Xmas Parade @ Night

[cdasmiller]

With my limited hardware, this is the best I can do. Any comments are welcomed. I learned plenty from shooting at night.
This is what I was using. Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT w/18-55mm built in flash only. Ithink they came out OK. what equipment should I invest in next? I will be shooting more night pics with action (more parades and football games) in the future.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6103.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6110.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6120.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6151.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6152.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6156.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6157.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/cmiller250f/07%20Xmas%20Parade/IMG_6158.jpg

Any advice is appreciated.

[thepepperman]

If you're shooting at night, invest in some faster glass. A fixed f/2.8 zoom would be the way to go for parades, giving you maximum versatility. For football or sports, obviously you need something with longer reach.

Try setting your flash sync to the second shutter, which will help with any light trails. The trails will be behind your subject instead of in front of them. (Custum Function 9, set to 1). I've got it set this way for everything.

[cdasmiller]

Custum Function 9, set to 1
I am guessing you mean the Exposure compensation level.

Also with a fixed lense, can I add and extender to get longer reach? I was looking at fixed lenses this past weekend. Looking at getting something in the 30-50 range.

[thepepperman]

Sorry, just saw your reply. Although I do usually lower the Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) I usually shoot in Manual with flash, so I don't change the Exposure Compensation (but I do set the shutter and aperature to underexpose the picture by 0.5-1 stop). CF 9 changes how the flash syncs with the shutter though, which is different. If the flash goes off with the first shutter opening, then darker light trails are exposed throughout the rest of the exposure time, usually leading with your subject (first picture)

If you set the flash to sync with the second shutter (ie. just before the second shutter closes) then the darker light trails will be exposed first, and the brighter flash exposed portion exposed last, meaning the light trails expose behind your moving subject (second picture)

http://www.videodirecteoscameras.com/images/speedlitetech3.jpg