Page 15 - Cape-Camera-March-2024

Cape Camera March 2024

Steff on long exposure (continued)

swirl of water around a rock, or do you want smoothed sharpness of each individual star. You need to balance
out silky water with just the rock as the subject? It is out the length of each image while not exceeding your
completely your choice! Choose a strong composition camera’s ISO limits. Increasing your ISO will allow the
and then shoot some frames at 1/8, some at 1 second sensor to accept more light but it can also introduce
and keep playing, adjusting your shutter speed until noise. Older DSLRs aren’t always happy with high ISOs,
you find an image that speaks to you. It depends on the while the newer mirrorless cameras allow for much

speed of the water as well as your chosen shutter speed. higher ISO settings. Continued p16
Some subjects might need only a slight sense of move-
ment (1 to 3 seconds), while 30+ second exposures will Out in the field
create a silky smoothness – almost erasing movement.
If your camera doesn’t go beyond a few seconds, you
might need to use Bulb mode and a remote trigger that 1. Look for a good composition, considering
you can lock into position. what will remain static and what will move.
But it is too bright for a long exposure! 2. Set up your tripod. Ensure that it is not go-

You can take longer exposures at dawn, dusk and night- ing to move or judder in the wind.
time as the ambient light will be low enough to extend 3. Clip your camera to the tripod ensuring a
your shutter speed. But what do you do when it is too tight grip. Remove the camera strap.
bright? Use a Neutral Density (ND) filter! They come in
different densities but the most frequently used NDs are 4. Switch off Long Exposure Noise Reduction.
3, 6 and 10 stop filters. A 10-stop filter, known as a Big
Stopper, is almost black allowing for really long expo- 5. Switch off Image stabilisation on the lens
sures. (and the body if your camera has IBIS).
The subject of ND filters is a bit too long to go into in a 6. Attach your camera release cable or switch
short article like this so I advise you to visit this website. the 2 second timer on.
What about when it is really dark? 7. Test your focus and exposure and take a
Apart from wanting to create a creative photograph, shot (without the filter).
you might find yourself shooting in a low light situation, 8. Work out what your shutter speed needs to
like an indoor shot at a wedding. The longer the shut-
ter speed, the lighter the exposure, BUT at huge risk of be by using one of the many apps.
your images becoming unintentionally blurred. This is 9. Lock in your focus and switch to Manual
why many wedding photographers will use off camera focus.
flash and other techniques to capture sharp images in a
dark church. However, if your subject is completely still 10. Attach your ND filter(s) without bumping
(a vase with flowers indoors) you will be able to lengthen your focus.
your shutter speed if you use a tripod to stabilize your 11. DSLR camera owners must cover the eye
camera. piece to prevent light leaks.

And Astrophotography? 12. Take a shot. Adjust settings if necessary
Star photography requires a longer exposure to suck and take another shot.
in as much light at possible while still maintaining the

Cape Town Photographic Society 15