sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bracketing, Night photography

Digital & Low Light Photos (using bracketing technique) Use the instructions given on the next pages to several different types of subject matter in such a way that you capture 5 bracketed* sets of high quality night photo &/or other interesting low-light photos (you may photograph either outdoors – lighted bridges, houses or buildings decorated with lights, etc. - or indoors - candles, lighted miniature houses, etc.) plus a bracketed set of “special effects” photos. *Bracketing (definition) To “bracket” means take several pictures of the same scene, but for each one change either the lens or the speed, (but not both at the same time). FOR THIS UNIT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT…

1. A contact sheet that shows the set of bracketed photos 2. A PowerPoint slideshow that contains a title slide plus 12 additional slides as follows: a. A slide that contains small photo images of each of the 5 bracketed photos for the first night/low light “scene” b. A slide that contains the best image of that set. c. Repeat steps a & b for each of the other four night / low light “scenes” d. A slide that contains small photo images of each of the bracketed photos for either your “ghost” or your white outline photo e. A slide that contains your best “ghost” or white outline image.

3. (*WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR NIGHT PHOTO UNIT PROJECT SET ... remember to submit all parts of the unit at the same time for grading. )

Remember: Low Light/Night is largely educated guess work! How much time you need for a proper can vary based on , how much light is present, wind conditions, & even temperature. Some shots can take as much as 7-20 minutes! Also remember that very cold weather can cause your camera/meter to ‘lock up’&/or can cause lens to ‘fog up’ (due to condensation). SAFETY RULES: Never go out alone when you intend to photograph at night.(Always go in the company of another student in your photography class or with some other responsible adult.) Always dress appropriately. Suggested Equipment: • Camera with adjustable settings • • Small Flashlight (useful to see camera or lens when you are checking or adjusting aperture &/or ) Take one set of five photos for each of five different scenes as explained above. Directions: (To produce a good photograph with low light and/or night conditions) A. Practice these steps at home before you go to the place where you want to take your photograph(s) 1.) Set up camera and tripod 2.) Practice using your self timer setting 3.) Set ISO setting to ISO 400 4.) Set camera to Manual, shutter speed or night mode 5.) Practice using the +EV and –EV settings(o rlow-light “scene mode” settings) B. Select an appropriate place for night or low light . Set up tripod and mount the camera; make sure that camera is level with the plane of the horizon. C. Turn your camera on. D. Set camera ISO to 400 E. Turn the self-timer on. (A little clock symbol should appear.) You need to use the self-timer setting because you don’t have a cable release. The self-timer will delay the exposure a few seconds, but it will also help to keep your photos sharp. F. Make sure your is turned off. (The flash symbol should be in a circle with a diagonal line through it) G. Set the camera to either Manual mode, shutter seed mode – or if your camera doesn’t have either of these settings, choose the night landscape scene / mode (DO NOT CHOOSE NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE!!! – That setting will trigger the flash and you don’t use a flash for these night photos.) 1. If you are using manual mode –set the aperture to f/8 and leave it on that setting, choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use.(Usually digital can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. 2. If you are using the shutter speed mode – choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use.(Usually digital cameras can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. 3. If you are using the night landscape scene mode – turn your camera to that setting H. Compose your photo & Focus carefully (use manual focus settings if necessary) I. Take a set of bracketed* exposures as follows: 1 Take one picture at EV = -2 2. Take one picture at EV = -1 3. Take one picture at EV = 0 4. Take one picture at EV = +1 5. Take one picture at EV = +2

J. Pack up camera, & tripod carefully (If weather is very cold, place camera in plastic bag first to prevent condensation problems) Take Five different sets of photos as explained above – one set of five photos for each of five different scenes. For your “Night Special Effects” photo set use the instructions given in class (and on the next two pages) to take either a “ghost” photo or a light outline photo, then…

