Christmas Lights

gerrard8

gerrard8

Messages
412
Name
Frank is what most call me
Edit My Images
Yes
Hello all, i'm new here so please be gentle with me as this is only my second post:)

I have liked taking photos for ages but never really got to into the ins and outs of things so my olympus 570 was always on automatic.About 18 months ago i had a stroke which kind of left me reflecting on things for the following 6 months or so and while doing this i bought myself a dslr with the intent on pursuing photography as a hobby....now i'm 80%+ back to normal i have started a photography course NCFE Level 1 (3 weeks in) where we have touched on aperture mode and shutter mode and this is where i need some help/advice.

Tonight it is my local towns switch on for the xmas lights and after everybody has gone and the streets are empty i want to take some pictures but thus far on the course we have not discussed taking photos at night.

What i would like help with is the camera set up for taking photos at night other than leaving it on automatic.

My set up so far is as follows:-

Sony a300

18-55mm kit lens

Tamron 70-300mm

Tamron 90mm macro (thanks to mcneep)

Sony 50mm f1.8 SAM (thanks again to mcneep)

I have no flash as of yet.


By the way my name is spencer though the world and his dog call me frank (remember some mothers from the 70's:)) and my board name hopefully speaks for itself.
Thanks in advance for any help or tips.
 
Welcome aboard the TP ship. Glad to hear you are recovering well. Shame about supporting liverpool but no one is perfect :) (what was that score again last night??? ;) )

With the light photography, a tripod is essential as the exposures will be seconds, and a remote release or the self timer function is also key.

but get out there, experiment with the camera, see what shutter speeds works and most of all HAVE FUN!!!
 
i had the a300, cracking camera

nice system you have there

don't suppose you fancy adding another to the collection ;-)
my choice of weapon was tamron 28-75 f2.8 ;-)
 
Hello!

Here's my ideas, although I'm a learner myself! If you're experimenting with Aperture and Shutter mode, I would try both and see how you get on. Keep an eye on what the camera is doing to your ISO, Aperture and shutter speed as you take your shots, and then have a play in manual mode if you have some time?

- You would need a tripod.
- Use a 2 second self timer (as suggested by Dave), as this prevents you from knocking the camera as you press the shutter button, causing shake/blur in your image.
- I would keep the ISO low as you're using a tripod.
- Try different F numbers to see what effects you can get. You should get nice star shapes on points of light at higher F numbers.

Have fun! Watch out for any scallies hanging around afterwards :(
 
Hi Dave, Did what we had to do on the night but earlier mistakes cost us dear so i guess we will just have to settle for the europa cup;).

I would love to add another lens or two but i just spent my spare cash on the sony/tammy lenses, as i dont think i want to be in the doghouse this christmas as i'm sure my wife would remind me that you cant stuff and roast a lens for christmas dinner...i also still like my sprouts if you know what i mean:eek:.
 
Would any of the lenses be ok or would the 50mm 1.8 be the best bet?
 
gerrard8 said:
Would any of the lenses be ok or would the 50mm 1.8 be the best bet?
Click to expand...

People might shoot me for this, but Ive often gone back to using the kits lens for scenery shots. Doesnt fail me.
 
I used to think "dark = F1.8 required" but if you are shooting a still scene with a tripod, you don't need a big aperture. I'd use any lens based on the focal length required, and the quality of the lens. Try them out, experiment :)
 
Thanks for the welcome and the input from you all, it looks as though my plan of acton will be to watch the switch on and look for the potential shots and go back when everyone has gone home and experiment till the wee hours:)

Camera flash switched off?
 
No need for flash, unless you're trying to light something in particular in the foreground?

A nice long shutter, with no flash will soak up the light from the illuminations.
 
gerrard8 said:
Hello all, i'm new here so please be gentle with me as this is only my second post:)

I have liked taking photos for ages but never really got to into the ins and outs of things so my olympus 570 was always on automatic.About 18 months ago i had a stroke which kind of left me reflecting on things for the following 6 months or so and while doing this i bought myself a dslr with the intent on pursuing photography as a hobby....now i'm 80%+ back to normal i have started a photography course NCFE Level 1 (3 weeks in) where we have touched on aperture mode and shutter mode and this is where i need some help/advice.

Tonight it is my local towns switch on for the xmas lights and after everybody has gone and the streets are empty i want to take some pictures but thus far on the course we have not discussed taking photos at night.

What i would like help with is the camera set up for taking photos at night other than leaving it on automatic.

My set up so far is as follows:-

Sony a300

18-55mm kit lens

Tamron 70-300mm

Tamron 90mm macro (thanks to mcneep)

Sony 50mm f1.8 SAM (thanks again to mcneep)

I have no flash as of yet.


By the way my name is spencer though the world and his dog call me frank (remember some mothers from the 70's:)) and my board name hopefully speaks for itself.
Thanks in advance for any help or tips.
Click to expand...

hi G8
welcome and peace
glad you are getting over the set back...and moving up to i think are decent cameras and starting into the technical side

for me any christmas lighting should be shot against a dusk sky with some cloud if possible so that the contrast isnt so great and the photo is filled with colour...and not all black bits which raise the contrast too much ...in my opinion
as for the exposure...since you have digital now is the time to set out on your best foot forward and experiment...do the checking up thing after each shot and just move the aperture or speed up or down one till you get it right
once you do have it ok..make a note of the iso you used and the speed and aperture....then you have the benchmark for moving into other iso's and speed aperture regimes
its all fun and not meant to be intimidating...you arent selling your shots so mistakes are winners since you learn from them and give them value

god bless
geof
 
no probs on the lens, but do check it out, as it was awesome for me

if using a tripod, remember to turn off IS on the camera
 
Hi Spencer,glad you are on the road to recovery, I cant help you mate as am new to this aswell, but welcome to TP, GOOD LUCK

Steve
 
Once again thanks for all the welcomes,help and kind words....this photography lark has fast become another love in my life so there are now three in the marriage,the wife,myself and my a300.

Hopefully she wont file for divorce citing my camera as a third party and demand 50% of my lenses:)
 
A bit late for you now but these two links may help for future reference:

linky1
linky2

They take different approaches but both seem promising. Not that I have tried them myself, and as there is nothing but rain and gales here I am not likely to!

Hope it went well tonight - and welcome to the wonderful world of photography!
 
Strobist nails it there Tracer. Makes me want to get out and try some Xmas lights now! Might have to take my camera to work with me and try for Birmingham's lights!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top