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Having never taken an exposure longer than 30 secs, I was naively under the impression that when you set the camera to 'Bulb', one click opens and another closes the shutter.

Last night I found out the hard way that this isn't quite right . Despite a cold, sore hand from holding the shutter open for a few minutes, I'm very happy with the results from this trip to Waverly Cemetary in Sydney.

C&C appreciated, particularly regarding PP. It's easy to pull some crazy, beautiful colours out of the sky with some 'creative' white balance setting, does this work here? The purple patch in the lower left corner in #1 is from me accidentally turning off the camera while it was doing its dark frame subtraction. Any advice regarding composition etc is welcome, I'm going out tonight to try this again (with a brighter torch!).

very nice! colours are great, and they are nice and sharp.
love the star trails.

Rooboy... Get yourself a remote control and then it will be one press to open the shutter - second press to close the shutter...
Much easier - and less chance of camera shake.

You did manage to get a great effect though... The airplane lights look like musical notes on a score...

leek wrote:Rooboy... Get yourself a remote control and then it will be one press to open the shutter - second press to close the shutter...
Much easier - and less chance of camera shake.

I would have bought one today, except that Maxwells in their infinite wisdom does not have any available . At least that is what I was told by both Camera House and Paxtons, both companies have them on order but not in stock. I don't really trust the average salesperson at either shop, but I trust Maxwell's competancy less . Surprisingly there's very little shake evident, considering I had my hand on the shutter the whole time.

Thanks for the comments NJ

rooboy
you can pick up a remote from the famous Birddog.. drop him an email using the proper address that can be found in the bargains section
the d70s can use the wireless remote or its own cable remote... not sure which ones he has

rooboy wrote:

leek wrote:Rooboy... Get yourself a remote control and then it will be one press to open the shutter - second press to close the shutter...
Much easier - and less chance of camera shake.

I would have bought one today, except that Maxwells in their infinite wisdom does not have any available . At least that is what I was told by both Camera House and Paxtons, both companies have them on order but not in stock. I don't really trust the average salesperson at either shop, but I trust Maxwell's competancy less . Surprisingly there's very little shake evident, considering I had my hand on the shutter the whole time.

Thanks for the comments NJ

Have you checked the Bargain Section?
You forgot something

Lovely colours and silhouettes but I'm not sure I'd include the airplane lights...

Link.

birddog114 wrote:Have you checked the Bargain Section?
You forgot something

I think we will end up getting in touch over a remote, but today, we were going to my parents house in Artarmon for lunch. Driving via Belmore isn't exactly the most direct route . Another time...

Aside from my lack of remote, any C&C?

Great affect and nicely done doing bulb the old school way, I can't detect much camera shake.

very cool
and great composition as well
wouldn't it feel a bit spoky to hang around there at night?

wouldn't it feel a bit spoky to hang around there at night?

Exactly my thougts Wendell. I would definitely think twice!

kamran wrote:

wouldn't it feel a bit spoky to hang around there at night?

Exactly my thougts Wendell. I would definitely think twice!

I was there to keep him company.

We did get a little freaked out when a black plastic dog poo bag started flapping in the breeze and we didn't know what it was.

Great shots - I was scratching my head trying to figure out what the plane lights were ... glad someone was on the ball I must admit also to liking the effects you've pulled on the colour of the sky - very pretty

You are a lot gamer than I guys - I live 4 houses away from the cemetary ..... but ours occassionally has goths and some very weird people hanging around very late at night ... and making out on graves Not somewhere I would be game enough to visit (at least around here)

Well done
Rel

Great shots Patrick. As already mentioned, the remote will make your life a lot easier with long exposures and Nikon at Belmore is definitely the place to get one.

I noticed that your signature has changed. Are you going somewhere?

Hi Patrick,

nice colours and you have done well without a remote.

Something you may try is just to give a bit of flash on the graves, if you have a flash, like sb800/600. Just have it on a low power setting, that can work sometimes. You obviously would need a remote to be able to do this, or a willing helper.

A head-torch works well with night photography. Keeps your hands free.

Cheers,

André

Patrick - I like both of these, with the second being just a toiuch in front since there is a little more detail to hold my attention. The plane trail is cool.

ABG wrote:I noticed that your signature has changed. Are you going somewhere?

I wish!

Hasta Luego literally means 'until then,' it's just a common way of saying goodbye in Spanish. I studied the language for 3 years at uni, and need to get some use out of it, even if no-one understands

Thanks for all the comments everyone

Great shots, I likes em

Re: the remote control, if you don't feel like paying the full amount of the official Nikon branded D70s remote, you can get el cheapo ones from ebay. I got one last week ("adidt" branded, IIRC). Cost $8... plus $10 postage! Received it within a week from Hong Kong. A little bit flimsy, but perfectly usable. You can half-press, release the shutter, and lock it down for bulb exposures. You could make do with the wireless remote, but I think the wired remotes are a more elegant solution for long exposures.

rooboy wrote:

leek wrote:Rooboy... Get yourself a remote control and then it will be one press to open the shutter - second press to close the shutter...
Much easier - and less chance of camera shake.

I would have bought one today, except that Maxwells in their infinite wisdom does not have any available . At least that is what I was told by both Camera House and Paxtons, both companies have them on order but not in stock. I don't really trust the average salesperson at either shop, but I trust Maxwell's competancy less . Surprisingly there's very little shake evident, considering I had my hand on the shutter the whole time.

Thanks for the comments NJ

Whoever this Maxwells mob is there name is mud as far as this site is concerned . I don't think i've ever read a positive statement about the place and yet you all seem to go there . ( ??? ) Go figure .

drifter wrote: Whoever this Maxwells mob is there name is mud as far as this site is concerned . I don't think i've ever read a positive statement about the place and yet you all seem to go there . ( ??? ) Go figure .

OT: They are the official importer and distributer of Nikon gear in Australia, so if you go to any normal retail shop, you're buying from Maxwells. The problem is that they are *cough* mildly incompetant in their pricing and business plan, regularly running out of stock, taking a long time to service warranty and generally being expensive . It shouldn't be cheaper to buy lenses from the US or Hong Kong, but it is because of Maxwells. Have a look at the availability of the D200 if you want proof.

Everyone goes there because if you want a warranty on your gear, you have to get it through Maxwells. It's not a decision made from choice, if Birdy offered local warranty I don't think anyone in their right mind would buy from Maxwells

radar wrote:Hi Patrick,

nice colours and you have done well without a remote.

Something you may try is just to give a bit of flash on the graves, if you have a flash, like sb800/600. Just have it on a low power setting, that can work sometimes. You obviously would need a remote to be able to do this, or a willing helper.

A head-torch works well with night photography. Keeps your hands free.

Cheers,

André

Excellent idea, the Waverley graveyard would be a great place to try "light painting" with a flash unit or a torch! Defintely worth trying if you go back there.

Link.

Wow, must have been something in the air. I too went to a graveyard about 5 nights ago but unfortunatly only got 2 shots off and was forced out by rain. I cant see the point in making another thread so hope this does not come across like I am trying to hijack your thread. I think the second one could have been balanced out if I had not ghosted myself on just the one side of the tombstone. These are not composite images, all in cam. The main tombstone was also painted with a torch to keep the sky a couple of stops under. My plan is to re visit with an eldely lady, a shaw and ghost a silohette without detail.

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thanks for sharing!
This has motivated me to get my tripod out and take some night stills, thanks so much!