xmas neighbourhood watch

Skip wrote:
> "karburator" <gljiiva.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque xmas
>> decorations...
>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
>> really see the lights - which is the point
>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far away...
>> im stuck.
>>
>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
>> the dark...
>>
>> thnx:)
>>
> A long exposure is the only way...

......with the camera on a tripod.
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

"Michael Johnson" <cds DeleteThis @erols.com> wrote in message
news:_OudnavSouJNDBXYnZ2dnUVZ_vbinZ2d@giganews.com...
> Skip wrote:
>> "karburator" <gljiiva DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque xmas
>>> decorations...
>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
>>> really see the lights - which is the point
>>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
>>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far away...
>>> im stuck.
>>>
>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
>>> the dark...
>>>
>>> thnx:)
>>>
>> A long exposure is the only way...
>
> .....with the camera on a tripod.

That's a given...

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

Skip wrote:
> "Michael Johnson" <cds RemoveThis @erols.com> wrote in message
> news:_OudnavSouJNDBXYnZ2dnUVZ_vbinZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Skip wrote:
>>> "karburator" <gljiiva RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque xmas
>>>> decorations...
>>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
>>>> really see the lights - which is the point
>>>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
>>>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far away...
>>>> im stuck.
>>>>
>>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
>>>> the dark...
>>>>
>>>> thnx:)
>>>>
>>> A long exposure is the only way...
>> .....with the camera on a tripod.
>
> That's a given...

I agree but sometimes it is good practice to state the obvious.
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

"Michael Johnson" <cds.TakeThisOut@erols.com> wrote in message
news:GZKdnV6jw9DwAhXYnZ2dnUVZ_qzinZ2d@giganews.com...
> Skip wrote:
>> "Michael Johnson" <cds.TakeThisOut@erols.com> wrote in message
>> news:_OudnavSouJNDBXYnZ2dnUVZ_vbinZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> Skip wrote:
>>>> "karburator" <gljiiva.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque xmas
>>>>> decorations...
>>>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
>>>>> really see the lights - which is the point
>>>>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
>>>>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far away...
>>>>> im stuck.
>>>>>
>>>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
>>>>> the dark...
>>>>>
>>>>> thnx:)
>>>>>
>>>> A long exposure is the only way...
>>> .....with the camera on a tripod.
>>
>> That's a given...
>
> I agree but sometimes it is good practice to state the obvious.

Yup, then you don't get the follow up post, "all my Christmas light pics are
blurry..." <Grin>

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

So far, even with a good digital camera, I've had better luck with film
cameras under the same conditions.
1. Fast film, fast lens, with more latitude than the usual digital sensor.
2. Autofocus is often confused by the conditions.
3. Manual focus is somewhat of a problem on many digital cameras, due to the
low light level and the methods used to display the image on the usual lcd
screen.
4. I can hand hold a film camera and expect good results. For equivilent
results, I end up using a tripod with the digital cameras.
(Oly OM-2 vs C8080)

"Skip" <shadowcatcher.DeleteThis@cox.net> wrote in message
news:3nbih.29341$B42.18296@newsfe12.phx...
>
> "Michael Johnson" <cds.DeleteThis@erols.com> wrote in message
> news:GZKdnV6jw9DwAhXYnZ2dnUVZ_qzinZ2d@giganews.com...
> > Skip wrote:
> >> "Michael Johnson" <cds.DeleteThis@erols.com> wrote in message
> >> news:_OudnavSouJNDBXYnZ2dnUVZ_vbinZ2d@giganews.com...
> >>> Skip wrote:
> >>>> "karburator" <gljiiva.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >>>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >>>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque
xmas
> >>>>> decorations...
> >>>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
> >>>>> really see the lights - which is the point
> >>>>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
> >>>>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far
away...
> >>>>> im stuck.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
> >>>>> the dark...
> >>>>>
> >>>>> thnx:)
> >>>>>
> >>>> A long exposure is the only way...
> >>> .....with the camera on a tripod.
> >>
> >> That's a given...
> >
> > I agree but sometimes it is good practice to state the obvious.
>
> Yup, then you don't get the follow up post, "all my Christmas light pics
are
> blurry..." <Grin>
>
> --
> Skip Middleton
> www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
> www.pbase.com/skipm
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

Chuck wrote:
> So far, even with a good digital camera, I've had better luck with
> film cameras under the same conditions.
> 1. Fast film, fast lens, with more latitude than the usual digital
> sensor.
> 2. Autofocus is often confused by the conditions.
> 3. Manual focus is somewhat of a problem on many digital cameras,
> due
> to the low light level and the methods used to display the image on
> the usual lcd screen.
> 4. I can hand hold a film camera and expect good results. For
> equivilent results, I end up using a tripod with the digital
> cameras.
> (Oly OM-2 vs C8080)
>

Worked for me (digital)
http://www.fototime.com/inv/F6C5EAFF157958F

--
Frank ess
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

"Chuck" <Chuckk2nospam DeleteThis @cox.net> wrote in message
news:lzeih.9394$RR4.3397@newsfe22.lga...
> So far, even with a good digital camera, I've had better luck with film
> cameras under the same conditions.
> 1. Fast film, fast lens, with more latitude than the usual digital sensor.

