Tripod on bridge at night?

[rtector]

So tonight I was heading down an unlit dual carriage-way in Cheshire and noticed on a bridge a tripod with something with a red flashing light on it and a man with what looked like a walkie-talkie. I wondered if it might have been a speed trap, but it seemed odd that the equipment would have a rapidly flashing red light on the front of it (faster than you'd usually see on the typical video camera). I didn't notice any lurking police vehicles further down the road, however would seem odd for a photographer to have a radio...

Anyone seen anything like that before?

[Nickyboy]

It was likely someone doing surveying, red light may have been spinning laser

[rtector]

Interesting thought - odd time to do it, late at night, after dark?

[Nickyboy]

Depends, they may be doing roadworks or something, may be night time closure

[un1corn]

They do it all the time, even at night

[hornmeister]

Photographer doing a timelapse photo. The type where you get headlight trails?

Red flashing light signifies the shutter is open.

[ElectricPics]

hornmeister said:

Photographer doing a timelapse photo. The type where you get headlight trails?

Red flashing light signifies the shutter is open.

I don't know any camera that has a flashing light of any sort to indicate the shutter is open in bulb mode - it would add unwanted light anyway.

[Vaud]

ElectricPics said:

I don't know any camera that has a flashing light of any sort to indicate the shutter is open in bulb mode - it would add unwanted light anyway.

Does an auto focus assist light stay on in bulb mode?

[ElectricPics]

Vaud said:

ElectricPics said:

I don't know any camera that has a flashing light of any sort to indicate the shutter is open in bulb mode - it would add unwanted light anyway.

Does an auto focus assist light stay on in bulb mode?

It might, but that would be a steady white (on most cameras) light, and you'd sharp turn off AF Assist unless you wanted to ruin the shot.

[hornmeister]

Vaud said:

Does an auto focus assist light stay on in bulb mode?

Possibly, although using AF whilst the shutter is open sort of defeats the purpose of keeping the shutter open. A fixed focal length would generally be used.

But I digress. It can't be a camera as apparently ones with flashing lights do not exist. I apologise for wasting OP's time.

Edited by hornmeister on Thursday 16th May 09:51

[Heidfirst]

hornmeister said:

Photographer doing a timelapse photo. The type where you get headlight trails?

Red flashing light signifies the shutter is open.

flashing light for self-timer count down? self-timer used for mirror lockup to reduce vibration.
"radio" could be remote release.

[hornmeister]

Heidfirst said:

flashing light for self-timer count down? self-timer used for mirror lockup to reduce vibration.
"radio" could be remote release.

Yep pretty much my thoughts.

[rtector]

Thanks all.

It was deserted area away from any obvious civil works. Fingers crossed for a red self-timer light...