no more lonely nights....

i have been shooting nightscapes for months now, yet have never come across another BULB exposure shared in the forum. most of the other night photographs ive seen are at the long end of the 30 second limit of many dSLRS. oftentimes, these night shots tend to be severely underexposed...which is of course just logical...

the lack of light makes night photography a veritable challenge. how does one paint the dark canvass of a city or a landscape without the brush of ample illumination? how does a photographer bring out the vivid hues of the night sky? of moonlight falling on a slumbering city?

here is where BULB exposures are used. accessed in manual mode, the photographer sets the desired aperture and then puts the shutter speed to B. after composing and focusing on a dark scene, he depresses the shutter (preferably with a remote switch) and locks on it until his desired exposure lenght is finished. this could range anywhere from a few seconds to as long as several minutes...

metering now becomes a matter of experience. the techniques and intricacies are endless. the matter of controlling available light, of distant flare sources, of traffic/aircraft/star trails...add to the usual burdens of composing effectively. not to mention, how does one focus well in the dark?! in the end, practice and practice not only answers one's questions....but also provides the most fun!

here are some recent bulb exposures that i did last night with my kapitbahay GELBERT APLAL. we were roaming the night shrouded blank estates of The Fort / Bonifacio Global City... taking advantage of the bright moon high above our heads... midnight owls doing our thing.

hope you guys could join us in future BULBous adventures!

respite
http://static.flickr.com/114/291964431_ee19c95f19_o.jpg
196 seconds at f/8 iso 100

soon to be buried...
http://static.flickr.com/116/291964439_5e040a5601_o.jpg
233 seconds at f/8 iso 100

...here (damn...sensor scratched! hehe)
http://static.flickr.com/102/291964442_82c01cad81_o.jpg
269 seconds at f/8 iso 100

a pusher sleeps
http://static.flickr.com/101/291964429_2b0401022d.jpg
193 seconds at f/8 iso 100

night landscaping is way too fun! im back!!!

nice one jay...

I like the second photo..

btw, you have this obsession with big yellow machines lately huh...

nice one jay...

I like the second photo..

btw, you have this obsession with big yellow machines lately huh...
yeah...i noticed too...hahaha....

technically speaking, i kinda like the way the yellow machines complement the blue night sky....always good together, these two colors...

but....well...what else is there to photograph at night kaya? if i could only find a stunning model, one who can outshine the stars, and could hold still a pose for say...5 minutes...ayun...my obsession will shift :Grin:

how are you?! long time no shoot ah!

Glad you're back Jay! :) Great photos!

JayJ... game tayo dyan! I just got my new tripod and found my old remote trigger and confirmed that it still works with my new baby. Camera has in-cam bulb exposure NR, so hopefully that helps. This is a pretty slow and relaxing activity.. I just hope I don't fall asleep counting the seconds!

Kelan next?


:)

yeah...i noticed too...hahaha....

technically speaking, i kinda like the way the yellow machines complement the blue night sky....always good together, these two colors...

but....well...what else is there to photograph at night kaya? if i could only find a stunning model, one who can outshine the stars, and could hold still a pose for say...5 minutes...ayun...my obsession will shift :Grin:

how are you?! long time no shoot ah!

oo nga eh, i should join you guys next time. that should be fun. :)

JayJ... game tayo dyan! I just got my new tripod and found my old remote trigger and confirmed that it still works with my new baby. Camera has in-cam bulb exposure NR, so hopefully that helps. This is a pretty slow and relaxing activity.. I just hope I don't fall asleep counting the seconds!

Kelan next?


:)

im not done sa fort sir! still more to shoot in that dark place. Gelbert and I kept on talking about DPP trologdytes and stuff in between our long exposures. sige, sama kayo sa next!

actually, better turn-off NR. i think its better to do dark frame noise reduction yourself during PP. saves time! :)

if on-cam NR is on, the camera will be busy equivalent to the lenght of the exposures. so say, if you shoot a 5 minute exposure, the NR/dark frame run will delay your next shot by another 5 minutes. i think the 5D allows on the fly NR processing. not sure about the D200 though...

Glad you're back Jay! :) Great photos!

yeah. got blessing from her.

"okay, your cam's innundated with me! get back to being jaydigital. pero tonight lang huh!"

hehehe.

Hahaha, good one Jay. Balance. :) When I get back, we should night trip.

JayJ... ang tawag dyan WifeBalance :D

You're right, the in-camera NR tooks just as long. It doesn't do it on the fly like the 5D. I'll do as you said re dark frame NR post shoot.

