Long Exposures critique?

yourthemannowdog · 2010-07-04 02:42:43

I decided tonight to try some long exposures, i wanted to do some super long exposures and get the effect of star trails, but i wasn't in the right setting and didn't have anything to to take a 30 minute exposures. I am looking for tips to help my photos look sharper, [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4759135965_517ba1b00d_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4759135547_3236d4fb3c_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4759134963_10e985a013_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4759134557_e745193ab1_b.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4759134095_781e968c96_b.jpg[/IMG]

yourthemannowdog

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btw none of these are hdrs, despite how they might appear

Jul 4 2010 2:45AM

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cobra_commander

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use a fucking tripod

Jul 4 2010 2:46AM

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yourthemannowdog

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yeah holding a camera perfectly still for 30 seconds is really hard

Jul 4 2010 2:57AM

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jibbinc.

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props if you actully took these without a tripod.

Jul 4 2010 3:14AM

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yourthemannowdog

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meter, you might wanna check it

The reason why it is shaky is because i was shooting for 30 seconds and 15 seconds, i took them without a cable. The initial pushing of the shutter release button shook the camera. I never touched the camera until i heard the mirror flip down. Next time i will use a 2 second timer on my camera to remove as much camera shake as possible

Jul 4 2010 3:31AM

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cobra_commander

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other things that you could do to get a sharper image:
spend $2k on each lens
spend $200 on a tripod.
close off your lens
lower ISO
FOCUS

Jul 4 2010 3:46AM

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yourthemannowdog

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iso was at its lowest without going into lo settings. The lo settings lower the pictures quality, i also don't have 200 to spend on a tripod, let alone at 2k lens.

Jul 4 2010 2:15PM

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.jr

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and you mean what by this?

Jul 4 2010 5:56PM

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MAC.D

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the "bulb" setting in which the camera's shutter stays open for as long as the shutter release is held down, or a cable locks it off.

Jul 4 2010 6:46PM

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yourthemannowdog

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you see star trails at 8 minutes, i will try and get some better ones tonight.

Jul 4 2010 8:10PM

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cobra_commander

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low ISO is 50, 100, and kinda 200. This will give you less noise. High ISO settings will result in a 'lower quality' higher noise photo.

mow some lawns. save up, go a few days on rice and eggs. The money can be found.

Jul 5 2010 12:40AM

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cobra_commander

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higher aperture. At low aperture the lens is 'open' allowing the most light to come in. At high apertures the lens is 'closed off' allowing less light to come in.

Jul 5 2010 12:42AM

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cobra_commander

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remotes. This limit is placed on cameras because the actual motion of clicking the shutter will give you motion blur. A remote solves this problem.

Jul 5 2010 12:43AM

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.jr

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Im not sure Id recommend that. I wouldnt stop down past f/11. He obviously doesnt have pro glass, and he'll start to get defraction stopped down any lower.

Jul 5 2010 12:47AM

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yourthemannowdog

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i realized that, i put it to f/22 for 10 minutes to night with fireworks in the background, there was so much noise. I can always lower the ev compensation to -5. I am using a dx format camera and decent glass. It was a cheap lense but its max apperture is f/1.8g. Nugget the bulb is after the 30 seconds interval you will get bulb. My camera can hold the mirror for 30 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to render my photo. It is a pain in the ass. It is different for every camera

Jul 5 2010 1:04AM

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Aaaron.

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higher f stop...

and put the 3 second timer on

that way you can push down and not worry about picking up any camera wobble in your exposure..

Jul 5 2010 1:04AM

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.jr

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If you are using a Nikon take Long NR off, that will fix the shoot for 30 wait for 30. You are doing it all wrong if there is any noise in your long exposure shots.

Stop messing with the EV comp, low ISO, 100 is fine, around f/11, and you should get a decently timed shot. Go get a semi decent tripod, hell a $30 would work.

Also, I dont believe for one second that you pressing the shutter button affects a 30 minute exposure in the slightest.

Jul 5 2010 1:09AM

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yourthemannowdog

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but for bulb when you hold the shutter for 10 minuts it will be noisy

Jul 5 2010 1:13AM

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mmallender.

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mythreads

Jul 5 2010 1:45AM

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.jr

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No. Start listening a bit more.

