48 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
PROJECT 1
VIDEO ALSO ONLINE
http://bit.ly/pp_159_1IF YOUR near-dark
scene includes lights,
like those shining on the
windmill here, then use a
narrow aperture. As well
as offering greater depth
of field and longer
shutter speeds, the high
f-number also results in
star-like streaks around
specular highlights.YOUR AF may struggle
to lock on in low light- especially after
attaching an ND filter - so it’s easier to focus
manually using Live
View. Switch the lens to
manual focus, turn on
Live View and zoom in
close then adjust the
focus ring until it’s sharp.
TOP TIPS SHOOTING AFTER DARK
Learn how to focus accurately and pick the right aperture after dark
NEXT MONTH
STUDIO CAR
SHOOTTOP TIPS EXTEND EXPOSURES TO MINUTES
Learn how to prevent light leaks and get to grips with the infamous Bulb mode
WHAT’S
THE TIME?Even after taking a
test shot and using an
exposure calculator, the
right shutter speed for
the scene can be a bit of
a guessing game, as at
this time of the day – half
an hour after sundown
for us – the light levels
may drop significantly
between exposures.
So we need to account
for the fading light by
increasing the time
slightly. Here we added
on to the 11 minutes
calculated by our app,
finally set tling on 13
minutes overall.01 CLOSE THE VIEWFINDER
Whenever you use an exposure that runs into several
seconds or more there’s a danger that light may seep
in through the viewfinder and cloud the exposure. So
be sure to close up the viewfinder or block it to stop
light from entering from the rear.03 ND FILTERS
A neutral density filter stems the flow of light into the
camera, letting us extend our exposure. The stronger
the filter, the longer the exposure. Here the combo of
a 3-stop filter, an aperture of f/16 and an ISO of 100
means we can keep the shutter open for 10 minutes.02 USING BULB
Most cameras max out at 30 secs exposure time. To
get more use Bulb mode to keep the shutter open as
long as the shutter button is engaged. ‘Bulb’ refers to
a time when shutters were opened and closed by a
rubber bulb of compressed air attached to a hose.04 COMPOSE BEFOREHAND
It can be tricky to see through a DSLR viewfinder after
attaching a strong ND filter – especially when the light
is low. If need be, compose the frame before attaching
the lens. Or switch to Live View for a lighter view (you
may need to turn off the exposure preview setting).VIEW^ TH
E^ VIDEO