Nighttime picture help

[sheila]

My digital camera is a Fuji FinePix 4700zoom
We have our Christmas lights up outside and they do look rather nice.
I would like to take pictures in the dark.
Has anyone any tips on taking nighttime pictures they could share with me?

Thank you

Sheila

[davew98]

hi Sheila,

Your camera gets good reviews for night pictures. However, the lack of manual controls eliminate a lot of tweaks, such as playing with the shutter speed, exposure, etc.
The 'night scene' setting (shutter speed of up to 3 seconds), and a tripod are all you need. You can concentrate on composition and perspective.
If you have brighter objects in your foreground, you may consider turning them off until you get the exposure set on the camera for the background areas.
Camera placement is another area for experimentation. Move around 'til you find what you want your picture to say.
Happy clickin'!

Dave

[sheila]

Hello Dave.

Thank you for your tips. I will be out tomorrow evening taking some pictures.

Thank you again.

Sheila

[Dizzy313]

School of Photography (http://www.schoolofphotography.com/night/night.html) Night Photography Free Lesson.

;)

Dizzy

[sheila]

Thank you Dizzie.

Really great stuff there. I will be turning out photographs as good, if not better than Anthony Armstrong Jones in no time flat.

Cheers

Sheila

BTW I bought a pair of boots today to kill for. Light grey, soft leather. knee high, dress boots. They will be on sale next week I know it!


Sheila

[Dizzy313]

Originally posted by sheila
BTW I bought a pair of boots today to kill for. Light grey, soft leather. knee high, dress boots. They will be on sale next week I know it! Sheila Ooooooh! They sound devine. I wouldn't care if they were on sale or not....although that does make them more difficult to resist.

Cheers,
Dizzy :D

[Dizzy313]

Ummmmm......you wouldn't.....consider posting a pic of them for me, would you? :D




I think I'm torturing myself. I already know I want them.

[sheila]

I am bereft. I took them back; they were side zippered and the zipper rubbed my ankle. They were Clarke's and as I am a valued, and I do mean valued customer, they are trying to get me another pair shipped over.
Sorry for posting an off topic over here, but I am here quietly learning digital stuff.

Cheers

Sheila

[preciousaustin]

Thanks for the links..I too am trying to learn digital photography...just got a new camera....

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2/3/9/19/131/1155&pq-locale=en_US

I really like this camera, takes great pics

[preciousaustin]

Hey Sheila, how did your night time pics turn out. I tried taking some and all the lights look like their jumping...or I guess you could say fireworks.

Any ideas on how this can be controlled?

[robarro]

preciousaustin,

it sounds like you are hand holding the camera. use a tripod or place the camera on something that does not move.
also use the delay feature to trip the shutter so you do not have to touch it when it starts the exposure.

[preciousaustin]

Thanks Robarro, I will try that. I just got a small tripod for Christmas...so I will have another go around at this. Thanks for the idea. Much appreciated.

[sheila]

Originally posted by preciousaustin
Hey Sheila, how did your night time pics turn out. I tried taking some and all the lights look like their jumping...or I guess you could say fireworks.

Any ideas on how this can be controlled?

Father Christmas brought me a new tripod. Unfortunately I have a rather bad self inflicted headache today. This has scuttled my plans of taking night shots. I am drinking only Tonic water today, minus the gin, I will be out tomorrow evening and will post the results. If my good intentions last.

Cheers

Sheila

[robarro]

da%^ father christmas, he does have a record of this sort of thing.
kinda think he was here also. just thought i was too old for his gifts..

[preciousaustin]

Shelia, sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. We also have had bouts with illness in the family..My mother is suffering from the flu, I have three nephew who have had it and one has the chicken pox...this really put a damper on Christmas here.

Hope you get to feeling better and happy picture taking.

Will look forward to your pictures.