Feeling inspired but held back by the lack of daylight? We’ve got the ultimate fix for you! Follow our tips to become a creative creature of the night!
A IS FOR ASTRO-PHOTOGRAPHY If there’s one thing that makes us humans feel small, it’s the stellar display arcing above our heads on a dark, clear night. Atmospheric conditions and proximity to towns and cities affect how many stars we can see, but if you can see them with the naked eye, you can capture them on your camera’s sensor.
Shooting the night sky takes you into the realm of astro-photography. Although you can make a sizeable investment in highly specialised kit, capturing constellations and broad star fields requires nothing more than a SLR and a tripod.
Set a high ISO of 1,600, use a wide-angle lens set to its largest aperture, and set the exposure mode to Manual. Focus manually using Live View: to do this, zoom right in on the screen, scroll around to find a star close to the centre, and gently rotate the focusing ring until it appears at its sharpest. With the shutter speed dialled to 30 sec, take a shot. Check the sharpness on screen: if all looks good, welcome to the amazing world of astro-photography!
B is for Bulb
Night shooting requires long exposures to ensure that the faint light levels are recorded on the sensor. SLRs will take you to 30 seconds in Manual exposure mode, but there may be times when you require longer shutter speeds to record really dark scenes such as moonlit landscapes.
Using Bulb mode allows you to hold the shutter open for as long as you want, giving the light more time to register on the imaging chip. Holding down the shutter button for minutes at a time is uncomfortable and can lead to unwanted movement of the camera, so Bulb exposures are best carried out with a remote release. This allows you to press the button once to start the exposure, and once to end it, while you count off the seconds on a stopwatch.
C is for composition
Denne historien er fra April 2017-utgaven av Digital Camera World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2017-utgaven av Digital Camera World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Walter Moser on Gregory Crewdson
US photographer Gregory Crewdson is famous for his cinematic images. After a recent exhibition of his work, Steve Fairclough discovers more about his career
DJI Neo
Can this 'follow-me' drone be all things to all people without compromise?
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II
With some desirable updates, this lens aims to build on the success of the original version.
Lumix S 14-28mm F4-5.6 Macro
A modest zoom range and maximum aperture at a modest price
Ricoh GR III HDF
The 'classic' Ricoh GR III now features a Highlight Diffusion Filter
Lumix GH7
New and improved AF make this one of the best hybrids around
Scanning ahead...
With Chinese brands on the rise, Jon Devo considers the effect on the imaging industry.
Behind the lens
SERGEY GORSHKOV Wildlife photographer
CAMERA CLINIC - Master the art of modern photography
This month: Capturing the coast Let's side-step the autumnal colourful spectacular and head to the seaside
MASTER THE MAGIC OF MACRO
Shoot tiny details close-up and hone in on incredible details hidden to the naked eye. Professional photographer Dan Mold is your guide...