Night Photography: offroad lights - suggestions?

[sionnach]

So I'm starting to try and take photos of my rig with various amounts of the lights on.

I'm looking to get some advice on the best way to do it without getting ghosting or lens flare.

Anyone have suggestions? examples?

 

[Tucson T4R]

There are way too many factors to cover them all but if you are talking about low light which drives longer exposures and potentially ghosting, then you should stabilize the camera with a tripod. Flare is usually due to bright light sources in front of the camera lens. Have a chair in front of the fire or position your shot so the light is coming from behind you.

 

[nwoods]

Also, look up "painting with light" or similar subjects. You can do a longer exposure, and simply point a flashlight at the truck and it will turn out okay. For more specific help, post a picture that you like and want to try to duplicate on your own.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Light painting is fun. If you really want ghosts, shoot 15-20 second exposure off a tripod and light your subject with a flashlight or LED headlamp for only the first 8-10 seconds, then have them roll or walk out of the scene and continue lighting what was behind them.

Now you have a ghost:

 

[sionnach]

Here is what I'm trying to do.

This photo is from the rear of my truck and you'll see the red ghosting flares from the lens.

IMG_1014And22more_tonemapped by sionnach_tbg, on Flickr

What I'm trying to do is get a good nighttime shot that also shows the amount of light the thing puts out.

Here is another.


IMG_0979And20more_tonemapped by sionnach_tbg, on Flickr

 

[RusherRacing]

If the light hits the lens of the camera directly it creates the flare.
The Lens can not be pointed directly into the light.


I personally have never done a shoot like this but I would start with a solid tripod, back away from the truck in a shadow then try and redo the shot.

 

[78Bronco]

I would try a double exposure shot. Short exposure with lights on then a second long exposure with the lights off.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Try the shot with some ND filters on the lens. It might allow you to have all the lights on and still not have them overpower the scene.

If you put on a Circular Polarizer, you might be able to rotate it to get rid of the flare or compensate for the lighting?? I'm only speculating because I've never tried it, but always use a CP when shooting auto's at an auto-show to get rid of reflections in the glass

 

[loren85022]

A double exposure might work, or try hiding someone in the car. Have them flick the lights on/off for a brief second during the exposure.

 

[mervifwdc]

Dust or fog can help to show the light beams.

http://mervcolton.com/?p=112&nggpage=2&pageid=112




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[PKDreamers]

One of shots 130 sec exposure no flash but turned the truck headlights on about 40 secs.