Challenge: After Dark



I went back and forth on what to choose for the new bi-weekly challenge.  I didn't want to pick something too hard for newer photographers, but I wanted a topic that would be challenging for the experienced shooters on the site too.  I kicked around a lot of ideas, before settling on AFTER DARK as the next theme.  There are so many things you can do with night photography, like go  Popup Linkdowntown and shoot the local  Popup Linksites in a new way.  Or maybe you want to show us a more exotic location like this Popup Linkone in Popup LinkLas Vegas.  Night time is a great time to experiment with long exposures and  Popup Linkneon lights like this.  You can also do zoom effects.  You start with a neon sign like Popup Linkthis one, and as you shoot the picture, zoom in or out so you get  Popup Linkstreaking like this.  Finally, sometimes it's interesting to just photograph a  Popup Linkstatue in a different type of light.  The possibilities for night photography are endless.  JimmyNeutron does great bug and flower shots at night.  There are bonfires, campouts, fireworks, etc.  Break out your imagination and show us what you can do...After Dark.

For the next challenge, I wanted to pick someone who's belonged to Photographica for awhile, but hasn't hosted a bi-weekly challenge yet.  In looking over the list of past challenges, I never saw TURBO's name.  You're on the clock now TURBO!


 
  • But I'm affraid of the dark....

    - WoooFrigginHoooo...

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  • jessypi
    2
    Getting us in gear so we can all take awesome firework shots come July4th? Sounds fun, sounds very hard for me *gulp*

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  • SG, I guess you'll have to take a large flashlight out with you! :-) By the way, I almost forgot to thank Bugaboo for the great action challenge.

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  • Wildman
    4
    Great idea Buck, does taking pictures under the sheets count?

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  • Lidljo
    5
    This is going to be hard, but I am up for the challenge. Tripod will come out of the closet and be used.

    - Flowers are happiness...

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  • Wildman...I didn't specifically say the pictures had to be OUTDOORS! ;-)

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  • Great challenge! I suck at nightime photography, however. So it's doubtful that I'll have much luck. I can't wait to see everyone elses shots though!

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  • Sounds great...will start tonight...everyone knows what mine will be, but will try something new too.

    - Smile!

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  • Wildman...Don't give my husband ANY ideas....Candice

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  • This is a tough one. Normally my night pics suck. Will have to read over the manual that came with my camera and start practicing.

    - Heartofgold

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  • This will be a fun challenge. I wanted to comment on your carnival ride shot in "neon lights"... that is a really amazing shot!

    - Run Bubba Run!

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  • loweho
    5
    Great idea, Bruce, I was worried the theme might be pictures taken at Long John Silver's! Thanks, bugaboo for the awesome action challenge!

    - Fickle Finger of F8

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  • Actually Loweho, I was thinking about pictures from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney, but I figured everyone would expect me to pay for them to go there. I nixed that idea in a hurry!

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  • A few hints for those of you using DSLR's that haven't done night shots. Get it out of automatic ISO 100 F8 Tripod Remote shutter switch or self timer I may have to get in on this one. Tripod means I don't have to hold the camera up and try to reach the shutter button with my right hand.

    - Oh Bull!

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  • Thanks now I've got a reason to stay out after dark!! Hum, don't have a tripod...will give the rest a good go though. The only shots I've taken this week are of my new car (PT Cruiser) not anything to post here

    ...must make coffee...

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  • Good tips Classyshots. Because I'm shooting digital I found myself really experimenting with different aperatures and shutter speeds on the shots I posted. None of the pictures were taken on automatic though. You do need to take some control yourself, and the tip about a remote shutter release or self timer is dead on too. You'd be surprised what a difference that little action can make.

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  • KayN
    5
    Oooooh......this is a hard one......I'm not good at night shots.....I'll give it my best shot, though!

    - Ms.N

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  • I've noticed a lot of people expressing their concerns over the difficulty of this challenge. I did consider some easier themes, but settled on this one because the title is bi-weekly challenge...and I thought this topic would be just that...challenging.

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  • Lidljo
    5
    Don't worry about it being too challenging. It will make us stretch out of our comfort zone - that is a good thing.

    - Flowers are happiness...

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  • Another Tip...when taking pictures of flowers,ect...use a flash light to focus...also sometimes your camra will expose it to much so under exspose it...alot of times I under expose it by -2 stops and work from there.

    - Smile!

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  • Good tips Jimmy. I never thought of using a flashlight to help with focus. Thanks for the tip!

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  • If you are going to take more than one shot without re framing you can also get your focus then switch the lens to manual focus. That will lock it where it was and you don't' have to wait for the camera to try and refocus. If you were around when I posted the freeway shots at night, I switched to manual focus and set it on infinity. It saves the camera from hunting. This one was at F8 and 48 seconds... Freeway Shot

    - Oh Bull!

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  • Whoa! What a challenge! Bruce, I can't even take pictures in the daylight when I can see what I'm doing. Hey, maybe thats the trick!

    - Good Kitty No More

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  • I'm not sure why, but it's not letting me write my entry.... Do I need a more premium membership or ? When I click it, it's telling me: Dashboard: Error There has been an error. We have reported it to an administrator. Sorry. Code: 1150997920 I just posted some pictures here, and want to contribute some Night Shots.

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