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Photography Question 

Amy Nieto
 

Using an SlR camera in the night w/o a flash.


Hello, I have a manual NIkon FM10 SLR camera (35-70mm zoom lens). I still do not own a flash, but I was wondering if I could take pictures at night withouth the use of a it? For example, if I'm in some busy bright street in Mahattan during the night, and want to take a picture of it, would I need a flash? Also, what "nightly" conditions require the use of a flash and which ones can I do without? Thank you!


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May 19, 2001

 

John A. Lind
  Amy,
Most urban "street shooting" at night is done without flash, or possibly some slight (subtle) fill flash for very close subjects. Flash heads do not have that great a range for street shooting and provide a proper exposure only at a narrow distance range. Things closer will be "blown out" and things farther will be underexposed. Street scenes tend to have more depth to them. It can also wreak havoc with color balancing as flash is daylight type light and night street scenes range from tungsten (incandescent) to fluorescent to high pressure metal vapor type lighting . . . which is not the same as daylight. Mix "daylight" illuminated objects (from your flash) with objects illuminated by other types of manmade lighting and it can be impossible to get the entire photograph color balanced. Sometimes mixed color balance works, but not that often . . . it's very tricking composing one that will.

IMO a flash in the "Manhattan" example you gave would completely change and make mages unrealistic compared to the ambience people expect from their own experiences with urban street lighting.

Here are some guidelines for night street shooting:

1. Very brightly lighted street scenes such as theater districts, Times Square, Las Vegas Strip, etc.:
-- ISO 100 --
1/125 @ f/1.4
1/60 @ f/2
1/30 @ f/2.8
-- ISO 200 --
1/250 @ f/1.4
1/125 @ f/2
1/60 @ f/2.8
1/30 @ f/4
-- ISO 400 --
1/500 @ f/1.4
1/250 @ f/2
1/125 @ f/2.8
1/60 @ f/4
1/30 @ f/5.6
-- ISO 800 --
One stop less exposure than ISO 400

2. Brightly lighted urban street scenes in business districts need one stop more exposure:
-- ISO 100 --
1/60 @ f/1.4
1/30 @ f/2
-- ISO 200 --
1/125 @ f/1.4
1/60 @ f/2
1/30 @ f/2.8
-- ISO 400 --
1/250 @ f/1.4
1/125 @ f/2
1/60 @ f/2.8
1/30 @ f/4
-- ISO 800 --
One stop less exposure than ISO 400

I recommend having a go at it with an ISO 800 negative (print) film which is more forgiving of exposure and easier to color balance in printing. If you are getting very good shutter speeds and apertures for the lens(es) you have, then you might try dropping down to an ISO 400 film.

You might think a super fast lens is the solution. It can be, but only for certain types of photographs under these conditions. Very wide apertures also have a shallow depth of field, which you may not want for many images.

The one situation I can think of where a flash could be appropriate is doing a fairly close portrait of one or two people with an urban street scene as the backdrop. The flash would be used at reduced strength as a subtle "fill" on the subjects to keep the urban background from looking like deep shadow. Similar to what one might do with outdoor portraiture in deep shade during the day.

-- John


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May 20, 2001

 

John A. Lind
  Amy,
Forgot to mention . . .

With your 35-70mm lens you can easily use 1/60th for a shutter speed without too much worry about camera shake. With some practice at using very steady holds, you should be able to use 1/30th. The only problem might be fast moving objects . . . if you want to freeze their motion.

I've used shutter speeds as low as 1/8th and 1/4th (on a tripod) without any problem shooting walking pedestrians. Shutter speeds that slow have a little blur with hands and feet, but it can also lend a feeling of motion.

-- John


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May 20, 2001

 

Amy Nieto
  Thank you very much for your answer, John! I probably won't be doing night photography anytime soon, since I'm just starting out and I'm more of day person :) I just wanted to know about that, IN CASE I need to take a photo in the night. But if I do, I'll try to make sure to at least use a high speed film.
Again, thank you!!


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May 20, 2001

 

Jeff S. Kennedy
  Amy, if you do decide to do some street shooting at night consider using a fast prime lens. A 50mm with a max aperture of f1.5 or something will give you a little extra speed for hand holding. Also remember that every picture you take doesn't have to be tack sharp. Motion blur of the subject and even blur from shaky handholding can be used for effect. High speed b&w film can make for some outstanding night time street images.


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May 20, 2001

 
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