I did a small photoshoot today. The camera I was using is the DSLR Canon Rebel XS with the stock 18-55MM lens. This is my first time taking photos at night. Please advise me on how to take better photos. Should I get a tripod? Found a tripod for $15 for my camera. Funny story, when taking photos at one location it is in a pretty ghetto part of town and within the 10 min period that I took photos, 5 cop cars pulled up and asked me what I was doing LOL. One guy told me he would ticket me the next time he saw me without a front plate.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578383905/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578398781/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578392253/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578396359/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578394343/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578390169/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578387419/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578385797/http://www.flickr.com/photos/54027258@N07/6578401099/

 

Not too bad. My frist SLR camera was a Canon AE-1 Program that I got from my dad a long time ago. First D-SLR was a Digital Rebel XT. I've since upgraded to a 7D

Anyways, I don't consider myself to be the best of photographers, but a few tips:

• If you're shooing in low-light areas, a tripod is very helpful. You say you found one for $15.. which should do you good if you're in very normal conditions. However, I've noticed that with those the slightest breeze of wind will make them wobble. (They're usually made of very light/cheap plastic). Consider spending a little bit more and buying a more sturdy one. You'll thank yourself later! I'm still using a tripod I got from my father.. he had brought it with his Canon AE-1 Program around the early 1980's. The thing is built like a rock, can I can see it lasting another 30 years easily.
• Keep experimenting with exposure and apature. I can see you're already to a slight start, so keep at it! Most cameras can do the auto/program/etc modes pretty well when in good lighting, but when you have a situation such as the first pic (headlights on, streetlights, lit bridge, black background), most of those modes get confused easily, even on high-end cameras. Manual mode is the way to go there. How you have it there looks quite good. However, if you'd like to perfect that shot... Try getting the bridge and the car to be both in focus (low apature, which means you'll have to use a longer exposure). You'll need a tripod for that one.
• And on the topic of focus.. Autofocus is another thing that gets screwy at nighttime. If you have the time to pose and set up a shot, manually focusing it won't hurt either.

Keep at it!

Car looks good too btw

 

Nice pics, your 5 looks Awesome! I'm loving those AE's!

 

Nice pics Khan

 

nice start!

 

Pics look good!

 

very nice.. what parking lot is that? I see alot of the guys go up there for photoshoots as well.

 

Very nice pics for a photo rookie! +1 with what RIPACAR said. You need to small lens aperature say F11 for greater depth of field to get both the car and background/bridge in sharp focus,if that is what you want, the pic you have is nice with the background slightly out of focus as to not detract from the subject being a fine example of one of the greatest cars on planet Earth, an E60 (Bangle) A style that apparently grew on many as evidenced by the many copies by Lexus and others... Thus you need to use a very slow shutter speed for night shots and need a decent tripod and a cable release for that. The beauty of digital is that you can take many shots at various settings including white balance and flash setting/locations to get the shot right vs. film where taking a lot of pics is expensive. Then use Photoshop to tweak and do lots of creative things. at night there are a lot of crazies out or so I hear. As far as the cop, next time install a retractable license plate and tell him what do you mean, I HAVE a front plate, See........ and then tell him to "have a nice day" first before he says it. That really throws them off. If it is a chick cop and good looking ask her if she would pose for you!

 

good shit Khan, hit me up the next time you do that , id love to join

 

nice pics