Night Walks/Drives/Rides.

Dale.

Dale.

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Dale.
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I've stagnated a little with my photography and I need to keep my eye in, so I'm going to attempt a project I've had in mind for sometime. Now is the time to get it underway.

Basically, I'm going to be taking pictures of my home village and surrounding areas/towns, at night. All images will be taken in the focal range of between 16mm and 105mm, mostly on a crop sensor camera but maybe, full frame too. The reason for this is my R7 with a 24-105 on it is quite easy to carry about. Also, my M5 with an 18-55 on it is really light, small and even pocketable. I will also be using my 16-35f4 L. I may purchase the Canon 15-45 M (used) for this too, as it has IS and my 18-55 EF doesn't. No tripod will be used, all hand held.

Pictures will be taken mostly on my evening dog walks, or I may just go for a walk on the spur of the moment. Some may be taken whilst out on my E-bike.

The key criteria though will be that it has to be dark and also, within the mentioned focal ranges. It's going to be out of my comfort zone and I will need to push myself here, as I don't feel particularly comfortable taking pics in public.

Images won't be award winners, although I'm still going to be putting some thought into them, I may even get some keepers. It's not about that though, it's about using my cameras and getting out and about.

As always with me, comments welcome.

So, let it begin............

26/11/24 dogwalk.

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I like the pharmacy ;)
 
Hi Dale. I've recently been attending an evening photography course at Bournemouth Uni. We were tasked with homework similar to what you're doing.

Perhaps you could incorporate taking shots in the various modes; TV, AV etc. The idea being to explore the camera more. Just a thought (y)
 
LeeRatters said:
Great start :)

I do like how places can look so different at night and under much different lighting.
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thank you.


Norkie said:
I like the pharmacy ;)
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cheers.


Gary Rawlins said:
Hi Dale. I've recently been attending an evening photography course at Bournemouth Uni. We were tasked with homework similar to what you're doing.

Perhaps you could incorporate taking shots in the various modes; TV, AV etc. The idea being to explore the camera more. Just a thought (y)
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Thanks Gary. Yes, I could add that to the criteria. (y)
 
I like doing this sort of thing too, but have never made it into a project as such. Good luck, looking forward to seeing more.
 
Ed Sutton said:
I like doing this sort of thing too, but have never made it into a project as such. Good luck, looking forward to seeing more.
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Thanks Dave.

I already have an update ................ I ordered the 15-45M, it's tiny and will allow me to pocket my M5 and at £37 used, I'm not going to cry if it's a pup.
 
Topsy said:
Well done for getting back on the Horse. (y)
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Cheers Paul.

The 15-45 arrived last night, what a lovely thing it is, hopefully, the optics are nice too.
 
I understand you may well be feeling deflated, but there will be better days. :)

The image you presented *might* be better if you crop below the street lamps?
 
Boots said:
I understand you may well be feeling deflated, but there will be better days. :)

The image you presented *might* be better if you crop below the street lamps?
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Thank you Paul.

I hadn't thought about that crop, I will give it a try.
 
I did this too. I experimented with HDR, bracketed images manually. The pharmacy sure has a lot of garbage on the ground. Pharmacy's around here have perfectly clean sidewalks.
 
Not been out for a while due a nasty dose of manflu.

Anyway, my daughter and I have set nights to go a for a walk or drive. Tonight, we drove into town, parked up and went for a walk and spent some time at the train station then up to the college. This isn't my bag at all but I did actually quite enjoy it, so did my daughter.

Train station access. 12/12/24.

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One of the church yards in the town. I know the composition isn't great but I quite like this one.

12/12/24.

This is also the first proper outing with the M5 and 15-45 EF-M. I could be using my 5Div for this project but I do love the size and handling of the M5 with that lens on, it's also quite discreet. It's REALLY difficult handheld, I may change one of criteria from all being handheld to at least a monopod. I'll persevere for now though.

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ah5168 said:
Interesting project.

Is it the challenge of taking the shots handheld that you are looking for or the fact that you don't want the inconvenience of using a tripod?

If you a looking for any inspiration it's always worth looking through Gerory Crewdson's work.

Andrew HATFIELD | Architectural and Interior Photographer
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Thank you.

I think it's a bit of both. I do like a challenge and the M5 I've used so far is a joy to use and carry, I'm reluctant to encumber it with a tripod.

I'll stick with the M5 for now but my OCD will get the better of me at some point and I'll switch to the R7, as that has in body IS for stills as well as on the lens, whereas the M5 is only IS in the lens.

My 5Div would allow higher ISOs, although that said, so far with the M5 at silly ISOs, I'm quietly pleased with the noise and grain, it's there but not horrendous. A decent exposure helps that on the M5.

This is all about fun though and I am enjoying it, I wouldn't have gone into town last night and had some quality time with my daughter if it wasn't for this project and she's enjoying it too, so it's all a win win. I've never handled a camera at night either, so I'm learning there. If I get images, all good..... if I improve them over time, even better.
 
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Great pics!

Couldnt walk around town where i live at night. Let alone with a camera!
 
Dale. said:
Thank you.

I think it's a bit of both. I do like a challenge and the M5 I've used so far is a joy to use and carry, I'm reluctant to encumber it with a tripod.

I'll stick with the M5 for now but my OCD will get the better of me at some point and I'll switch to the R7, as that has in body IS for stills as well as on the lens, whereas the M5 is only IS in the lens.

My 5Div would allow higher ISOs, although that said, so far with the M5 at silly ISOs, I'm quietly pleased with the noise and grain, it's there but not horrendous. A decent exposure helps that on the M5.

