Night Art

THORHAMMER · May 14, 2008

Just curious, any others here like to go out when its dark and shoot in alleyways, streets, industrial areas, behind stores, stuff like that.

Am I the only one !! Lol

I know there are others, but Im just wanting to start a coffee shop type thread, share ideas, equipment ideas, rules of thumb, expiriences etc...
If you are thinking about it, or you seriously shoot at night put your ideas or questions in this thread, maybe it can be a resource !

Iron sharpens Iron right.

KOrmechea · May 14, 2008

I'd certainly like to try it. Downtown Flint seems like it would be cool to shoot at night.

The only problem is it's downtown Flint... I'd feel much more comfortable with a shooting buddy (which I do not have).

Thinking about it, I could also use a decent tripod...

Where do you shoot? At what times? What do you take along with you?

spiffybeth · May 14, 2008

id really like to spend more time shooting at night, but im terrified to go out alone. I'm a young woman with a large fear of being raped or mugged (i think these are normal fears) and so i rarely venture out after the sun's down. the few times i did it, though, i really enjoyed it.

Big Bully · May 14, 2008

I would love to go night shooting, but I totally need a better camera.
Currently the only night shots I get are at sporting events. So does that even count?

dEARlEADER · May 14, 2008

I've just started doing this... it's certainly amusing...

Old churches/buildings, water reflection, vehicle blur...

it's a whole different world at night...

THORHAMMER · May 14, 2008

KOrmechea said:
I'd certainly like to try it. Downtown Flint seems like it would be cool to shoot at night.

The only problem is it's downtown Flint... I'd feel much more comfortable with a shooting buddy (which I do not have).

Thinking about it, I could also use a decent tripod...

Where do you shoot? At what times? What do you take along with you?

Wow, you have such amazing industrial stuff to shoot there in flint. Too bad its sooo violent. you should find a group of law enforcment guys that are also photo buffs and talk them into "escorting" you around.. lol

I have to say being a guy seems helps with night shooting. If your in a safe area have your boyfriend or husband go with you, you might also need their help as a witness should any weirdness happen with security or police. Maybe a meetup group or something, I'm sure 10 people in a group youd be pretty darn safe.

I vary with my times, but I never go out to shoot industrial or street before 930 or 10PM theres just too many people milling about for my taste. I sometimes go with a buddy, especially if I am going to shoot where I need a witness, dangerous, or harassment zones. (or both)

I can usually get out once or twice on the weekend provided I keep it short and sweet. I have to pick my battles, I shoot almost nothing in the daytime anymore unless its at the park with my family or a wedding.

DadeCountyAnthony · May 14, 2008

I love night shooting and have been trying to get out more since the weather is ridiculously hot during the day. I don't live in the safest place but I do take advantage when my cousin is in town on the weekends to go out at night.

I think this is a great thread to keep alive and share information.

rob91 · May 14, 2008

Yeah, night and early mornings. I take my holga out and play around with handheld bulb mode and some flash. I've come up with some pretty cool stuff.

CanadianMe · May 14, 2008

I prefer shooting at night, no matter where it is. I have been out in minus 20 at night just to try and get some shots, hot, cold nothing like shooting in the night time.

Big Bully · May 14, 2008

I like shooting the sunsetting. I love sillouettes. I guess the only reason that I don't shoot at night, is because I don't have a good enough camera.

SpunkyKid · May 14, 2008

I'd love to shoot at night, but unfortunately there isn't much time and i don't really feel safe around where I live.

THORHAMMER · May 14, 2008

Big Bully said:
I like shooting the sunsetting. I love sillouettes. I guess the only reason that I don't shoot at night, is because I don't have a good enough camera.

What camera do you have ?

craig · May 14, 2008

It has been a while, but I used to shoot a lot of night shots when I lived in NYC. I have since fallen out of it. I do have the tech down. So feel free any questions.

Love & Bass

dklod · May 14, 2008

Im a night photography buff too. My wife thinks Im crazy. Hell, I'll set the camera up in our bedroom on the tripod and shoot light trails as the cars go by trying different settings to see what works best. Im kinda lucky with location. Plenty of safe places to go at night. As they say, safety in numbers although sometimes these numbers can get in the way of a good shot, but its all fun.

I do have one question though. Sometimes on long exposures I get lights and signs blown out, mainly those coloured neon signs on buildings. How can I avoid this? Would a filter help??

THORHAMMER · May 15, 2008

Neon is insanely bright. You can shoot it when the sun JUST went down and itll look like it did to your eye @12 midnight. The ratio is too great.

If your trying to get a long exposure cityscape or building with neon and you need the whole scene to be exposed your gonna need to shoot earlier, OR bring your own lights and light up everything else in the scene to a decent level.

Or just concentrate on the neon without anything else in the photo it can be a good subject itself.

another way would be to wrap the neon in like limo style window tint that has no color cast. That would help a lot, I dont know if it gets hot or not.. lol :wink: