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Shooting with 950 in the dark with lit background!

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Hilal

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Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--Hilal
 
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!
Click to expand...
There is a slow setting for flash that causes the flash to be triggered during a long exposure. If you cycle through the flash choices you will find it.

The long exposure works as if you didn't use the flash (allowing the night scene to be recorded), but since the flash also triggers, your near subject will be illuminated correctly. Just be sure to hold the camera very very steady, as the total exposure may be quite long.

good luck
Robert Jeantet
 
Or, go into PhotoShop or other image editing software application on your computer, bring up both pictures and paint the background into the picture in which the lady is properly exposed (no rude comments here, please).

This is one of the wonderful benefits of digital photography--you don't have to accept the reality of a single exposure.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
 
Is "painting the background" something that happens at the click of a button or are there specific procedures that must be followed. Could you please elaborate?
Thanks.
bobpitz.
Tyler Monson said:
Or, go into PhotoShop or other image editing software application on your
computer, bring up both pictures and paint the background into the
picture in which the lady is properly exposed (no rude comments here,
please).

This is one of the wonderful benefits of digital photography--you don't
have to accept the reality of a single exposure.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
Click to expand...
 
Hilal

Try maximum exposure (+2EV?) in conjunction with the flash.
 
Try using "Spot metering" : in M-rec mode, select Menu - Metering - Spot.

When taking the picture, focus your girlfriend in the box on LCD. (And do not use flash.)
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
 
Robert

What do u mean by long exposure?...do I select a slow shutter speed?

If so..how slow?

and again, if so...do I use the slow setting of the flash at the same time?

Please elaborate.

Hilal
Robert Jeantet said:
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!
Click to expand...
There is a slow setting for flash that causes the flash to be triggered
during a long exposure. If you cycle through the flash choices you will
find it.
The long exposure works as if you didn't use the flash (allowing the
night scene to be recorded), but since the flash also triggers, your near
subject will be illuminated correctly. Just be sure to hold the camera
very very steady, as the total exposure may be quite long.

good luck
Robert Jeantet
Click to expand...
 
bobpitz said:
Is "painting the background" something that happens at the click of a
button or are there specific procedures that must be followed. Could you
please elaborate?
Click to expand...
Sure, Bob. I'll explain it in terms of PhotoShop, with which I am most familiar.

Open two image files on the desktop (in PhotoShop). Select the rubber stamp tool and pick a point on the source image (while hold down the Command key on the Mac, Control key on the PC I suppose). Now place the cursor at the respective place on the target image. As you move the cursor around (holding down the mouse key) the image from the source image will be "painted" onto the target image. You may adjust the size of the "brush" in the Brushes window. I also use this tool to retouch images by picking a similar area and copying small bits in another place--eliminating not only dust spots but wrinkles, reflections, etc.

You can also control the opacity of the source image being copied onto the target image.

It's an amazing tool that has been around since PhotoShop 1.0. Of course there are zillions of other features in PhotoShop; this is just one of my favorites. You can also use the Layers feature to put in a background from another image.

Before you tear your hair out in anguish over the $600 street price of PhotoShop, remember that the PhotoShop Limited Edition is only $99 and still does just about everything you need.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
Seattle, Washington
 
Thanks, Tyler, I have PS Lite and PSP6. I'm going to give this a try.
bobpitz
Tyler Monson said:
bobpitz said:
Is "painting the background" something that happens at the click of a
button or are there specific procedures that must be followed. Could you
please elaborate?
Click to expand...
Sure, Bob. I'll explain it in terms of PhotoShop, with which I am most
familiar.

Open two image files on the desktop (in PhotoShop). Select the rubber
stamp tool and pick a point on the source image (while hold down the
Command key on the Mac, Control key on the PC I suppose). Now place the
cursor at the respective place on the target image. As you move the
cursor around (holding down the mouse key) the image from the source
image will be "painted" onto the target image. You may adjust the size of
the "brush" in the Brushes window. I also use this tool to retouch images
by picking a similar area and copying small bits in another
place--eliminating not only dust spots but wrinkles, reflections, etc.

You can also control the opacity of the source image being copied onto
the target image.

It's an amazing tool that has been around since PhotoShop 1.0. Of course
there are zillions of other features in PhotoShop; this is just one of my
favorites. You can also use the Layers feature to put in a background
from another image.