This is all about fun though and I am enjoying it, I wouldn't have gone into town last night and had some quality time with my daughter if it wasn't for this project and she's enjoying it too, so it's all a win win. I've never handled a camera at night either, so I'm learning there. If I get images, all good..... if I improve them over time, even better.
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If you want to lift mood a bit with your images you could go out a bit earlier when there is some colour in the sky. It would also make the handholding a lot easier. Another thing to consider is that dynamic range is dramatically reduced at higher ISO. Your camera will go from 12 stops at base ISO to about 8 stops at ISO 1600.

I do a lot of night photography and you can see a selection here if you are interested https://www.andrewhatfield.co.uk/lightingphotography

Andrew HATFIELD | Architectural and Interior Photographer
 
ah5168 said:
If you want to lift mood a bit with your images you could go out a bit earlier when there is some colour in the sky. It would also make the handholding a lot easier. Another thing to consider is that dynamic range is dramatically reduced at higher ISO. Your camera will go from 12 stops at base ISO to about 8 stops at ISO 1600.

I do a lot of night photography and you can see a selection here if you are interested https://www.andrewhatfield.co.uk/lightingphotography

Andrew HATFIELD | Architectural and Interior Photographer
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Cheers. (y)
 
Raincloud said:
Great pics!

Couldnt walk around town where i live at night. Let alone with a camera!
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Thanks.

It has crossed my mind about that, like any other village/town, our nearby ones have their unpleasant side. I did infact become aware of 2 characters on Thursday evening that seemed to be hanging about. At one point, I'm sure they called me. I left to a busier spot, as my daughter was with me too, sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. (y)
 
Found myself at Dalgety Bay tonight with my daughter in tow, looking out over the Firth of Forth and the 3 bridges as well as the oil terminal. Whilst not quite dark it was ceratinly getting there and dropping fast. For what promised to be a dull and flat sky, I did get a bit of colour.

Little M5 again, with the 15-45 EF-M as it's so easy to carry. Handheld at 1/40 sec, f10, ISO 4000.

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So, off I went to Glasgow, met a buddy who lives there and he doubled up as my guide and wingman for the evening. Glasgow has some very nice, affluent areas but there are some real grim parts too, which we set off to find. To be honest, I wouldn't want to be alone in some of these places.

There is an alley way, unbelievably, just off the mainstreet but I can honestly say, it is one of the grimest places I have ever been.

All with 5Div and 16-35 f4L.

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Not really been out much since the Glasgow outing, it's been silly cold here at times but also, very bad underfoot, it was impossible to stand up outside on certain days, not even our dog got out properly. I've also had yet another dose of some kind of manflu but last night, I really fancied some fresh air and although it was only into the street, it was nice. It was a foggy ish one though and I liked the way the street lights were diffusing through the fog. I wasn't able to explore into the village so I just grabbed the M5 and took one of the street.

Not an award winner but keeps the thread ticking over.

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Ventured out tonight with mini Powell in tow. Ended up in Kilmarnock and something I've been meaning to look into for a while. I've walked past these many times but never really thought about any reasoning behind them but during a major refurbishment of the town centre in the 1970s, many shops were built over the top of the river known as 'Kilmarnock Water' (sometimes Marnock Water) and the statues in King Street show where the water runs under the streets. One is a swimmer and the other is a man reading the local paper.

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The entrance to one of the churches........ and the rubbish is in bags.

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St Marnock's Parish Church.

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I'm really enjoying this project, not meant to be award winners but I am begining to think about upping the game a little, although not at the expense of quality time with my daughter and also, being fun.
 
superpippo said:
An interesting set, particularly the most recent 4.
The shop shutter behind the swimmer statue helps and the way the setts circle and rise like a small wave.
The church door and steps could be anywhere in continental Europe
(y)
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Cheers Alan.

I thought the same about those steps.
 
LeeRatters said:
Nice work :) And most importantly, you are enjoying it and sticking with it.
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Cheers Lee.

It's been a little while since Mini Powell and myself did a night jaunt but last Thursday, we ventured into a nearby, small village called 'Fenwick'. What a lovely little village it is too.

I used the M5, EF-M, 15-45 and a monopod and 1/2 sec, iso 800, f5.

What a great use for a phonebox, great to see a few still around, that's 2 locally I've discovered during this project.

IMG_0496 PS JP tp.jpg
 
The night project continues, although tonight, mini Powell stayed at home so mutley rat dog accompanied me instead.

I do like photographing murals, especially at night, even if it is someone else's art, it's still a pleasing thing to do.

Anyway, I'd seen a picture of the mural that is taking shape in Darvel, depicting Alexander Fleming, who of course, discovered penicillin. It's on the site of the old Co-op buidling, which was demolished probably about 8 years or so ago now. The area has been re purposed and is called 'The Corner'.

It's good now too that even after 7 at night, there is some colour still in the sky, rather than just deep black. It's difficult though to get a decent composition as it's all cordoned off just now.

I can't wait for that scaffolding to come down.

Image is handheld this time, with my (dog, 30kg of Weimaraner) companion for the evening on her lead, I like a challenge. M5 and 15-45 EF-M.

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Between one thing and another, I had kind of forgotten about this, until last week when I was returning home on the backroads one evening. I saw a half decent sky going on so pulled in just to watch and then it dawned on me, it will soon be time for Nightwalks again.

To kick this year off, I took this, I only had the 100-400 on my R7 and hand held, so kind of limited in what I could do landscape wise.

Anyway, Nightwalks is up and running again.

Loudoun Hill at dusk.




Loudoun Hill At Dusk. by Dale, on Flickr
 
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