Night Photography Gives a Different Perspective

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You may have noticed that a lot of the photography I have been posting in the past few weeks has been taken at night.  I love this form of images, the city lights and long exposures produce a very different image when compared to the same scene taken during daylight.  One of the reasons for my use of night photography recently has come from necessity because I have spent the last three weeks on the road working in Hungary, Texas and Le Castellet and by the time I have finished my work in the media centre the sun has set.
 
This shot ofToulon was taken using a 4.3s shutter speed at an aperature of f4 with the ISO set to 200.
These two images on this page were taken yesterday evening.  The first (above) is of the Toulon harbour front and the second (below) is of the hilltop town of La Cadiere D'Azur near to La Castellet.
 
Both images were taken using long exposures on the Fuji X100 and long exposures mean using a steady platform. I use a Manfrotto MKC3-H01 tripod to provide a solid platform for the camera while the shutter is open.  However, while it is easier to use a tripod as a platform, if you don't have one to hand, you can always find something the put the camera on such as a wall or the top of a car.  A beanbag is a useful accessory to place the camera on in these situations and get the camera level.

This shot of La Cadiere D'Azur was taken using a 20s exposure at f8 and, again, the ISO was set to 200.

I have to mention personal safety when working at night.  Be careful not to make yourself a target for thieves by having expensive camera gear on show.  The Fuji fits into my jacket pocket but if I use the Nikons for night photography I take the minimum of gear (one body, wide angle and 50mm f1.4, and use an unmarked bag, like a students backpack.  Also try to stay in areas with plenty of people around and, if you are able, take a friend to keep you company.

If you have a camera which can take long exposures try your hand at a bit of night photography, it will certainly give your photographs a different look.


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