Nighttime Photography

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philpaul

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Hi
I would like to have a go at night time photography but need some basics to get going. I would like to try and achieve a scene of say a lake/tarn with star tracks in the sky etc, but well exposed. I know there will be a lot of trial and error in the exposure timings but the thing I can't get in my head is how to do the initial set up composure blind, and where do you focus to ensure a sharp image?
Is a moonlight beneficial or not?

Ta in advance

Philip
 
The first time I tried night photography I did what you're doing - I read up on all the advise beforehand - so I thought I had a fairly good idea of what I was doing ... It didn't seem too hard.

I sucked ... Big time.

My advise is to get out there and take some pics, accept the fact that they're not gonna be great, but then take the time to sit and think about why not, and think how you could improve em. I personally found that a much better way to learn about getting the right exposure etc.

Btw, I still suck (just not as much as I used to), probably because I don't do this type of photography regularly enough.

W
 
Thanks for the replies. That is a very good link, which has told me what I thought, that the focus was set to infinity on the scale. I have no scale on the 18-105 lens, so I will just try out in the back garden, set up before dark and have a go to get a feel for what is happening.

Many thanks

Philip
 
When focusing to infinity on a lens without barrel markings remember that it's not at the very end of the focus but a little in front, turn the focus ring till it stops then drop it back a few mm
 
philpaul said:
that the focus was set to infinity on the scale. I have no scale on the 18-105 lens,
Click to expand...

No good, unless you are shooting stars only.

If you want the lake, etc. in focus, just shoot as you would for a landscape shot.

At 18mm, you should be able to focus on the foreground, so that everything from say 12 feet to infinity is in focus.

Try this:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
 
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