PM na lang please. :)

here's my share on the BULBous nights...the deira clock tower. i took these shots approximately 45secs at f22.

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/102606_roundclock.jpg

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/102606_rushhour.jpg

The second one looks great Jeff. Cool funky tower. :)

Nice series Jay. :)

Galing talga!Idol! I personally like the 1st pic jaY!

no more lonely nights....

the lack of light makes night photography a veritable challenge. how does one paint the dark canvass of a city or a landscape without the brush of ample illumination? how does a photographer bring out the vivid hues of the night sky? of moonlight falling on a slumbering city?



How do you do it then? You defenitely have the skills :) bow ako

2nd one got all the technicals. 1st one wins on composition, but it looks like shooting at f/22 brought out the worst of the lens.

Rush hour talaga! :)

2nd one got all the technicals. 1st one wins on composition, but it looks like shooting at f/22 brought out the worst of the lens.

Rush hour talaga! :)
no choice to shoot at f/22 especially if the traffic is proximate.

some solutions would be:

shoot tail lights instead of oncoming traffic
use ND (multi-coated to avoid flares) filter so an optimum aperture can be used
take a higher vantage point

f/22 or anything beyond f/11 for that matter, just accentuates lens diffraction.

Hi Jay, it was great meeting you last night! :)

Thanks for helping a noob like me understand some more with my cam.. hehe.
Im not much happy with my shots last night, hehe, some OOF, some I relly dont like the composition,.. im a bit lost at total darkness.. but I'll practice it, and I'll do justice what you have thought me next time.

The photos we have were taken around 1130 to 12midnight, and theres no really much place on that area of the fort. Its where the constructions are ongoing.


http://static.flickr.com/121/292094530_a0b76f47e0_o.jpg

And heres Jay in action...

http://static.flickr.com/119/292094383_8faffc5cb5.jpg

Till next time pre.. now I'll be ready

thanks jerry, jay. i tried to avoid the incoming traffic on the left but there were a lot of distractions from the footbridge. i did find a nice spot from the ground (2nd pic) but headlights are too strong that i have to wait for many times to capture the lesser cars passing. thanks for the tips!

hehe, one more, its really hard for me to do some good composition when Im almost in the ground looking at the viewfinder, hehe (need to get an angle viewfinder- right Jay :) )

http://static.flickr.com/100/292094421_0bed813101_o.jpg

Mine are old but i'd like to share them:

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i254/q5_mike/S_t_a_r_g_a_z_e__by_PsyloAutisticit.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i254/q5_mike/D_a_r_k_l_i_g_h_t_Duex__by_PsyloAut.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i254/q5_mike/Life_Stream__by_PsyloAutisticity.jpg

Hi Jay, it was great meeting you last night! :)

Thanks for helping a noob like me understand some more with my cam.. hehe.
Im not much happy with my shots last night, hehe, some OOF, some I relly dont like the composition,.. im a bit lost at total darkness.. but I'll practice it, and I'll do justice what you have thought me next time.

The photos we have were taken around 1130 to 12midnight, and theres no really much place on that area of the fort. Its where the constructions are ongoing.

And heres Jay in action...

Till next time pre.. now I'll be ready

thanks for the time bro and also for the insights shared. really had fun meeting and shooting with you. it was an honor to meet one of dpp's finest. we should bring nga a stronger flashlight, and maybe get an angle finder. oh, btw, your 17-40L shots really rock. im seeing the difference in the rendition of colors...and, i seem to see more stars!!!

nice composition on the first. you and your unique ways! hehehe.

waaaaaah...i must be given the chance to shoot through better glass! thanks pala for the pic.

Migs! Hayop ka! Ang lufet ng kuha mo! :)

Translation:

Migs, damn you dessert fox! You take awesome pics! :)

I like this one, Jeff! Nice! :)



http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/102606_rushhour.jpg

Galing talga!Idol! I personally like the 1st pic jaY!
How do you do it then? You defenitely have the skills :) bow ako

how to night shoot?

by using the longest exposure possible without burning out critical details and by shooting in RAW. :Grin:

thanks tracy, as always.

