Tips on shooting night mardi gras parades...

[nola.ron]

Can anyone offer any tips of shooting a mardi gras parade at night? This is the first weekend of mardi gras and I had a blast shooting some parades during the day today. I didn't try any tonight because I didn't think I could pull it off and/or probably didn't have the gear. I saw a few others on DSLRs shooting without flash though so I wonder if I can do it with any of my combos?

Here's an example of what I would love to catch at night:
2013 Sparta Parade | NOLA.com

Gear:
D3000
18-55 non VR
55-200 non VR
50mm 1.8G

 

[Tony S]

The floats can be loaded with light, find the light and shoot tight. Mid range ISO, perhaps shooting in aperture priority mode and be ready to adjust the exposure compensation.

 

[Patriot]

Use your 50mm 1.8g and crank up the ISO until you feel that your pictures are taking a beating. If all the floats have that much light then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you auto focus doesn't work well at night then manual focus.

 

[nola.ron]

Thanks guys! Going to try this week for Muses!

 

[baneling]

i'd be very interested in seeing these pictures. can you post them?

 

[Mike_E]

Don't get so drunk that you forget where your camera (or date) is!



Or do something embarrassing on either of them.

 

[pic_chick]

I have a strong feeling you may want your long lens as the 50 may not be tight enough even if you get in the front I use my 55 and just gave up I was just to far away to get a good tight shot with it