Vegas Pictures...need some help

[Canonator G6000]

Hey all,
I see people on this site giving out some really good advice. I am going to Vegas and would like to get a good night shot w/ respect to leaving the shutter open. Can anyone give me some good settings I could customize for a good still shot shot of the backround but have traffic blurred. The books I read indicate such settings of leaving the shutter open 30sec but I would like some other thoughts.:confused:

[sdommin]

These settings should get you started...

IOS50, 1 sec., f5 (Canon G3)
http://home.att.net/~sdommin/vegas1.jpg

ISO100, 1/4 sec., f3.6 (Leica D2)
http://www.pbase.com/sdommin/image/27946782.jpg

This is New York City, but the effect is the same. ISO50, 1/3 sec., f4 (Canon G3)
http://www.pbase.com/sdommin/image/22685931.jpg

Also see this thread for more tips:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58651

[Steve Parr]

The sky in that second shot looks amazing...

[Raj]

#2 is stunning ...

[Canonator G6000]

Did you have to use a tripod?? I have a small one and was thinking of setting it up and using the remote to take the pictures...thought??

[Raj]

Always recommended to use a tripod at such low shutter speeds unless you have a solid foundation to place your camera. Remote is good, if you dont have one than just use the timer func to prevent camera shake because of hand movement.

[Cadenza]

These settings should get you started...

This is New York City, but the effect is the same. ISO50, 1/3 sec., f4 (Canon G3)


Hey, Scott!

Stop messing with people's heads! :-) I remember
asking you about this NYC photo a long time ago
and you said you used digital blending!

I can just see poor Canonator in Vegas, filling up a
couple GBs of images while repeating, "how did
Scott do it? How did Scott do it? How did Scott do it...?"

Regards, Cadenza

[sdommin]

Hey, Scott!

Stop messing with people's heads! :-) I remember
asking you about this NYC photo a long time ago
and you said you used digital blending!

Hi Cadenza,

You have a good memory - I should have taken that into account! You're right, but I included that photo to demonstrate traffic movement under different shutter speeds. The digital blending was done on the large lighted signs on the upper left side of the picture, so I thought that the photo would still be able to illustrate the point I wanted to make. Good catch, though!

[sdommin]

Always recommended to use a tripod at such low shutter speeds unless you have a solid foundation to place your camera. Remote is good, if you dont have one than just use the timer func to prevent camera shake because of hand movement.

Definately. You always need a tripod or at least some method of holding the camera still (like placing it on a wall or other support). I always carry a small minipod for night shots when I can't carry a full-size tripod. All 3 of the above were done using the minipod. #1 and #2 were placed on a bridge rail. #3 was placed on a trashcan.