Nightclub photos?
Discussion
Right, so I'm very much new to this whole DSLR thing.
I've just inherited a Nikon D50 with an 18-55mm lens and have been asked by a friend who is starting up a club night at uni if I could take some photos for him.
My question is, what settings do I need to have the camera on to be able to take photos such as the one bellow?
Any I seem to take either have the colour washed out, or are blurry.
Any help will be much appreciated.
I've just inherited a Nikon D50 with an 18-55mm lens and have been asked by a friend who is starting up a club night at uni if I could take some photos for him.
My question is, what settings do I need to have the camera on to be able to take photos such as the one bellow?
Any I seem to take either have the colour washed out, or are blurry.
Any help will be much appreciated.
Edited by doodles19 on Tuesday 30th August 22:30
Edited by doodles19 on Tuesday 30th August 22:34
You're going to need to use a flash 
Both examples below use one. I'd look at buying one of nikon's nice speedlites.
The settings for the top image appear to be in the top right corner? + flash firing
The lower image is an example of 'dragging the shutter' - your camera's shutter is set to be open for maybe 1-2 seconds, when the shutter opens your flash will fire and capture the 'main' image (in this case the subjects face) but the shutter remains open for the set time, so you are free to turn, spin, zoom, etc. towards nearby lights to create that 'double exposure' look.
That process is actually taking place for both images, just that the second example is much more pronounced (you can see some 'blur' and movement in the background of the first image also). You basically want a balance between enough light from the general environment so the background isn't just completely black - so in the top image they have used a pretty slow shutter speed of 1/4 with f4.5 to give enough depth of field, plus quite a high iso of 800. So if you were to take that shot with no flash the main subject wouldn't be properly illuminated, plus the 1/4 shutter speed would give you a blurry shot. The light from flashguns is always (sort of) very short, so using one in combination will give you a properly illuminated and sharp subject.
Its basically 2 photos taken at once - the background with ambient light and the foreground with the flash
I'd get some practice in beforehand
Both examples below use one. I'd look at buying one of nikon's nice speedlites.The settings for the top image appear to be in the top right corner? + flash firing
The lower image is an example of 'dragging the shutter' - your camera's shutter is set to be open for maybe 1-2 seconds, when the shutter opens your flash will fire and capture the 'main' image (in this case the subjects face) but the shutter remains open for the set time, so you are free to turn, spin, zoom, etc. towards nearby lights to create that 'double exposure' look.
That process is actually taking place for both images, just that the second example is much more pronounced (you can see some 'blur' and movement in the background of the first image also). You basically want a balance between enough light from the general environment so the background isn't just completely black - so in the top image they have used a pretty slow shutter speed of 1/4 with f4.5 to give enough depth of field, plus quite a high iso of 800. So if you were to take that shot with no flash the main subject wouldn't be properly illuminated, plus the 1/4 shutter speed would give you a blurry shot. The light from flashguns is always (sort of
) very short, so using one in combination will give you a properly illuminated and sharp subject.Its basically 2 photos taken at once - the background with ambient light and the foreground with the flash
I'd get some practice in beforehand
Edited by flat-planedCrank on Tuesday 30th August 23:06
Get this : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAYFLASH-Ringflash-Nikon...
and some 2nd hand flash for your Nikon.
Or this : http://www.momentcorp.com/review/nikon_noct-nikkor...
and some 2nd hand flash for your Nikon.
Or this : http://www.momentcorp.com/review/nikon_noct-nikkor...
Edited by rottie102 on Tuesday 30th August 23:02
Your looking at flash photography there - probably 2nd curtain flash.
Flash photography is in effect 2 shots in one.
First is the ambient - for background and lights.
Second is the flash exposure for the foreground.
Set the camera to manual.
Dial in an exposure for the ambient. Usually helps to have a fast lens here but the kit lens will do, f3.5, 18mm, ISO 400 or 800, whatever shutter exposes the ambient how you want.
Now pop the flash up (best to use a speedlight , even off camera but hey) set it to 2nd curtain if you can. Use flash exposure compensation (FEC) to control the amount of flash exposing the subject so they look OK vs the background.
Job done!
Flash photography is in effect 2 shots in one.
First is the ambient - for background and lights.
Second is the flash exposure for the foreground.
Set the camera to manual.
Dial in an exposure for the ambient. Usually helps to have a fast lens here but the kit lens will do, f3.5, 18mm, ISO 400 or 800, whatever shutter exposes the ambient how you want.
Now pop the flash up (best to use a speedlight , even off camera but hey) set it to 2nd curtain if you can. Use flash exposure compensation (FEC) to control the amount of flash exposing the subject so they look OK vs the background.
Job done!
Thanks for the replies guys!
I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
How can I control/set the length of time the shutter is open for?
ETA: I know there probably is a way, what I'm trying to say is I have no idea how to do it.
Also, what should the other settings like exposure etc be set on, or is it down to light conditions and personal taste?
I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
How can I control/set the length of time the shutter is open for?
ETA: I know there probably is a way, what I'm trying to say is I have no idea how to do it
.Also, what should the other settings like exposure etc be set on, or is it down to light conditions and personal taste?
Edited by doodles19 on Tuesday 30th August 23:12
Edited by doodles19 on Tuesday 30th August 23:15
doodles19 said:
Thanks for the replies guys!
I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
How can I control/set the length of time the shutter is open for?
A I am guessing stands for Auto.I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
How can I control/set the length of time the shutter is open for?
You want 'M' for manual.
Then you can set all the settings (aperture, ISO, shutter speed) yourself.
You NEED to use flash for this technique!
The shutter will control the ambient exposure, look at that first pic, 1/4 second shutter - that is how you expose the background and get some swirly movement.
The flash exposure freezes the subject (in 1/8000th of a second), whic is how they have go the subject sharp and the other stuff wavey.
doodles19 said:
Thanks for the replies guys!
I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
Is there a way of controlling the timing of the shutter?
The long-shutter-and-spin is ok, you just need a flash to fire to 'fix' your subjects in place as well I'll look into getting a flash and doing some experimenting.
I've been using the "A" setting on the camera, is this correct?
At present the problem I'm having is controlling the length of time the shutter is open for, I've tried the spin technique for making the lights look cool etc, but i just end up with it being too blurred as the shutter is open to long.
Is there a way of controlling the timing of the shutter?
If the lighting is going to change constantly it might be an idea to shoot in manual mode, get yourself a 'baseline' of settings that you know will work for the general lighting level of the club.
IIRC 'A' is aperture priority and 'S' is shutter priority on Nikons. So 'S' will allow you to set the shutter speed - and ovbiously manual 'M' mode as well...
You really want to be dropping to manual to get full control,. It needs some practice but is worth it for this sort of work as the camera can get very confused with all the bright lights flashing on and off if you're in a club.
To practice start by turning the flash off and (in manual mode) get the exposure so the background looks how you want it.
Now turn the flash on and shoot again. If the subject is too bright/dark then adjust the flash compensation up and down as required.
Eventually you'll get a feel for what the exposure needs to be and what the flash compensation needs to be set to.
This site has lots of good articles about using flash well. http://neilvn.com/tangents/index/
To practice start by turning the flash off and (in manual mode) get the exposure so the background looks how you want it.
Now turn the flash on and shoot again. If the subject is too bright/dark then adjust the flash compensation up and down as required.
Eventually you'll get a feel for what the exposure needs to be and what the flash compensation needs to be set to.
This site has lots of good articles about using flash well. http://neilvn.com/tangents/index/
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