Bangkok Low Light Photography

Jackwow

Jackwow

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Neil
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I'm going to be in Bangkok later in the year and want to do some photography in the late afternoon / night in and around some of the bar areas. The change from daylight to night happens very quickly in that part of the world so you don't have the gradual loss of light that you do with the UK evenings.

I have an EF-S 15-85 on a 7D and am wondering whether I'll get away with that combination, using higher ISO's and the lens' 4 stop image stabilization or if I'll definitely need something faster.

Any advice appreciated.
 
IS isn't going to stop subject blur on people if your doing low light street photography if it's bar/ night club photos your after there is an awesome threat on here on nightclub photography which would be essential reading :)
Ps have a great time I'm jealous I only get a few hours stop over there on my way to aus :(
 
I'll have a look at that thread, thanks, although it will be all outdoor photography that I'll be doing, although perhaps it's similar. i.e., no natural light but lots of neon.
 
Far bar / club work you will want to use a wide angle lens, high ISO, flash (preferably external) and a long(ish) shutter. The flash will freeze the action whilst the high iso and long(ish) shutter will let in the ambient light to create atmosphere.
 
DaveKing said:
Far bar / club work you will want to use a wide angle lens, high ISO, flash (preferably external) and a long(ish) shutter. The flash will freeze the action whilst the high iso and long(ish) shutter will let in the ambient light to create atmosphere.
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You dont *HAVE* to do that. Some of us work with primes to be different. Doesnt work so well on group portraits as often you'll have someone in focus and their friend will just be a goey mush, but works great for candids.
 
Depends on what you call low light. Streets with good lighting and plenty of neon and other illuminated signs are relatively easy compared to interior clubs and other Bangkok "establishments". A lot of my night street stuff in reasonably well lit areas is still at ISO 1600, f2 or 1.7 and 1/30 to 1/20 sec. Even then it's often not good enough and I might have to try and find some sort of support to steady the camera.

You have a night time and streets where you live? Why not try it before you go and see if it works?
 
SamP said:
You dont *HAVE* to do that. Some of us work with primes to be different. Doesnt work so well on group portraits as often you'll have someone in focus and their friend will just be a goey mush, but works great for candids.
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No you don't *HAVE* to, but its the method that 99% of club photography is taken.
 
sry to go off topic.
on my last visit to china(a few months after getting my first dslr) i tryed taking street shot when it was dark mainly to get all the colours from the neon lights. but they never came out as bright and vibrant as i wanted and had seen before.

does anyone know the best way to acheve this.is alot done via PP or is it in camera.
any help would be great as i fligh back out there tmr for 6 weeks and would like to get some nice shots
 
DaveKing said:
No you don't *HAVE* to, but its the method that 99% of club photography is taken.
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Out of interest how much club work have you done? Maybe half of mine is reliant upon flash, the rest of mine is just done with thought about where the lighting is?
 
SamP said:
Out of interest how much club work have you done? Maybe half of mine is reliant upon flash, the rest of mine is just done with thought about where the lighting is?
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I quite often take my D700 with me when I'm out at pubs/clubs and I'm not at all keen on using flash as it attracts too much attention.

The shutter speeds might be slower, even at f/2.8 & iso6400, so some motion blur BUT I like the feeling of "mood" that shooting ambient light gives.
 
towershot said:
You're bl@@dy braver than me,dear camera , Bangkok at night.....:eek:
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Bangkok is actually quite safe at night, certainly waay safer than any major western city, particularly American.
 
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boliston said:
I quite often take my D700 with me when I'm out at pubs/clubs and I'm not at all keen on using flash as it attracts too much attention.

The shutter speeds might be slower, even at f/2.8 & iso6400, so some motion blur BUT I like the feeling of "mood" that shooting ambient light gives.
Click to expand...

I won't actually be taking any pics inside bars or clubs. Generally it's not allowed but I have no intention anyway.

I'm actually going to be preparing a photographic record of Bangkoks "red light" areas in daylight, as there is no guarantee that they'll all still be there in a few years, and then before partaking of a few sherbets in some of the bars I want to get some external night shots of them.

I won't have a tripod or any external flash so if my 15-85 won't be up to it would changing it for say a 17-55 f2.8 make a big difference? I know I can get faster primes but a zoom would be more suitable I think and be more useful to me generally.
 
17 - 55 is a fantastic lens for at night. Dont forget it might allow you to work at crazy long exposures handheld, it wont freeze subject motion. I'd hire a 24 1.4 if it were me?
 
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