Low Light and Fireworks Photography

Quiz

For those who were here at the last tutorial….

Quiz

• Which f numbers indicate a small aperture?

• What size aperture is required for a shallow depth of field?

Quiz

• What shutter speeds are required to freeze motion?

• What is reciprocity?

Low Light and Fireworks Photography

Low Light Photography Equipment

• Camera + lens • Tripod

• Shutter Release cable (SLR)• Remote control (Digital)

• For those without shutter release cable or remote control – an on-camera self timer

Camera Exposure Modes

• Auto / Program – Not the best for low light

• Shutter Priority – Manually set shutter speed to blur or freeze movement

• Aperture priority – Good for low light photography, as allows long exposure by setting small aperture. Also used for flash photography.

• Manual – Full creative control! :)

Compact Camera Modes

• Portrait – large aperture, small DOF

• Landscape / Mountains – small aperture, large DOF, focused around infinity

• Sports – Short shutter speeds to freeze movement, probably large aperture

• Night Landscape – Long shutter speed, probably small aperture for large DOF, focused around infinity

• Night Portrait – Long shutter speed, fill-in (slow sync) flash to balance foreground exposure with background

ISO for Low Light Photography

Similar to reciprocity, ISO numbers either halve or double the sensitivity to light

i.e. 1/30s shutter speed @ 100 ISO = 1/60s shutter speed @ 200 ISO

• (ISO = 25, 50, 64 (half stop), 100, 160(half stop), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200)

• Film – Higher ISO “fast” films are more sensitive to light– “fast” films have larger grain sizes when developed,

so cannot be enlarged as big.

ISO for Low Light Photography

• Digital Cameras

– Long exposures = high “dark current” noise due to heat in the sensor– Increasing the ISO (gain) setting (allowing a shorter exposure) amplifies any

background electrical noise

Methods of digital noise reduction:

In Camera Algorithms– Some SLRs have built in noise reduction algorithms

Dark frame subtraction– Take another shot of same length exposure with lens cap + subtract in

Photoshop

Stacking – Averaging multiple images in Photoshop can increase sensitivity and reduce

noise but your camera must not move between frames.

What, no tripod?

• What shutter speeds can you hand-hold a camera at without getting a blurred image due to camera shake?

• Rule of Thumb – use a maximum shutter speed of one over the focal length of the lens.

• i.e. for a 200mm lens = 1/250s• 50mm lens = 1/60s

(Possible shutter speeds = 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1…)

What, no tripod?

• How to hold an SLR camera to minimise shake

• Brace your arms against your body for extra support

• Crouch and use legs and left arm to support camera

• Try to use fixed objects around you to brace your camera (e.g. hold camera against a lamppost, or on a railing)

Moving Object Shutter Speeds - NO Blur

• Which shutter speed to use for subjects depends on 3 factors: – How big the object appear in the frame– Which direction it is moving– How fast it is moving

Shutter Speed (secs)

Subject Moving across path Moving across path Head On

Fills whole frame Fills half frame

Person Walking 1/125 sec 1/60 sec 1/60 sec

Person Jogging 1/250 sec 1/125 sec 1/60 sec

Person Sprinting 1/500 sec 1/250 sec 1/125 sec

Cyclist 1/500 sec 1/250 sec 1/125 sec

Horse Trotting 1/250 sec 1/125 sec 1/60 sec

Horse Galloping 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec 1/250 sec

Diver (from a spring board) 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec 1/250 sec

Tennis Serve 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec 1/250 sec

Car at 30mph (50kph) 1/500 sec 1/250 sec 1/125 sec

Car at 70mph (110kph) 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec 1/250 sec

Formula 1 car 1/2000 sec 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec

Train 1/2000 sec 1/1000 sec 1/500 sec

Moving Object Shutter Speeds – For Blur

• Blur can be used to emphasise movement

• Amount of blur depends on speed of movement of subject and shutter speed

Shutter Speed (secs)

Subject Moderate Blur Extreme Blur

Person Walking 1/30 sec ¼ sec

Person Running 1/60 sec 1/15 sec

Horse Trotting 1/30 sec 1/8 sec

Horse Galloping 1/125 sec 1/30 sec

Car at 30mph (50kph) 1/125 sec 1/30 sec

Car at 70mph (110kph) 1/250 sec 1/60 sec

Water 1-2 secs 3 secs+

Flash Photography

• Flash creates a very bright light for a very short time

• Generally around 1/1000 second duration, capable of freezing most motion

• Because the light is such a short duration, we cannot use camera shutter speed to control exposure – we can only use the aperture.

• TTL flashes can also fire pre-flashes to enable automatic light metering through the lens

Flash Photography

• Slow Sync flash can be used to freeze an instant of motion, but also get a sense of colour and movement

• Slow sync = flash + long shutter speed

Flash Photography• Rear curtain (2nd curtain) flash makes a moving

object’s light trails appear behind them, rather than in front as with front (1st) curtain flash / slow sync.

When to take Photos• Don’t wait until its totally dark or your background will

be totally black and the picture will look dead.