I like the way you composed this shot. :)



soon to be buried...
http://static.flickr.com/116/291964439_5e040a5601_o.jpg

This was taken at lower angle than Jay's photo, right? Nice composition too...:)



http://static.flickr.com/121/292094530_a0b76f47e0_o.jpg

Mine are old but i'd like to share them:


migs, thanks for sharing. deserts are perfect for bulb exposures. one of my favorite night shooters, Art Wolfe, has this awesome collection of night shots in deserts...star trails and cacti...your shots gave me fresh ideas. hmmm. are there "deserts" in manila?

where is this place?

migs, thanks for sharing. deserts are perfect for bulb exposures. one of my favorite night shooters, Art Wolfe, has this awesome collection of night shots in deserts...star trails and cacti...your shots gave me fresh ideas. hmmm. are there "deserts" in manila?

where is this place?

pinatubo? :Grin:

Migs! Hayop ka! Ang lufet ng kuha mo! :)

Translation:

Migs, damn you dessert fox! You take awesome pics! :) Ahehe, Thank you Earl, I still like the D70 better in long exposures fluid sya hanggang 25min exposure. The place we went to when i took the first 2 images were pitch-black the last was in malate. I must say Jay, Jeff and Gilbert's style are ASTIG!

@Jay, Gilbert: The place was here in Saudi Arabia. Some place we call here Wadi Pitik.

I'm guessing that migs' night desert shots were taken within the outskirts of riyadh during one of the desert night campings by the venerable KSA Desert Fox Team!

I'll share my bulb exposures on this thread, which, was taken from the recent desert night camp at the EOTW(Edge of the World) once I got the time to process the shots. :)

migs, thanks for sharing. deserts are perfect for bulb exposures. one of my favorite night shooters, Art Wolfe, has this awesome collection of night shots in deserts...star trails and cacti...your shots gave me fresh ideas. hmmm. are there "deserts" in manila?

where is this place?

Great images guys! You've been looking at Art Wolfe's Salar de Uyuni's images again Jay? Sadly, I can't contribute right now as the weather's been crappy down here.

Great images guys! You've been looking at Art Wolfe's Salar de Uyuni's images again Jay? Sadly, I can't contribute right now as the weather's been crappy down here.

art wolfe's technique is rock solid. i wish i could post one of his photos here...just so i could have something to slap me to reality and keep me inspired.

any idea how you can become an EOS explorer of light?

art wolfe's technique is rock solid. i wish i could post one of his photos here...just so i could have something to slap me to reality and keep me inspired.

any idea how you can become an EOS explorer of light?

Still dreaming of that day to come myself. Have you seen Jim Brandenburg's 13hour star trail image with a 1Ds?

Still dreaming of that day to come myself. Have you seen Jim Brandenburg's 13hour star trail image with a 1Ds?

13 hours?!!! okay ill google. idol ko rin yan! continuous exposure ha?

13 hours?!!! okay ill google. idol ko rin yan! continuous exposure ha?
That's what he said. I think he had his 1Ds plugged in coz the 1Ds batteries last 2 hours max on BULB. It's on the Explorers of Light Gallery too.
http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/explorers/jim_brandenburg/brandenburg.html

just to continue this thread, i was able to do some long exposure shots last night with my friends on a picnic in zabeel park. im quite happy with the results of my new lens.

i apologize for blurriness of the faces... we cannot stay motionless for more than 1minute of exposure. sorry for the large sizes as well.

comments and critiques appreciated.

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/111006_zabeel04.jpg

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/111006_zabeel02.jpg

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/111006_zabeel03.jpg

http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/111006_zabeel01.jpg

Nice images Jeff! I like the last one... almost surreal.

long hair folks. medyo blurred nga kayo.
but the background is something different. i like it.
what new lens u used?

I agree with Bernard. The last one has surreal and spectacular colors.

As promised, here's my share for that Bulbous nights long exposure... From Edge of the World(EOTW), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia...

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/73/516773/1/70220405.SU0ovExz.1102200854.jpg
426s (7min 6sec) @ f/11, ISO200, Nikon D50

More to come! :)

Interesting... parand di totoo (so surreal)! :)



http://www.nikkish.net/jeff/dpp/111006_zabeel01.jpg

What time was this taken? Nice composition and the contrast of colors! :)


http://ct.pbase.com/o6/73/516773/1/70220405.SU0ovExz.1102200854.jpg
426s (7min 6sec) @ f/11, ISO200, Nikon D50

Thanks rosalie! Time is somewhere around 7:00-9:00 PM.... :)

Here's another taken from the same place, Edge of the World, Riyadh....

