Nite Time is the Rite Time?

[Andrew Sowerby]

Few from Brighton Pier over the summer:

 

[jano]

Thanks to this thread, I started looking into trying out long exposure, night photography. Visited the nocturnes and learned a bit about reciprocity stuff.

I'm still confused 🙁 All the sites say that above certain time (e.g. 1s 2s or 4s or 2m, whatever), you have to start adjusting for the r. failure. First question: how exactly do you know how much of a factor to adjust the exposure time by? And second.. how do you know what the initial exposure is supposed to be? The meters in my camera don't "work", i.e. doesn't look like they go beyond a few seconds, and then I must use bulb. Do I need an external meter.. or.. err.. hmm.

Thanks 🙂
Jano

 

[rbiemer]

Thanks to this thread, I started looking into trying out long exposure, night photography. Visited the nocturnes and learned a bit about reciprocity stuff.
Do I need an external meter.. or.. err.. hmm.
Thanks 🙂
Jano

Jano, I rely on the Black Cat Exposure Guide and Here are a couple of links:
(this is from a fellow RFF member)Gordon Coale's info
And this one:Black Cat Products, Inc.
I first bought one of these to help me with pinhole photography and soon discovered that it's very good for night time shots as well. I still tend to brackett around whatever starting point I take from the Guide.
Hope this is helpful!
Rob

 

[enochRoot]

thanks rob...that is some great info! i had no idea something like this existed (the black cat guide). what a great little tool! i think i'll have to buy one asap. are all of the scenes listed in the guide just pertaining to night/long exposures, or do they have daylit scenes as well? almost a way to assist the "sunny 16" w/ no lightmeter? i'd love to never depend on a lightmeter, and just get good at reading the light (with help from this black cat thingy).

 

[chenick]

Chenick, I remember that one from the book 😉

ahem.. yes well that's a sign I need to get out and shoot more 🙄
but I've got my Bessa back and am in a shooting mood! 🙂

-Nick

 

[rbiemer]

do they have daylit scenes as well?

Yes. I don't have mine in front of me but there are a fairly comprensive variety of light levels referenced. I use it mostly for the night/low light info and the small aperture info. And it has certainly helped me to get a little better at judging light. And battery independent.
Rob

 

[David Goldfarb]

Voigtlander Perkeo II (6x6), Color-Skopar, with uncoupled rangefinder, probably Tri-X.

1 sec. exposure, f:3.5 with camera braced against a sign post.

 

[reagan]

"playin' for mama"

Leica III
Jupiter 8

 

[filmtwit]

 

[peterm1]

Night Time - Bar Crawl by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Cold City Day, Cold City Street by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

 

[filmtwit]

 

[Damaso]