5

CHAPTER
NIGHT AND LOW-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY / Weddings, Concerts, and
Other Events

Another ride that made a good photo subject in

the same way as the Ferris wheel can only be

described as a tall post with a single arm attached

that spun in a giant circle. As you can see in

Figure 5-23, by zooming in close, I could fill the

frame with the pattern made by the arm as it

rotated around the center point.

If you are looking to get a photo with

the just the lights on the Ferris wheel

and not the pattern when they are in motion, then

instead of waiting for the wheel to move in step 6, just

wait until it has stopped.

3. Set the ISO to 100. The lowest ISO possible note
   allows for slower shutter speeds, which will
   get you the motion in the image.


4. Set the aperture to f/16. This is just an arbi-
   trary starting point, as you have to start
   somewhere. This f-stop allows you to get a
   deep depth of field, with little light coming
   through the lens which allows for the slower
   shutter speed needed to get light trails.


5. Set the shutter speed to 5 seconds. This is
   just a starting point and you can adjust it
   depending on the results.


6. Wait for the Ferris wheel to be moving and
   take the photograph. Check it on the LCD
   for both exposure and composition:

If the scene is too bright, then reduce the
aperture and try again.

If the scene is too dark, then open the
aperture and try again.

If the scene has too little movement, then
decrease the shutter speed and the aperture
and try again.

If the scene has too much movement, then
increase the shutter speed and the aperture
and try again.

7. Take another photograph and keep adjust-
   ing the exposure until you are satisfied with
   your results. I took several shots before I
   was happy with the photo shown in Figure
   5-22. I was photographing just after the sun
   set and was using a telephoto lens because
   tripods were not allowed in the middle of
   the crowds. By moving further away, I could
   use a tripod, allowing me to get the longer
   exposure I needed, but I had to use a tele-
   photo lens.
   ABOUT THIS PHOTO The giant arm rotates slowly around in a
   big circle. By using a slow shutter speed, the lights are turned into a
   pattern. Taken at 10 seconds, f/22, and ISO 100.

5-23