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/73/516773/1/70221460.s45d8usk.1102203650.jpg
230s (3min 50sec) @ f/8, ISO200, Nikon D50

nice! im finally seeing my kind of bulb shots! hehehe. thanks orly...
bulb exposures with moonlight always rock! :)

....and another one! :)

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/73/516773/1/70222705.AEqPSyQU.1102203136.jpg
217s (3min 37s) @ f/8, ISO200, Nikon D50

i illuminated the branches with an underpowered flash light.

http://static.flickr.com/87/234548936_ceabf57d35_o.jpg
48 seconds @ f/3.5 iso 100

....and another one! :)


217s (3min 37s) @ f/8, ISO200, Nikon D50

hehehe. weird "daylight!" just goes to show that light quality means a lot in photography!

nice! im finally seeing my kind of bulb shots! hehehe. thanks orly...
bulb exposures with moonlight always rock! :)
You are most welcome idol Jay! I'm glad to contribute something in this thread.:Grin:

...and here's the last for the set :)

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/73/516773/1/70224801.hfeeIBKF.1102202614.jpg
224s (3min 44s) @ f/8, ISO200, Nikon D50

FYI, All photos were shot with the Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 set at 12mm...

orly, welcome to mars! :) it looked like the photo was taken in daylight. nice!

Ahahahaha! Thanks Jeff! It really looked like it was daylighted, but in reality, it was real dark and I couldn't even barely compose the photo! The scene was just half-moon lighted... I just used the magic of RAW with the aid of PS to brighten up the scene. :)

Anyway, I noticed that once I go over 5mins exposure on my D50, hot pixels starts to sprout like hell! But anything lower than 5mins is sweet! Noise free and real sharp even at ISO400! :Grin:

Can you do bulb exposure using the remote control unit of the camere?
Cam is a 30D, if it makes any difference.
Thanks

Can you do bulb exposure using the remote control unit of the camere?
Cam is a 30D, if it makes any difference.
Thanks

what remote control unit are you referring to sir hochi? the 30D has only 2 available remote accessories...

RS-80N3 (wired remote with 2.6' cord)
TC-80N3 (timer wired remote with 2.6' cord)

both can be used (and are actually built for use) in doing bulb exposures.

unfortunately, going wireless entails a bit of third party hardware, as the 30D has no native wireless remote capabilities.

what remote control unit are you referring to sir hochi? the 30D has only 2 available remote accessories...

RS-80N3 (wired remote with 2.6' cord)
TC-80N3 (timer wired remote with 2.6' cord)

both can be used (and are actually built for use) in doing bulb exposures.

unfortunately, going wireless entails a bit of third party hardware, as the 30D has no native wireless remote capabilities.

thanks jay...actually i have yet to buy a remote control unit, but after seeing your shots i'm leaning towards getting one...good to know that both units can be used for buld exposures...salamat! :)

migs, thanks for sharing. deserts are perfect for bulb exposures. one of my favorite night shooters, Art Wolfe, has this awesome collection of night shots in deserts...star trails and cacti...

hi jay , youre right deserts are perfect for bulb exposure
just want to share this one...when we were shooting for the meteor shower in the mid of arabiam dessert last 2003....

shot this atop of one hill with my NIKON F2 set to bulb....and out of 36 shots ...this is the only one ive got...luckily...
the light in the bootom left is our camp....

http://www.antipolocityphilippines.com/uploadfiles/desert_trip.jpg

hi jay , youre right deserts are perfect for bulb exposure
just want to share this one...when we were shooting for the meteor shower in the mid of arabiam dessert last 2003....

shot this atop of one hill with my NIKON F2 set to bulb....and out of 36 shots ...this is the only one ive got...luckily...
the light in the bootom left is our camp....

http://www.antipolocityphilippines.com/uploadfiles/desert_trip.jpg
how long was the exposure bro? seems like you were on the brink of reciprocity failure. the light/hue shift is eerie though :)

what iso/asa film did you use?

What do you guys suggest on the type of cable release for nikon d70(Wireless)? Will the remote control work here also?

What do you guys suggest on the type of cable release for nikon d70(Wireless)? Will the remote control work here also?

the wireless remote works for me. im also using d70 and you press once to open the shutter and press again to close. :)

how long was the exposure bro? seems like you were on the brink of reciprocity failure. the light/hue shift is eerie though :)

what iso/asa film did you use?


i think i used ASA 400 but not really sure even with the length of exposure...it was my first time then experimenting long exposure...and first time in the desert too:Grin:
developed to cd and adjust levels in PS...
the light behind the hills were the city light from afar..