• Use Adobe Photoshop and the instructions given in class to "optimize" your image. • Save copies of your image files for PowerPoint • Create your PowerPoint slide show as instructed • Create your prints • Submit your work for grading. Making Ghost-like Images - (Digital method) NOTE: You will probably need an “assistant” to operate the lights for you while you concentrate on taking the photo. A. Set your camera on a tripod and turn your camera on. B. Set camera ISO to 400 C. Turn the self-timer on. (A little clock symbol should appear.) You need to use the self-timer setting because most digital cameras don’t offer the option to use a cable release. The self- timer will delay the exposure a few seconds, and it will also help to keep your photos sharp. D. Make sure your flash is turned off. (The flash symbol should be in a circle with a diagonal line through it) E. Set the camera to either Manual mode or shutter speed mode – or if your camera doesn’t have either of these settings, choose the night landscape scene / mode (DO NOT CHOOSE NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE!!! – That setting will trigger the flash and you don’t use a flash for these night photos.) a. If you are using manual mode –set the aperture to f/8 and leave it on that setting, choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use.(Usually digital cameras can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. b. If you are using the shutter speed mode – choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use .(Usually digital cameras can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. c. If you are using the night landscape scene mode – turn your camera to that setting

1. With the room lights on, focus on your subject (press & hold your shutter down ½-way). 2. Turn the room lights off. 3. Use a flashlight as your light source. Turn the flashlight on and, from your camera position, point it at your subject. 4. Press your shutter down the rest of the way - keep your flashlight pointed at your subject for about 4-5 seconds. 5. Turn your flashlight off and have your subject quickly move to the second “ghostly” position (take a step to one side.) 6. Turn the flashlight on again for another 4-5 seconds and then turn it off. 7. Repeat steps 5-6 one more time if you want a third “ghost” image. (Each time you turn the flashlight on you create a partial image on the media card. If you turn the flashlight on three times, you should form three “ghost” images on your print.) 8. The final stage is to create a background image. This is the tricky part because you need enough light energy to make the scene at least twice as intense (solid looking) as any of the “ghosts” but if you give the room background too much light energy the ghosts will disappear entirely. Just flipping on the room’s light switch up and down (leaving the lights on for only a fraction of a second) usually works pretty well. For outdoor scenes you might try flipping a car's headlights on & off again instead of room lights. 9. After you have added the room exposure to the ghost exposures (with the room now dark again) release the shutter button. 10. Play back your image to see if you “captured” a ghost image. 11. For best results you should bracket your exposures by repeating the steps above using slightly different times. (flashing the flashlight for 6-8 seconds instead of 4-5 seconds for each ghost image &/or quicker or slower flashes of the room’s lights.) Using a to create a Light Rim* Photo (*white line light outline) A. Turn your camera on. B. Set camera ISO to 400 C. Turn the self-timer on. (A little clock symbol should appear.) You need to use the self-timer setting because you don’t have a cable release. The self-timer will delay the exposure a few seconds, but it will also help to keep your photos sharp. D. Make sure your flash is turned off. (The flash symbol should be in a circle with a diagonal line through it) E. Set the camera to either Manual mode, shutter seed mode – or if your camera doesn’t have either of these settings, choose the night landscape scene / mode (DO NOT CHOOSE NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE!!! – That setting will trigger the flash and you don’t use a flash for these night photos.) 1. If you are using manual mode –set the aperture to f/8 and leave it on that setting, choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use.(Usually digital cameras can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. 2. If you are using the shutter speed mode – choose the slowest shutter speed your camera can use.(Usually digital cameras can be set to at least 8 seconds or longer. 8 seconds would appear as 8” If you only see 8 that means 1/8th second ---15 seconds would appear as 15” If you only see 15 that means 1/15th second, etc. 3. If you are using the night landscape scene mode – turn your camera to that setting

F. Attach your camera to a steady tripod 1. With the room lights on, focus on your subject ( shutter down ½ way) 2. Turn the room lights off. 3. Press camera shutter button down – since your camera is set on self-timer, you will have a few seconds before the exposure actually begins. 4. Walk behind your subject, face the flashlight toward the and turn it on. 5. Move the flashlight at a slow, steady rate along the outline edge of your subject (as though you were tracing the outline of your subject using a flashlight instead of a pencil). 6. When you have traced then entire outline, turn your flashlight off. 7. Play back the image to make sure that your settings are working correctly and to see if you are moving your flashlight quickly enough to record the entire image. 8. Repeat steps 1-7 again, but this time move the flashlight more quickly along the edge of your subject. 9. Repeat steps 6 – 12 again, but this time move the flashlight as slowly as you can along the edge of your subject.