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General discussion

Need help with night-time photography

by taboma Mar 7, 2006 11:45AM PST

I was in Istanbul, Turkey last November. I took two photos of the Hagia Sophia that I want you to examine.
The morning photo was a good one as far as composition goes. The evening shot needs help from the forum. My camera is a Canon SD500. Hand held and on auto focus, auto exposure.
How do I get a better photo at night time?

I have asked our Mod, Joe Randolph, to post and set up a link with these two photos for me. Presently I cannot do the links for you to view.

Anyone that has the opportunity of going to Istanbul and viewing Hagia Sophia, one of the seven wonders of the world, are in for a treat.
You could spend all day there composing shots. Endless views.
Natural daylight for the most part.

Most of my photos are pretty good. However I did screw up photographing the underground Cistern in Istanbul big-time!
All the shots came out grainy. Should have taken a time study shot in place of auto. Woe is me. Really bad photos for me.

Interesting to see a professional film crew from Japan there the same time I was photographing interior shots at the Hagia Sophia.
The film crew were packing up with at least a couple of million dollars worth of equipment and a crew of two dozen. Probably for National Geographic or something important.

There I was with my Canon SD500 that I stashed away in my front jeans pocket. Interestingly enough, my photos came out very good. No flash used. Not equal to this film crew I am sure.
I wonder what photos I could have taken with their Japanese cameras?

National Geographic, watch for my photos! HA!! :

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Links to Photos are here:
by snapshot2 Forum moderator Mar 7, 2006 11:58AM PST
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Thank you Joe Randolph for your help here on the forum
by taboma Mar 8, 2006 1:21PM PST

Joe, thanks. I have to learn photobucket.com.
I have signed up for it. Still have to learn about it.
The original file was about 4.5 Meg. Way too large.
Joe reduced it thank goodness for us to view.
Hope you enjoy the composition. The day-time shot is OK.
The night-time shot about 8:30pm needs some help from the experts concerning exposure.

Hand-held, auto focus and auto exposure with a Nikon SD500 Digital.
One great little camera I think.Fits into my front jeans pocket. Out of site, out of mind with pick-pockets if you know what I mean.
OK for a tourist shot, yet not that good for National Geographic quality.

I need some help here with shooting at night-time. Auto focus is not the way to go with this Canon SD500. Not that bad with auto. Need something better.
What's the way to go?

-kevin

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Re: Need help with night-time photography
by bidurit Mar 7, 2006 12:58PM PST

Nice pics, even the night shot is not too bad.

Generally for night photography you need:
A tripod (a must). Set the shutter speed for a longer period - my guess given the point and shooter you have, and subject, about 4'' to 6'' seconds. If the SD500 doesnt have the ability to changes shutter or ''S'' mode - set the camera up for Night exposure (usually a icon of a person with a star next to it)and it will do its own calculations.

Set the exposure reading for the brightest point - usually the subject you want to emphasize - and then center meter that. Again, not sure if the SD500 has center weighted metering.

Lastly, if you want less ''grainy'' night shots, play with the ISO settings. Using a lower ISO, say ISO 50 to ISO 100 would be great, anything higher will likely produce noise, and artifacts for night use, but remember with these lower settings you definitely need a tripod.

Enjoy,

Vik.

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Need Help with night-time photography
by taboma Mar 8, 2006 2:19PM PST

Vik, you are absolutely right about using a tri-pod. How about a mono-pod while on vacation? Anything would help.

Your help with exposure and also ISO also is a good one at night.
I took a photo while down in the Underground Cistern in Nov 27, 2006 that looked like grains of sand. Really lousy. I wish that I had the info from you back in late November. Would have helped me out.

I am not a newbee with photography. Just with my Canon SD500. Did not have a lot of time to study the manual. Who does?
I will take your info and start a new folder on my OSX10 doc folder called SD500 HELP.
Also print it out and to read from time-to-time. Check out the ISO settings and center weighted metering.
Vik, you have to start a post on that subject CWM. Over my head right now. Joe Randolph and others will know about it. i will try to catch up with you on this subject.

Vik, go to Turkey and record one of the seven wonders of the world at Hagia Sophia while in Istanbul. You will spend a full day photographing this wonder. No matter where you turn, there will be a photo to take.
Nice country. And relatively safe. Went the first time in May, 2006.
When I set up my photobucket I will post where to view my photos here with the forum. Some are really good. Not National Geographic.
One of my friends has a close-up photo of a camel in Turkey for his desk-top image. Cool. Want one also?

Vik, your info will help me, that's for sure. :

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SD500, no no no
by mrobzo Mar 7, 2006 11:00PM PST

Your not rigged for quality night shots because of your ISO limitations.
Look for cameras other than simple snapshot cameras.
The only snapshot camera that might have gotton that right is the Fuji F-10. I can think of dozens of larger cameras, but I think you want to keep it small.

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SD500, No No No
by taboma Mar 8, 2006 2:43PM PST

mrobzo, ISO I am just starting to learn about with the Canon SD500 digital. I like the mini-size to fit in the front pocket of my jeans while traveling. SMALL is good.
A better camera would be my Nikon.
Creates bulges in my jeans. Too large to slip in my front pocket and I do happen to like the small size of the Canon SD500 while on vacation.
I do not want all the other tourists looking at the bulges
in my jeans. My wife is with me also. :

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Night shots
by digital slr Mar 8, 2006 8:10AM PST
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Night Shots
by taboma Mar 8, 2006 3:00PM PST

digital slr, Thanks for the link. Wild!!! Great article and link. The penlight photo was awesome. A tripod is necessary for that stuff.
You really want to know a neat shot to take? A midnight moon-lit shot of a winter scene. How would you go about doing it with my Canon SD500?
Just push the shutter button or are there time exposure speed setting that I can set up? Really have to read my manual.

How about with your camera?
Any other ideas out there. I need help.

-Kevin

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