Chicago River, River North, Chicago
Goodman Theater, The Loop, Chicago
Thompson Center, The Loop, Chicago
Thompson Center, The Loop, Chicago
View From the Irving Park Brown Line Station, North Center, Chicago
I’ve been practicing taking some night photography in Manual mode with my aperature set at its highest setting, f8, then adjusting the shutter speed until I get a correct reading, then taking the photograph. My favorite thing about night photos with a high aperature and a long shutter speed is how lights come out star-shaped. I need to start bringing my tripod out for these photos. It’s super hard to get a sharp shot at night with a long exposure without one.
To the photographers – any advice for taking these types of photos?
Hi.
Just wanted to tell you that I think your pictures are fantastic! I’m originally from Chicago, but I am spending some time in Kansas City for work. One of the biggest things I miss is Chicago’s skyline/buildings. Your pictures are wonderful! There’s truly no place like Chicago.
The pictures look great. My Canon digital has a 2 second timer in manual mode. This is useful for when you don’t have a tripod. Set the camera on a fence or glass or something and use the short timer. It eliminates the blur due to hand shake.
Your pictures look great as always, but be careful of taking those shots from the el. I’ve heard horror stories about people getting in “trouble” or threatened with arrest by cops for bringing out their cameras at el stops.
I’m sure you’d just be asked to put your camera away, but you never know if you’re gonna run into a jerk.
Whoa, you did not use a tripod for these shots?! They look very steady and sharp. What I do with my Canon Rebel is I use the “Tv” mode, and just adjust the shutter time. I also always use a tripod for my night shots. Also, I just bought a wireless remote, which lets me take an exposure without even touching the camera. It’s very handy.
Hey Rachelle,
No Superbowl party pics?? I was looking forward to see what you cooked up for your feast? Your recipes and the accompanying pics are always great…
If you want the camera to choose the shutter speed you can use “Av” (aperture priority) to set the aperture and the camera will set the shutter speed to match. If you’re at f8 and want to increase things like ghosting change the ISO to a lower setting. So if you wanted to get the longest exposure you can you’d set it at lowest ISO (50), and smallest aperture (f8).
Shooting people at night is a good learning thing to do because it works best at full manual and every change in setting makes an obvious difference. The ideal snapshot of people at night would have them crisp and clear with the background distinct instead of completely black.
This isn’t really a good example, but it’s online, so… http://zoom.cafepress.com/5/6033805_zoom.jpg
So, the problem here is there’s basically no light except that store window, and it’s very bright. The perfect shot would be a properly exposed bunny, the storefront not blown out, and the crowd dark but completely distinct. But that just couldn’t happen with my little A70. If I exposed for the window then either the flash would have to be high or the shutter really long in order to get the bunny. If the flash was high then we’d see the window and a bright bunny and everything else black. If the shutter was too long the ghosting would be too much on the bunny and everything else (I was walking). So I had to let the window blow out and instead just try to get the right combo of flash/shutter speed for the bunny and crowd. I guess the point is any change in either of the settings would have made a different picture. And not having the perfect set up kind of forces you to really think about what will be effected by the changes you make. Make sense?
surprisingly, that does make sense. thanks for the tips.. i think i have a new photo assignment!
I hate valentines day
These photos look sharp for hand – held. When you use a tripod, also be sure to use either a shutter release cord or a remote shutter release and also do not try to steady the tripod with your hand as that will cause movement as well. Still sometimes the shutter releases so heavy that the shutter itself will cause movement. I believe a Leica has the smoothest and quietest shutter causing the least movement.