Equipment Needed:

Pack camera, cable release & tripod carefully
(If weather is very cold, place camera in plastic bag first to prevent condensation problems)  
*Very cold weather can cause camera/meter to ‘lock up’&/or can cause lens to ‘fog up’ (due to condensation).

Safety Reminders:

• Never go out alone when you intend to photograph at night.
• Always dress appropriately.

Use the instructions given below to photograph several different types of subject matter in such a way that you capture 4-5 bracketed* sets of high quality night photo &/or other interesting low-light photos.
*Bracketing  (definition)   To “bracket” means take several pictures of the same scene,  but for each one change either the camera lens aperture or the shutter speed, (but not both at the same time).

Remember:  Low Light/Night Photography is guess work!  How much time you need for a proper exposure can vary based on film speed, how much light is present, wind conditions, & even temperature*.  Some shots can take as much as 7-20 minutes! 

·         For this & every assignment it is necessary for you to keep records of frame #, shutter speed, aperture, and distance information on a log sheet. Log sheets are provided for your use.

·         After taking all of the assigned photographs, develop the film using instructions given in class.

·         Allow the processed negatives to dry, then cut the strip into sets of 5 frames and store the negatives in an archival storage page (available in class).

·         Use the instructions given in class to scan the best negative in each set of 5 bracketed images.  Set the output/print size setting on your negative scanner to 9 x 6" so that the resolution setting will be high enough to produce a fine quality image.

·         Use Adobe Photoshop and the instructions given in class to "optimize" your image.

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT

(Click here to see a version of these instructions for digital camera users.)

FOR THIS UNIT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT* FOUR SEPARATE PROJECTS:

1.   Two  9" X 6"  photos as follows: 

............... Select the best two of all of your night/low-light images and make one 9" x 6"  photo quality print of each image.  

....2.   One  9" X 6"  photo as follows: 

............... Select the best of your ghost or white outline images and make one 9" x 6"  photo quality print of that image. 

3.   Select the best of your night/low light images and create a set of greeting cards.  
  (Click here to see instructions that tell you how to create a set of greeting cards.)

4.   Select the best of all of the images you have created since the beginning of the year and make any one of the following constructed projects:    
 .................... A 12-sided photo ornament  (Follow the instructions demonstrated in class by your photo teacher.)
 .................... A photo gift tin or box   (click here for instructions)
 .................... A photo T-shirt or Tote bag   (Follow the instructions demonstrated in class by your photo teacher.)

(*WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR NIGHT PHOTO UNIT PROJECT SET ... remember to submit your camera log sheet and your set of negatives for grading. )

·        Pack camera, cable release & tripod carefully
(If weather is very cold, place camera in plastic bag first to prevent condensation problems)  
*Very cold weather can cause camera/meter to ‘lock up’&/or can cause lens to ‘fog up’ (due to condensation).

Directions:  (To produce a good photograph with low light and/or night conditions)

A.  Practice these steps before you go to the place where you want to take your photograph(s)

 1.)  Set up camera and tripod

 2.)  Attach, test, & practice using your cable release 

3.)  Set lens aperture to f/8 

B.  Select an appropriate place for night or low light photographs

C.   Set up tripod and mount the camera; make sure that camera is level with the plane of the horizon.

D.  Attach cable release

E.  Set lens aperture to f / 8

F. Compose your photo & Focus carefully (use distance scale if necessary)

G.  Turn your camera’s on/off switch to the ‘on’ position

H.  Take a set of bracketed* exposures as follows:

1.  Set shutter speed at 1/2 second (Shutter Speed / Mode readout Window shows ‘2’)

2.  Set shutter speed at 1 second (Shutter Speed / Mode readout Window shows ‘1’)

3.  Set shutter speed at ‘B’ (Shutter Speed / Mode readout shows ‘B’)

      Open camera shutter by pressing in cable release pin and holding it depressed

      wait 30 seconds, then release the  pin to close shutter.

4.  Set shutter speed at ‘B’ (Shutter Speed / Mode readout shows ‘B’)

      Open camera shutter by pressing in cable release pin and holding it depressed

      wait 1 minute, then release the  pin to close shutter.

5.  Set shutter speed at ‘B’ (Shutter Speed / Mode readout Window shows ‘B’)

      Open camera shutter by pressing in cable release pin and holding it depressed

      wait 2 minutes, then release the  pin to close shutter.

I.  Pack up camera, cable release & tripod carefully

(If weather is very cold, place camera in plastic bag first to prevent condensation problems)

Take Four different sets of photos as explained above – one set of five photos for each of four different scenes.

For your fifth photo set use the instructions given in class to take either a “ghost” photo or a light outline photo.

• (Click here to see instructions for creating a "ghost" photo using a 35 mm camera.)

  • Click here to see "Ghost photo" instructions using a digital camera.

• (Click here to see instructions for creating a light outline photo using a 35mm camera.)

  • Click here to see instructions for a light outline photo using a digital camera.

Suggested Aperture/Shutter Speed Combinations  (with ISO 400 film)
For other special low light situations

    Photo by Melissa Bello               Photo by Erin Odegard

   Photo by David Mielech          Photo by David Mielech 

 Photo by Molly Kuehl              Photo by John Anthes       

(To see a larger view of the student photographs above, just click on the thumbnail image. 
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