Jul 5 2010 8:49AM

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squibble

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if you have a canon rebel

im going to be making one of these this week, you should make one too... its a wired remote control thats really easy to make

Remote control For Canon EOS Elan IIE / EOS 50E

Jul 5 2010 12:20PM

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207

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If you don't have a TON of money, go to walmart and get a cheap ass tripod for like $30. Then get the remote for the camera so that you don't have to press the shutter release button therefore reducing the 1 second shake you'd get even with it on a tripod.

Jul 5 2010 12:49PM

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1080ski

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I'd check your facts, Despite. I did some searching and long exposure shots @ a given ISO will likely be noisier than shorter exposures at that ISO due to random noise produced by individual pixels on the sensor. Check this link and look at the replies for more info: http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=43036

In that link there are also ways that you can get around this, but I would probably just use a noise reduction plugin in photoshop. Other methods require using in camera NR or taking multiple exposures, which is often not possible. Also, try to nail the exposure in the camera because brightening a shot in photoshop will also bring more noise into the shot. This is especially true for brightening shadows, which in a long exposure shot, may be a big issue.

Jul 5 2010 1:26PM

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no_steeze

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@th1337

ISO 100
f/8 or 9
bulb shutter setting
tripod
remote release
focused to infinity if you're doing a landscape, otherwise shine a flashlight on the subject in order to focus

this one was a 6 minute exposure from last night and it got those star trails, so if you want big ones you need to do like 10-30 minutes

click

Jul 5 2010 1:31PM

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.jr

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More than aware of what it can on rare, do to INDIVIDUAL pixels, but as a whole, a lower ISO will give you less grain. I am also well aware of what stupid long exposures can do to shots.

Just because of the rare exception, doesnt mean you should go shoot your long exposures at ISO 3200. At best, highest I would even slightly consider would be 400, but I wouldn't go past 200.

Im not sure why you're calling me out for such rarities.

Jul 5 2010 10:57PM

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1080ski

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Im not calling you out, but if the kid's camera gives him noise for his 10 minute exposure at a low ISO, this is probably why. Just pointing out the possibilities.

Jul 5 2010 11:15PM

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.jr

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I dont see any noise in his pictures, the only thing I see are misfocused, bumped, awb, shittly compressed shots. (lol sorry OP, truth)

I think what he may be calling noise, could be any of those ^ issues.

Jul 5 2010 11:27PM

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MAC.D

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I don't see any noise either.

Jul 5 2010 11:30PM

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.jr

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You need to go find that light source thats behind you and go kick the shit out of it. Get rid of that nasty yellow foreground!

Good shot none the less. Whatever lake that is you should be stoked about it, I remember I liked your last shot similar to that.

Jul 5 2010 11:45PM

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cobra_commander

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post less, read more.

Jul 5 2010 11:52PM

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Aaaron.

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psalms chapter ten, verse 19: the more talk, the less truth. the wise measure their words.

Jul 6 2010 11:35AM

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no_steeze

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@th1337

fucking tiki torch thingy, wasn't our house though, they just let us watch the fireworks, and they wouldn't let me blow the thing out

i was tempted to throw the whole thing in the water

Jul 6 2010 3:46PM

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yourthemannowdog

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Sorry about that, i read it all again and i realize my mistake, I have been a drunken and stoned asshole for the past week, i have pissed off a lot of people. sorry for being that asshole who always thinks he is right

Jul 7 2010 1:25PM

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assface

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buy this: you can do ay exposure from 1 second to 99 hours and you can also do timelapses.

http://www.linkdelight.com/vmchk/LCD-Timer-Remote/LCD-Timer-Remote-AP-TR1C-for-Canon-EOS-500D-450D-400D/Detailed-product-flyer.html

i ordered from the site, its legit

Jul 8 2010 1:40AM

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yourthemannowdog

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i was thinking about buying one, there are intervalometers for my d90 for $40

Jul 8 2010 4:02PM

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assface

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get one. they are soo fun for road trips. i havent tried out any real long exposures though cause i live in ak and we have light 23 hours per day

Jul 9 2010 12:58AM

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yourthemannowdog

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i Have new long exposures of a different sort, I recently ordered a 0.9 ND filter. I took these yesterday
[IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4862542130_31ebac9fb6_b.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4861922923_b8fe95376f_b.jpg[IMG]
[IMGhttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4861923551_cbe8108e1d_b.jpg[/IMG]