Ric_ Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 I know that this is an odd one... not directly linked to education or IT - although I will be learning how to do it and I will be using a Canon EOS 300D. In the next month there are a couple of occasions where I will need to take some photographs in the dark. If possible I want to limit the use of flash (although I have a nice fancy Speedlight 440EX flash too) and if I can avoid using my tripod that would be good too. The lens will be a standard 18-55mm EF-S unit. I know I can crank the ISO up to 1600 and I can increase the exposure but any other tips would be good.
beeswax Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 if you're not going to use a tripod then try and lean against something to steady yourself, and stop breathing. take a breath, hold it, wait a second until you're steady, then gently press the shutter release, or better still, use the timer, using the countdown to reframe your masterpiece and draw breath. before you take the shots you need to take, have a practise and view the results, you may need to "push" the exposure a few stops to get a better image, that's if you've got time. as it's not a heavy/bulky lens, exposure times of a 30th of a second should be a cinch, conversly, because the camera's got some substance to it, that will help reduce movement.
Ric_ Posted October 8, 2006 Author Posted October 8, 2006 @beeswax: You fail to mention if I'm allowed to breath again after taking the shot Slightly unrelated, but along the lines of leaning on things... if you are using a telephoto lens without a tripod and the exposure isn't too long, you can rest the camera on a short(er) person's head to achieve some good results
GrumbleDook Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 I have always gone for Breath in Breath out slowly Deep breath in Breath out slowly and then hold breath ... Take a maximum of 2 shots Breath as normal. erm ... damn ... sorry ... that is firing small arms. I'll get my coat.
beeswax Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 as someone who worked as a photographer in the music business for almost 25 years, and had to photograph 100's of bands onstage, often in appaling conditions, I never took a breath for 17 years.
beeswax Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 "you can rest the camera on a short(er) person's head " not if the whole room's pogoing
Ric_ Posted October 8, 2006 Author Posted October 8, 2006 "you can rest the camera on a short(er) person's head " not if the whole room's pogoing Action shot
Ric_ Posted October 8, 2006 Author Posted October 8, 2006 I'm quite surprised that nobody has pointed out that taking a photo in the dark will generally produce a picture of darkness anyway. The resaon for the dark photos is 'host hunting'.
MkII Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 You dropped the 'g' Ric_! You'd need some sort of electromagnetic/ ectoplasm filter for that
SteveT Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 ....and if it works............ who you gonna call?
Joedetic Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 GrumbleDook......ROFLMAO. Similar process for high calibur sniper rifles!
pete Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 (if the camera was less expensive) IR mod and infrared light source? We did it to a few of the older digicams here so science (and we) could play about with IR photography. The filter is usually stuck directly over the ccd. edit: typo
Andrew_C Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 You may well be able to add IR without modding the camera. Never needed to try it on a stills camera, but bog standard video cameras are sesitive into the IR bands. Get hold of a few cheap IR LEDs and a power supply and experiment.
ConTheITGuy Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 I'm quite surprised that nobody has pointed out that taking a photo in the dark will generally produce a picture of darkness anyway. The resaon for the dark photos is 'host hunting'. You mean you're not making "Blackpool by night" postcards? Andy
plexer Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 The filter is usually stuck directly over the cctv. or the CCD? Ben
Ric_ Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 It is ghost hunting - as opposed to host hunting which would be more IT related @andy: I already have a few 'Blackpool by Night' photos... Illuminations time! I also have some lovely sunsets over the sea which I intend to stick online somewhere soon. Now... IR mod for a EOS 300D... could prove to be an intreresting project!
pete Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Now... IR mod for a EOS 300D... could prove to be an intreresting project! well, if you're going to open it up, you might as well go the whole hog and peltier cool it as well http://ghonis2.ho8.com/rebelmodnew.html
Ric_ Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 @pete: Looks good but I'm sure that I would break my camera. The thought that I have had is to use a HOYA R72 filter and an external IR light source to boost the amount of IR in the shot. This should be relatively cheap and easy to do.
Wizzer Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 A small bean bag filled with rice, dried peas, pea gravel or similar can be useful to support the camera the right angle on a wall, etc.. Also: to get interesting effects with flash, reduce the power to it's lowest setting, put the camera on a long exposure maybe bulb for a few seconds exposure and flash the flash repeatedly in different places in the scene. If it is dark enough and you wear dark clothes/move fast enough, you won't appear in the final photo.
Joedetic Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 The other thing to do would be using one of those mini tripods. The sort that fold up and fit in your pocket. But then you've got to find somewhere to stand it like a table or a wall etc and obviously...they're not always to hand. So you also need to take a wall with you They dont fit in your pocket though
beeswax Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 But then you've got to find somewhere to stand it like a table or a wall etc and obviously...they're not always to hand. So you also need to take a wall with you They dont fit in your pocket though BEng (Hons) Network Engineering - Staffordshire University. I can see they won't get much past you
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now