Some Night Shots - Saxperience

mattchewone · 24th March 2009, 19:39

Went out to take a few shots in the dark and get some practice and experiment really. They came out fairly good was bloody freezing though if it wasnt so cold i would of spent a bit more time testing out things and playing with the flash/settings more.

Here they are:

I would like to be able to get a picture similiar to this but am not sure how to do it really

I would like to have more of the car lit up but still have the BG dark. With this one you can see its dark and the flash is lighting it up. With the others the ambient is creeping in!
Doh, brain wave, i think maybe i am using too lower a shutter speed and need a second/third flash? Please correct me if im wrong.

A few more at - http://www.ppforums.co.uk/index.php?topic=101.0

Matt

jaybiss · 24th March 2009, 19:45

not keen on the car ones at all if im honest matt, just the lighting isn't right but its a start

the motorway shots are cool. me and kelly are going out this weekend to get some like that

mattchewone · 24th March 2009, 19:50

The 1st one i really liked the look of the background and the sky lighting. I didnt notice how much the flash showed on the boot until now when i uploaded them.

Still learning though maybe next time when its warmer ill try further away and more diffused.

Thank you i was quite impressed with the motorway ones. First time i had a go at this, so was a good first turn out i personally think. Wasnt too sure on what/how to do it so i just had a go lol.

Good luck Jay its fun!

All C&C's are very welcomed!

jaybiss · 24th March 2009, 19:56

yeah i know what you mean.

i took some photos last night where my neighbour had an accident, i had a bit of a play and pretended i was doing something useful LOL

i took the same sort of pics to your mway ones

mattchewone · 24th March 2009, 20:33

Thanks for your comments Jay! I think i need to slightly speed up the shutter and use a lower ISO as some were using 400ISO not sure why i did that.

I also think having atleast one other flash will make it slightly better. As i could have one at the side/rear and one at the front, i could then use flash stands and a wireless triggers then it would be better.

jaybiss · 24th March 2009, 20:50

yeah, the top image is at 400 the rest are at 100

just have to keep messing about and practice

i will get my piss poor effort up in a sec

Kelly · 24th March 2009, 21:02

Jay, you're forgetting that your pic was taken on a normal street and not from a higher level so it wont be as good as the ones above. We will get better pics on Friday x

rushy_23 · 24th March 2009, 21:17

Agree with Jay. The motorway ones are really cool however, not tried anything like that myself as of yet.

mattchewone · 25th March 2009, 15:27

Cant remember what aperture i used but anyone got any tips on what sort aperture setting is best?

sniperscotts · 25th March 2009, 16:26

images look good buddy
how much did your flash set you back (obv what make of camera do you have)

mattchewone · 25th March 2009, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperscotts

images look good buddy
how much did your flash set you back (obv what make of camera do you have)

Thanks, its only a little Canon 430EX and i think roughly about £130/£150 maybe.

I would love a few cheap ones as extra's though.

jaybiss · 25th March 2009, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattchewone

Cant remember what aperture i used but anyone got any tips on what sort aperture setting is best?

f8 you used

just experiment and bend the rules

Barry123 · 25th March 2009, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattchewone

Went out to take a few shots in the dark and get some practice and experiment really. They came out fairly good was bloody freezing though if it wasnt so cold i would of spent a bit more time testing out things and playing with the flash/settings more.

Here they are:

I would like to have more of the car lit up but still have the BG dark. With this one you can see its dark and the flash is lighting it up. With the others the ambient is creeping in!
Doh, brain wave, i think maybe i am using too lower a shutter speed and need a second/third flash? Please correct me if im wrong.

A few more at - http://www.ppforums.co.uk/index.php?topic=101.0

Matt

Matt the first one would have been a beauty if you'd boshed another flash on the otherside of the car.

the second one looks like a miss fire where the flashes don't fire.

if you want the car lit up more without the BG changing you DO NOT change the shutter speed (unless you're compensating with the ISO or the Aperture or both). but yes you either need to increase the flash power or the number of flashes during the exposure or increase the ISO (therefore you must shorten the shutter speed by the appropriate amount of stops to maintain desired BG exposure) and/or open the aperture further (again compensate with the shutter speed to maintain the desired BG exposure)

ads

mattchewone · 26th March 2009, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by adsayer

Matt the first one would have been a beauty if you'd boshed another flash on the otherside of the car.

the second one looks like a miss fire where the flashes don't fire.

if you want the car lit up more without the BG changing you DO NOT change the shutter speed (unless you're compensating with the ISO or the Aperture or both). but yes you either need to increase the flash power or the number of flashes during the exposure or increase the ISO (therefore you must shorten the shutter speed by the appropriate amount of stops to maintain desired BG exposure) and/or open the aperture further (again compensate with the shutter speed to maintain the desired BG exposure)

ads

Cheers Ads, I had only had one flash which is why the second one looks like it does.

What sort of shutter speed would be a good guide to use to have the BG very dark like the second image and just the car lit up?

I take it i'll need more than one flash as well.

Barry123 · 26th March 2009, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattchewone

Cheers Ads, I had only had one flash which is why the second one looks like it does.

What sort of shutter speed would be a good guide to use to have the BG very dark like the second image and just the car lit up?

I take it i'll need more than one flash as well.

If have enough flashes I'd say smack the shutter speed to 1/160 (about the limit for remote standard flash usage). But the important thing is that you check the exposure metering in your camera (or that flashy meter meter you've got), adjust your aperture and shutter speed so that the exposure metering is below (say -2 stops or something - as that's measuring the ambient).

As you're using one you're going to need to crack up the aperture so that the shutter speed is much much longer (so you might need to go to f/16 or higher - or wait until it's darker) then run around with the flash gun illuminating it around all viewable areas.

ads

mattchewone · 26th March 2009, 13:25

Cheers Ads, ill give that a bash at the weekend. I did try a long shutter but the aperture was quite fast about f/2 or around that. I'll try a slower aperture to darken the BG then.

I should also be at brands sunday too!