Help wanted photographing light pollution

[sparkythecat]

I want to try and photograph the light pollution eminating from a local business park. When viewed from 2 or 3 miles away, the site itself is screened from view, but it's as though someone out of view is shining a massive lamp from the site, up towards the heavens.

I have a very sturdy tripod and the choice of either a Panasonic TZ7 compact or a Panasonic DMC FZ50
Unfortunately I don't have a remote shutter release of any sort.

Any tips on how to go about taking a good photo of this phenomena would be welcome

[cottonfoo]

30 seconds is probably enough to show the pollution at ISO 1600 or above, depending on how much there is. You don't really need a remote for that if your camera has a shutter release delay option (where you press the shutter but it won't actually actuate until N-delay seconds later).

[AndWhyNot]

^^ I'd go the opposite way and use short exposures at lower ISO. Shoot wide angle too. You'll still get the light pollution but the sky above will be dark as if to emphasise the point. Don't know how you'd set your particular camera to do that but it'll start with 'M' for manual mode.

[sparkythecat]

AndWhyNot said:

^^ I'd go the opposite way and use short exposures at lower ISO. Shoot wide angle too. You'll still get the light pollution but the sky above will be dark as if to emphasise the point. Don't know how you'd set your particular camera to do that but it'll start with 'M' for manual mode.

Don't you mean longer exposures at a lower ISO ?

[jr502]

I think he means shortish exposure and low ISO, as on long exposures a tiny amount of light pollution looks like a lot. So an obvious long exposure will look too much like it's exaggerating the pollution. A more realistic 'eyesight' type shot will highlight that it is a larger problem, as extreme exposure were not needed.

[AndWhyNot]

jr502 said:

I think he means shortish exposure and low ISO, as on long exposures a tiny amount of light pollution looks like a lot. So an obvious long exposure will look too much like it's exaggerating the pollution. A more realistic 'eyesight' type shot will highlight that it is a larger problem, as extreme exposure were not needed.

^ This.

[AndWhyNot]

Just trawled my flickr for an example, best I can come up with isolated light pollution is this at 15sec f/4 ISO400. Light pollution visible on the clouds but the rest of the sky's dark after this long. Longer you expose for, the more the gap (ie contrast) will close.

[pastrana72]

If you ignore the light trail and look at the sky it is the effect of light pollution+Clouds+wind.

Taken with a lumix LX 3, on iso 100, starry skymode on scene selecter, 15 sec's exposure, tripod and 10 second delay timer. You should be able to do this on your TZ7.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/czd72/sets/7215760297...

for more examples.

[Simpo Two]

That has something of a flame-grilled whopper about it!

[sparkythecat]

Thanks for all the tips chaps. I'm now just waiting now fo the right cloud conditions to take my photograph.