Question about night shooting

[kimmie]

I'm new to this ...obviously, but was wondering what should I set things at for capturing a night time fire.

Reason I ask, I was awoken to this popping sound. At first I thought someone was firing off guns. Then my Daughter woke us up to tell us the farm house across the road from us was burning down.

I grabbed my camera but what I fired off isn't the greatest - it's all too bright (and blurry). I know it would have made for some great shots.

The good thing is that the house was vacant so no lives were taken.

TIA

[Pete]

I guess it really depends on how close you are to the fire and how bright it is. Exposure is a bit of a compromise. A quick way is to change the exposure mode to centre point only and aim right at the fire. If it's got blown highlights in the middle, dial in a stop of so of underexposure.

Let's hope you won't have to practice again too soon.

[John_B]

kimmie,
Yea I agree with Pete, hope you won't have to practice again too soon.

I also agree with Pete's suggestion, give it a try on a fireplace or wood grill using partial or spot metering. However it really depends on the situation, be better if you posted a photo ;)

[RTMiller]

The flames of a fire move very fast and of course are quite bright. Try a faster shutter speed.

[kimmie]

Well I do hope I never have that practice again - at least not so close!

Here are a couple of the shots. I'm just sorry I wasn't quite awake enough to grab my tripod as you can tell they are blurry. I get too excited and have to learn to calm down when an opportunity arises like this. I cropped them so they aren't too huge. Like I said, they are blurry! :oops:

1. Tv 1/5Sec; Av F4.5; Exposure -1/3; ISO 1000; Lens EF75-300mm f/4-5.6; Focal Length 130.0 mm

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn106/kimmie-wf/IMG_1012.jpg

2. Tv 1/5Sec; Av F4.5; Exposure -1/3; ISO 1000; Lens EF75-300mm f/4-5.6; Focal Length 130.0 mm


http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn106/kimmie-wf/IMG_1013.jpg

[SuzyView]

Did you call 911?

Hold that thing still! It's hard to get a good shot at night.

[RTMiller]

Wow that must have been awesome to see.

1/5 of a second is tough even when shooting something stationary, let alone a fast moving flame.

Here is a flame at 1/800 of a second...
http://rtmiller.smugmug.com/photos/91560457_qa2zy-M-1.jpg

[kimmie]

I know and I should have known better to not grab my tripod or even monopod at least. It was all happening so fast.

It was awesome to see. Let's see - it was across from us, our driveway is 1200 ft in length alone, this place is set back probably 1000 feet from the road, so that's easily 2200 ft from where I was standing on my front porch.

We didnt' call 911 because we didn't even know about it except for being awakened to the popping noise it was making. By then the fire company was out there but not doing much but making sure it didn't spread. I think by then the house was too engulfed to do anything but let it go.

I definitely will get a lot more practice (controlled burns) AND have that tripod in use - thanks for the tips!

[Pete]

Wow, now that's a fire. Yep. Spot exposure on the tree to the left of the fireball would ahve got you mostly there (and would have raised your shutter speed a whole lot too).

The problem is that the camera is trying to take a meter reading based on a small amount of white stuff and a large amount of black stuff, giving you a half-assed exposure.

Practice with a camp-fire sometime...

[John_B]

kimmie,
Thanks for posting the photos :)
Its really the slow shutter speed with a telephoto that is the most fault. Of course a tripod is the best option but even leaning on a tree (before it burns down) could help ;)

Luckily your home wasn't affected and no one was hurt...

[kimmie]

kimmie,
Thanks for posting the photos :)
Its really the slow shutter speed with a telephoto that is the most fault. Of course a tripod is the best option but even leaning on a tree (before it burns down) could help ;)

Luckily your home wasn't affected and no one was hurt...


ROFL leaning on that tree! Fortunately we didn't "feel" the heat from that fire either!

I'm going to practice on some campfires (when they lift this burn ban) so I truly appreciate the tips! I want to learn so much and soo fast - can someone do a brain dump with me? :lol: I know practice, practice ....and more practice!