Or any type of lights in a night setting. I just got back from a neat Christmas display, and unfortunately, my pictures are pure crap!!! I'm also going to Times Square on New Year's Eve, which will be a lot of lights in a night setting, and I DO NOT want to make the same mistake twice!!! I took them with a digital camera of high quality, but not a DSLR ( The exact model is Canon G9). Professional or amateur advice welcome! Thank you!
2007-12-22 14:40:33 · 6 answers · asked by sheri 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
This has been answered several times this month. One more time...
First, you definitely need a tripod.
Second, your camera will need to be in Manual Mode with the flash Off.
Third, since your camera has a minimum shutter speed of 15 seconds you can use the camera's self-timer to release the shutter.
The following comes straight from my FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) Day & Night Exposure Guide, Scene # 11, Outdoor Christmas Lights:
ISO 100
f4 @ 1 sec.
f5.6 @ 2 sec.
f8 @ 4 sec.
f11 @ 8 sec.
ISO 200
f4 @ 1/2 sec.
f5.6 @ 1 sec.
f8 @ 2 sec.
f11 @ 4 sec.
ISO 400
f4 @ 1/4 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/2 sec.
f8 @ 1 sec.
f11 @ 2 sec.
Since your camera has Image Stabilization you might be able to hand-hold it using ISO 400 at f4 or f5.6. Depending on your camera's performance at higher ISO values you can try ISO 800.
f4 @ 1/8 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/4 sec.
f8 @ 1/2 sec.
f11 @ 1 sec.
IMO owning the Day & Night Exposure Guide is a good idea.
Good luck and Merry Christmas.
2007-12-22 21:33:10 · answer #1 · answered by EDWIN 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't use Zoom if you can avoid it. Set your camera on a tripod, because you will need to do exposures typically longer than 5 seconds, and any movement will cause light trails. If you don't have a tripod, try creatively setting the camera on something stable, like a car roof, hood, or your knee with your foot planted on the ground while you are sitting. Set your camera for manual. Use the exposure setting to increase the exposure. You will want greater than 1.5 sec, and use a higher f# to allow more light to enter. Take a picture at several different settings to get the light combination you like. Lower exposure time will show mainly just the lights, higher times will show the features in relief that the lights are shining on.
2016-04-10 21:29:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
See the list I have under this image on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/2111689429/
More lights would mean less exposure time or smaller aperture. I am sure that the G9 will do a bracket set for you, so you won't miss any irreplacable shots.
Or - try a center-weighted reading and just check the LCD for exposure and adjust accordingly.
2007-12-22 15:09:56 · answer #3 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The article in the link below has some suggested settings and examples of Christmas light photos.
2007-12-22 16:05:00 · answer #4 · answered by proshooter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your camera is a point and shoot digital camera unfornately if your pictures did not turn out most likely there's not much you can do. Good luck!
2007-12-22 17:52:29 · answer #5 · answered by mzsyd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if your camera has the CANDLE setting, but it works great with lights and also mirrors. The NIGHT setting is also handy.See if you find anything similar in your camera.
2007-12-22 14:50:32 · answer #6 · answered by Jami 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