Actually, comparing similarly sized sensors, digital has marginally better
dynamic range. High ISO, fast lens, film or digital.

> 2. Autofocus is often confused by the conditions.

Not just a digital issue, the same with any AF camera.

> 3. Manual focus is somewhat of a problem on many digital cameras, due to
> the
> low light level and the methods used to display the image on the usual lcd
> screen.

Use a DSLR, and have a real viewfinder.

> 4. I can hand hold a film camera and expect good results. For equivilent
> results, I end up using a tripod with the digital cameras.
> (Oly OM-2 vs C8080)

See, you're comparing an SLR with what is essentially a point and shoot.
Compare your OM-2 with an E-500, and it would be different. The only one
that may remain is #3, since manual focus is difficult with any AF camera,
not just digital point and shoots.

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:39:30 -0500, Chuck wrote:

> So far, even with a good digital camera, I've had better luck with film
> cameras under the same conditions.
> 1. Fast film, fast lens, with more latitude than the usual digital
> sensor. 2. Autofocus is often confused by the conditions. 3. Manual
> focus is somewhat of a problem on many digital cameras, due to the low
> light level and the methods used to display the image on the usual lcd
> screen.
> 4. I can hand hold a film camera and expect good results. For equivilent
> results, I end up using a tripod with the digital cameras. (Oly OM-2 vs
> C8080)

Uh, I hate to break this to you but you're not comparing film and digital,
you're comparing a decent SLR with a so so point-and-shoot.


> "Skip" <shadowcatcher.DeleteThis@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:3nbih.29341$B42.18296@newsfe12.phx...
>>
>> "Michael Johnson" <cds.DeleteThis@erols.com> wrote in message
>> news:GZKdnV6jw9DwAhXYnZ2dnUVZ_qzinZ2d@giganews.com...
>> > Skip wrote:
>> >> "Michael Johnson" <cds.DeleteThis@erols.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:_OudnavSouJNDBXYnZ2dnUVZ_vbinZ2d@giganews.com...
>> >>> Skip wrote:
>> >>>> "karburator" <gljiiva.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> >>>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> >>>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque
> xmas
>> >>>>> decorations...
>> >>>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u
>> >>>>> cant really see the lights - which is the point if i don't use
>> >>>>> flash, it just looks... dim. i tried "using" street lights, even
>> >>>>> worse... nearby, from far
> away...
>> >>>>> im stuck.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing
>> >>>>> in the dark...
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> thnx:)
>> >>>>>
>> >>>> A long exposure is the only way...
>> >>> .....with the camera on a tripod.
>> >>
>> >> That's a given...
>> >
>> > I agree but sometimes it is good practice to state the obvious.
>>
>> Yup, then you don't get the follow up post, "all my Christmas light
>> pics
> are
>> blurry..." <Grin>
>>
>> --
>> Skip Middleton
>> www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
>> www.pbase.com/skipm
>>
>>

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

Michael Johnson wrote:
> Skip wrote:
>> "karburator" <gljiiva.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque
>>> xmas decorations...
>>> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
>>> really see the lights - which is the point
>>> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
>>> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far
>>> away... im stuck.
>>>
>>> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
>>> the dark...
>>>
>>> thnx:)
>>>
>> A long exposure is the only way...
>
> .....with the camera on a tripod.

I might add that the best, well some of the best most interesting shoots
are taken after (or during) a rain. The wet streets reflecting the lights
adds a lot of interest.

Play with the exposure. Depending on the camera you may be able to play
with the flash, although usually without the flash is best. If you want to
see something other than just the lights, consider taking photos at dusk.
Experiment to find just the right time.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch 

"karburator" <gljiiva RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166576981.640111.113800@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> im trying to take a picture of some of my neighbour's pittoresque xmas
> decorations...
> but its hard. if i use flash, it just looks like daylight and u cant
> really see the lights - which is the point
> if i don't use flash, it just looks... dim.
> i tried "using" street lights, even worse... nearby, from far away...
> im stuck.
>
> how can i make a good photo of windows and doors that are glowing in
> the dark...

If you don't have a tripod wait until just before dusk, when it's still
fairly light out, and have them turn the lights on. Take a test exposure
when it is still fairly light outside, and do one every 5 minutes or so
until you get just the right balance of house detail and lights. With luck,
the lights will still retain some color, instead of becoming completely
white. Manual exposure, or an exposure compensation adjustment is helpful
here, since you will be making what the camera will normally consider to be
an underexposed image.

The second method requires a tripod. Make two exposures. One for the house
and surroundings, and another one for the lights. Then combine them in an
image editing program. This method is capable of the best results.

In general, flash is out of the question for subject matter like this, since
as you say the lights simply disappear. Clever use of an off camera flash,
perhaps a slave flash, with colored gels, is an advanced technique that can
be used to dress up a shot, particularly if there are areas of snow or lawn.
It's also possible, using a program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, to
simulate colored lights by combining several exposures, with different
lighting, and adding color to each exposure, and then combining them. So,
for example, you could have an assistant trip the shutter while you hold the
slave flash in different locations. There are details that I'm not
mentioning here, but the technique can be very effective.
--
Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com/forum/
 >> Stay informed about: xmas neighbourhood watch