LASER LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY???

Can anyone give me some tips on photographing a Laser Light show?

I will be using a Canon 30D ...with or without filters? Any hints would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I think you'll want to use full manual & maybe start with f/8, ISO 100 for exposure. Chimp, & work from there. I'm just guessing, though.

Be careful that you don't get at an angle that will place the laser light into your eyes. Particularly with magnification.

I've never shot LASER shows with my "good" camera -- always afraid to carry it into such venues (clubs). But I can tell you that LASERs are very easy to capture due to their intense light. I shot a bunch of pics with my portable camera last month that all turned out just great. So depending on how much "feathering" you want (v.s., pin point sharp), don't worry so much about the ISO. Your meter is gonna lie, big time. So just choose an f/8 or f/11, and shoot a speed for how you want to capture them. Just shoot away and check your results as you shoot.

I'd actually love to get an opportunity to set up a tripod at club and shoot a great laser show.

I am sure a low ISO and a long shutter speed will work very well!
Kind of a painting with light thing.
A tripod will be essential though.

poloman wrote in post #5319328
A tripod will be essential though.

+1

fog machines makes it easier, but depending on the scan rate of the laser, you may still get the smoke tunnels 'chopped' (by the scan rate)
my guess would be 1/2 - 1 second exposures would help.
anyone searched for 'laser show' on youtube would have seen the 'chopping effect' -scanning video 25fps + laser mirror at 60 rpm = chopping.

to test this, try taking a picture of a CRT screen at a frame rate higher than 1/25 - you'll get partial scans + black bars

PhotosGuy wrote in post #5316169
I think you'll want to use full manual & maybe start with f/8, ISO 100 for exposure. Chimp, & work from there. I'm just guessing, though.

poloman wrote in post #5316191
Be careful that you don't get at an angle that will place the laser light into your eyes. Particularly with magnification.

Cody21 wrote in post #5319109
I've never shot LASER shows with my "good" camera -- always afraid to carry it into such venues (clubs). But I can tell you that LASERs are very easy to capture due to their intense light. I shot a bunch of pics with my portable camera last month that all turned out just great. So depending on how much "feathering" you want (v.s., pin point sharp), don't worry so much about the ISO. Your meter is gonna lie, big time. So just choose an f/8 or f/11, and shoot a speed for how you want to capture them. Just shoot away and check your results as you shoot.

I'd actually love to get an opportunity to set up a tripod at club and shoot a great laser show.

poloman wrote in post #5319328
I am sure a low ISO and a long shutter speed will work very well!
Kind of a painting with light thing.
A tripod will be essential though.

M_ark wrote in post #5321973
+1

fog machines makes it easier, but depending on the scan rate of the laser, you may still get the smoke tunnels 'chopped' (by the scan rate)
my guess would be 1/2 - 1 second exposures would help.
anyone searched for 'laser show' on youtube would have seen the 'chopping effect' -scanning video 25fps + laser mirror at 60 rpm = chopping.

to test this, try taking a picture of a CRT screen at a frame rate higher than 1/25 - you'll get partial scans + black bars

Thanks to All! Looks like I will have to do some experimenting with exposures as expected. I will post some results later.

Thanks again!

Have a word with Flick usually found in night club photography.

A sample of his work on that topic.

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=5228734&pos​tcount=494