• Take photos at twilight, just after dusk, when there is still colour in the sky - It is easier to get a better balanced exposure

When to take Photos

Night Exposure Guide• This is only a guide – bracket shots at least +/- 1 stop to be sure

Suggested Exposure at f/16 aperture

Film Speed 100 200 400 800

Subject

Cityscape just after sunset 4 secs 2 secs 1 sec ½ sec

Cityscape at night 20 secs 10 secs 5 secs 3 secs

Docks and bridges with reflection 30 secs 15 secs 8 secs 4 secs

Traffic trails on busy road 30 secs 15 secs 8 secs 4 secs

Floodlit Building 4 secs 2 secs 1 sec ½ sec

Floodlit castles, churches at dusk 15 secs 8 secs 4 secs 2 secs

Floodlit castles, churches at night 30 secs 15 secs 8 secs 4 secs

Floodlit statues and fountains 8 secs 4 secs 2 secs 1 sec

Neon Sign 2 secs 1 secs ½ sec ¼ sec

Illuminated shop window 2 secs 1 secs ½ sec ¼ sec

Outdoor Illuminations 20 secs 10 secs 5 secs 3 secs

Fairground Rides 15 secs 8 secs 4 sec 2 secs

Bonfire Flames 2 secs 1 secs ½ sec ¼ sec

Aerial Firework Display 2-60 secs 2-30 secs 2-15 secs 2-8 secs

Landscape lit by moonlight 30 mins 15 mins 8 mins 2 mins

Landscape at twilight 1 min 30 sec 15 secs 8 secs

Domestic Interior (tungsten) 8 secs 4 secs 2 secs 1 sec

Bracketing• If you want to make sure you get a perfectly exposed shot, take

multiple photos and vary the exposure

• Take an image at the metered exposure, followed by exposures over and under the metered exposure.

• Underexposure is most likely with low light photography, as

• E.g. bracket in +/- 1/3 stop (EV) or +/- ½ stop if you are reasonably sure of a correct exposure

• Bracket +/- 1 stop if you are guessing exposure!

• Film: Different films have different exposure latitudes (ranges) where a good exposure can be recorded: Black and White : around 6 stops (+/-3),

Traffic Trails

• Long exposure, large depth of field

Light Explosion

• Light Explosion / Motion blur With an SLR – zoom the lens during a long exposure

Out of Focus

• Bright, colourful pinpoint light sources work best (try illuminations?)

Painting with Light

• Use a small torch or sparkler to “draw” on images.

• A short burst of flash can also be used to illuminate objects / people if you draw around them

Funfairs

Funfairs

• Use different shutter speeds for varying effects

• Beware that bright lights against dark backgrounds can fool camera light meters into underexposing the image.

• Bracket above the metered exposure…

Fireworks

Fireworks• Concentrate on aerial rocket displays for best

result

• Best view is further back, behind the crowds. Elevated position good if you can find one.

• Try to fill the frame as much as possible

Fireworks

• Set small aperture, e.g. f/16• Use a wide angle (28-35mm) to capture the whole of the

display• Use a telephoto (50mm+) to fill the frame with firework

explosions

• Using the Bulb setting, open the shutter for 2-60 seconds - hopefully to capture multiple fireworks

• Can open the shutter for longer if you block the light with your hand or a black card between fireworks – longer gives a much more impressive picture

Night Photography Tips

• Get there early, for sunset so you have time to set up

• Use a tripod at all times so you don’t have to worry about camera shake

• Bracket exposures to record at least one good image

• Experiment – Digital is good for this!

• Don’t limit yourself to urban/street photography – landscapes and coastal shots can be good too

Blackpool

Blackpool

• Coach leaves around 1pm (13:00) from the University Underpass – meet at 12:50

• Coach will depart Blackpool around 9pm (21:00)• We will tell you a meeting point when we arrive• We will also provide you with a map.

• Don’t be late!

Things to take

• Warm clothing – essential in November!• Waterproofs – Showers have been forecast• Money (for food / shopping / Pleasure Beach)

• Camera• Tripod (if you have one)• Shutter Release / Remote Control• Film (slow and fast) / Memory cards

(Downloading images to a laptop maybe a possibility if your card fills up while we are there)

• Small Torch

Things to look out for in Blackpool

• Tower

• Piers

• People

Things to look out for in Blackpool

• Sculptures – down the sea front promenade

Things to look out for in Blackpool

• Pleasure Beach – illuminated at night

Things to look out for in Blackpool

• Illuminations – from around 6pm

Things to look out for in Blackpool

• Fireworks at the Pleasure Beach on Saturday • Starting around 7:30-8pm

Positioning for Fireworks

• Sunset will be around 16:35 on the 5th November• Tide Predictions for 5th

– High Water around noon, and midnight– Low Water around 6pm– Should be able to walk out on the sands if you want more

distance between yourself and the fireworks.

– But don’t expect a reflectionlike this photo unless youhave a boat ;)

For those not going to Blackpool…

• Fireworks at Lancaster Castle, Saturday 5th Nov• Starts around 8pm• Good view of rockets from near the Millennium Bridge