Beginner Night time photography - company

Applemuncher

Applemuncher

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Justine
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I've noticed that you're quite a social bunch and you meet up quite often and take some fantastic photos - your meet-ups seem to be really well planned and obviously quite far in advance to ensure maximum attendance.

I would really like to have a go at astro photography at a dark sky site but I know it's pointless waiting for a meet-up because you just can't plan for a clear sky. I would go on my own but, y'know, it's kind of dark and a bit scary.

I was just wondering, when you venture out in to the dark-sky, do you do it alone?
 
mickledore said:
Yes. Usually. Gets a bit lonely at times. You hear every little noise and are on edge all the time. Try spending 2 hours in a cemetery at night on your own. That is an experience.
Depends if you are happy with your own company.
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I am happy with my own company (a bit too much to be honest) - it's the company of potential 'lurkers' that bothers me. o_O
 
The lurkers are usually more in the mind than in reality. It is hard on your own. I always take a big maglite torch with me. You can guess why!
 
Dark doesn't bother me having been a milkman for a few years so used to being out in the middle of the night.
 
I've been to some pretty remote places at some funny times of the night and have never been bothered. Spent all my life fishing the southern beaches of the Isle of Wight at night and there are no shortages of ghost stories that are accosiated with those beaches.

I too tend to be ok with my own company. Since moving to Stockport I don't know any photographers local to me so it's pretty much always by myself when I am out and about.

I highly recommend heading over to north wales or Anglesey though for some good dark skies
 
RichieTee said:
I've been to some pretty remote places at some funny times of the night and have never been bothered. Spent all my life fishing the southern beaches of the Isle of Wight at night and there are no shortages of ghost stories that are accosiated with those beaches.

I too tend to be ok with my own company. Since moving to Stockport I don't know any photographers local to me so it's pretty much always by myself when I am out and about.

I highly recommend heading over to north wales or Anglesey though for some good dark skies
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They're on my list but I will have to man up a bit. :)
 
I've long had an urge to do long exposures using the lifeboat station on Hilbre Island as foreground. Shooting out into the Irish Sea will get rid of a lot of pollution. Only trouble is getting clear nights and the ides to come together.
 
mickledore said:
I've long had an urge to do long exposures using the lifeboat station on Hilbre Island as foreground. Shooting out into the Irish Sea will get rid of a lot of pollution. Only trouble is getting clear nights and the ides to come together.
Click to expand...

You could be in for a long night on there! You get a bit of light pollution from North Wales but at the moment it's the wind turbines presenting a problem- it's like Blackpool Illuminations.
 
If you get the tides right there should be no problem with timings. Walk out on and ebbing tide. Spend two hours shooting and walk back ahead of the incoming tide. Should be manageable and the light of West Kirkby lead the way across the sands. But getting a clear night with the tides at the right time is hard.
 
I've been on a TP night meet which was reasonably successful but usually go out in my own, I find that generally there is no one else around dark skies locations, if there is you can't see them and they can't see you.
 
The chances of there being an axe wielding murderer out and about where you're shooting are pretty slim, the chances of there being two are even slimmer so the solution's clear - buy an axe...
 
ivandobski said:
The chances of there being an axe wielding murderer out and about where you're shooting are pretty slim, the chances of there being two are even slimmer so the solution's clear - buy an axe...
Click to expand...

Ha ha - I have one;)
 
RichieTee said:
I've been to some pretty remote places at some funny times of the night and have never been bothered. Spent all my life fishing the southern beaches of the Isle of Wight at night and there are no shortages of ghost stories that are accosiated with those beaches.

I too tend to be ok with my own company. Since moving to Stockport I don't know any photographers local to me so it's pretty much always by myself when I am out and about.

I highly recommend heading over to north wales or Anglesey though for some good dark skies
Click to expand...

I'm in Stockport too if you ever feel like some company.
 
I go out alone. I stay by the car, I only get out what I need and if I were to see a car turn round or anything I didn't like I'd just put it back in the car. I don't shoot in cities though.
 
I regularly go out alone for night photography
so far never had any problems either in the
city or out in the sticks.

I only ever take the minimum
gear I need out with me. I also set
everything up so its ready to go so I'm
not faffing about changing lenses or
messing about with a tripod just go get the
shots and leave.

Out in the sticks you're more likely to meet
an embarrassed half naked couple up to no
good or another photographer. In the city the
worst Ive had to deal with is the occasional
random drunk!!! I do worry about getting
robbed but I reckona D300 on a tripod has a better reach than most muggers weapon of choice!!

Just keep your wits about you and don't
get so engrossed in what you're doing that
you aren't aware of what's going on around you.


No idea what the heck is going on with my
phone just seen half of this post has come
out in odd sized fonts!!! Tried to change it
and the same happened again
 
Last edited:
Gixasix said:
I regularly go out alone for night photography
so far never had any problems either in the
city or out in the sticks.

I only ever take the minimum
gear I need out with me. I also set
everything up so its ready to go so I'm
not faffing about changing lenses or
messing about with a tripod just go get the
shots and leave.

Out in the sticks you're more likely to meet
an embarrassed half naked couple up to no
good or another photographer. In the city the
worst Ive had to deal with is the occasional
random drunk!!! I do worry about getting
robbed but I reckona D300 on a tripod has a better reach than most muggers weapon of choice!!

Just keep your wits about you and don't
get so engrossed in what you're doing that
you aren't aware of what's going on around you.


No idea what the heck is going on with my
phone just seen half of this post has come
out in odd sized fonts!!! Tried to change it
and the same happened again
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you've said, I think my imagination is worse than the reality to be honest.

I thought you were just trying to be arty worth the fonts! :)
 
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