats when youll be really rockin!

Also, if you get a digital SLR, you can have it converted into infrared technology, makes for some amazing night shots.

Answer 4

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sellingyourphotography/