Nightshots again

[saratoga]

Well. What can I say. Obviously getting back from work 3 hours early entitiled me to spend a bit of time taking photos, rather than being a good little Saratoga and going to bed

I’ve passed this truck every day on the way to work and figured it was time to get some photos. There was a light behind it, so I ‘had’ to take this position, also bearing in mind this was an industrial estate and even at 3am there was traffic!

I shall start with a close up shot, in the road. Parked the car behind me so as not to be flattened I’ve moved the image so the truck is in the bottom, the wheels just clipped. Bit close there, and with more sky showing. It was a clear night but not enough to see the sky more clearly.

500x333, original 3000x2000, 20mm, f/5, ISO100, 30sec.

This is of the first setup, and halfway into the exposure a car drives past

500x333, original 3000x2000, 30mm, f/5, ISO100, 30sec.

And finally, this is of cars going the other way through my shot

500x333, original 3000x2000, 30mm, f/5.6, ISO100, 30sec.

The last shot I got was without any vehicles passing. So effectively came out “perfect”. But is it??

For a plan for the shot I hoped to take one showing the tilt of the tractor unit as more pronounced, but that doesn’t seem to have come out. I think facing downhill there also another light in the way I suppose I could up the f/stop to 9 or summat but then wouldn’t be able to get a 30sec exposure. Which would mean I’d need a lighter image (ie 6am!) and I’m not I can manage that just yet… 6am is crawling with traffic…

The road is sloping down towards me, and the 530bhp Scania 4x2 is noticably lighter over the fifth wheel. I would think that despite the size of the rig it’s probably actually quite light! Anyway, getting too technical… So over to you

What, oh great ones, do you think

[scania_king_kev]

Very good photos mate, very technical as well, we have 2 digital cameras here but I prefer to use the old disposable gas cameras as my father calls them! I thought about taking a photography class at the start of the year but I havent got the time.

Kev

[saratoga]

Once you’ve got a dslr you can pretty well learn “on the job”

These were all taken without flash and I could proably do the same sort of shots on a digicam as well, or a P&S

Practice is what it needs

[scania_king_kev]

Tried a few times taking moving shots, but they all came back miserable, we dont have msa here so its hard to get a good shot of a good wagon, I cant even get one of my own truck!

Kev

[hammer]

Nice pics. I think the ones where cars have passed through the picture are pretty cool

I find photography pretty interesting. One day I will get around to learning about it…

[karl]

Could try down the docks Kev? Maybe down at Norfolkline or somethin

[saratoga]

scania king kev:
Tried a few times taking moving shots, but they all came back miserable, we dont have msa here so its hard to get a good shot of a good wagon, I cant even get one of my own truck!

Kev

There are a couple things you can do to get started. If you’re camera has a tripod mount (female screw hole underneath) then go and get a tripod, line the shot up with your eye and then go through the settings for something like, um, ISO100, f 3.5, and for as many seconds as you can. If you can’t get 30 seconds but only 15 seconds then change your camera to ISO200, as it’s twice the sensitivity. The f number, although stated as “going higher” is actually a smaller number, so f/2.8 is higher than f/3.5

Don’t use the flash and if your camera has the setting use the timer to trigger the piccy so you don’t get camera shake. If you’re using autofocus you’ll want a torch to shine on your target to get the autofocus to lock. Which is what I do I have a Surefire 6p to help me with that, but most torches will do. Setting it in manual mode means you wont stuff up the exposure and all. Took me a while to work out where I was going wrong there

But once you get into it I’m sure you’ll love it. It’s an interesting passtime