Before you tear your hair out in anguish over the $600 street price of
PhotoShop, remember that the PhotoShop Limited Edition is only $99 and
still does just about everything you need.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
Seattle, Washington
Click to expand...
 
bobpitz said:
Thanks, Tyler, I have PS Lite and PSP6. I'm going to give this a try.
bobpitz
Click to expand...
bob,

PSP6 does most of what PhotoShop can do, in terms of straightforward image editing. You can use layers and the "clone" tool in PSP6. With a little practice, you should achieve the results you want. I have found that using a pen stylus (instead of a mouse) for fine manipulations has really helped me tremendously. I can recommend the Wacom pen stylus (they have models starting under $100) which works just fine in conjunction with your mouse.
regards
Robert Jeantet
 
That's very good news, Robert. Thanks for the tip.
bobpitz
Robert Jeantet said:
bobpitz said:
Thanks, Tyler, I have PS Lite and PSP6. I'm going to give this a try.
bobpitz
Click to expand...
bob,
PSP6 does most of what PhotoShop can do, in terms of straightforward
image editing. You can use layers and the "clone" tool in PSP6. With a
little practice, you should achieve the results you want. I have found
that using a pen stylus (instead of a mouse) for fine manipulations has
really helped me tremendously. I can recommend the Wacom pen stylus (they
have models starting under $100) which works just fine in conjunction
with your mouse.
regards
Robert Jeantet
Click to expand...
 
I've read the other suggestions here. Yet, I have one more.

It seems to me the easiest solution would be the normal exposure with the fill-in flash. You said the background was fine when you had the flash off... so, just choose the option for fill-in...

you do this by pressing the flash selector button until just the lighting bolt is on... no red-eye or 'auto' indicator.... I have used this many times in just such a situation. I think it will give you the results you are looking for...
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
 
Robert Jeantet said:
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!
Click to expand...
There is a slow setting for flash that causes the flash to be triggered
during a long exposure. this the only way as far as I know!! that works for me
Click to expand...
 
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
Firstly Hilal, the palace is a long way behind your girlfriend and in the dark the auto flash will always expose for the main subject, your girlfriend. What you want is not on the 950 or many other digicams, a separate flash. Someone has already mentioned opening up the exposure by +2 or opening up the aperture to f2.6 or f4.0, good, that may do the trick(it will certainly brighten the background) but your girlfiend will be overexposed because you will still get full flash, if its nightime especially(there is no fill flash for nightime shots). So you can do one of two things: either cover the flash with something semi clear and reduce the flash output or move back several paces and zoom in and then take the picture. But for heavens sake! you do have a diigcam, don't you? Use the LCD to judge the results and try again if you are not satisfied.
 
I thought that was supposed to be full-power flash.
bobpitz.
jefferson W. said:
It seems to me the easiest solution would be the normal exposure with the
fill-in flash. You said the background was fine when you had the flash
off... so, just choose the option for fill-in...

you do this by pressing the flash selector button until just the lighting
bolt is on... no red-eye or 'auto' indicator.... I have used this many
times in just such a situation. I think it will give you the results you
are looking for...
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
It's called Slow-Sync flash. In A-Rec or M-Rec modes, press the flash until you see Slow with the lightening bolt.

Suggest you get a copy of Dennis P. Curtin's "A Short Course in Niken Coolpix 950 Photography" - $15-$20 US at Amazon.com. It's more helpful than the Nikon manual.
bobpitz.
Hilal said:
What do u mean by long exposure?...do I select a slow shutter speed?

If so..how slow?

and again, if so...do I use the slow setting of the flash at the same time?

Please elaborate.

Hilal
Robert Jeantet said:
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!
Click to expand...
There is a slow setting for flash that causes the flash to be triggered
during a long exposure. If you cycle through the flash choices you will
find it.
The long exposure works as if you didn't use the flash (allowing the
night scene to be recorded), but since the flash also triggers, your near
subject will be illuminated correctly. Just be sure to hold the camera
very very steady, as the total exposure may be quite long.

good luck
Robert Jeantet
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You know what? I think you are right. I'm not sure exactly how much "full" power is, but you don't want to use that with a dark background. Fill-in should be used for bright backgrounds. My advice could wash out your subject matter, but has a slim chance of working, depending on the situation, distance from subject, etc....

The slow-synch idea was a better one. Especially with fireworks! Thanks for the correction.
bobpitz said:
jefferson W. said:
It seems to me the easiest solution would be the normal exposure with the
fill-in flash. You said the background was fine when you had the flash
off... so, just choose the option for fill-in...

you do this by pressing the flash selector button until just the lighting
bolt is on... no red-eye or 'auto' indicator.... I have used this many
times in just such a situation. I think it will give you the results you
are looking for...
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you all for your valuable and variable advices...

I will certainly experiment with them all.

Hilal
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
 
Hi there,

You've got a lot of advice on what to do next time this shooting situation comes up. But it seems to me that if you do have a good picture of the fireworks and a good picture of your girlfriend you can use a photo imaging program to 'put them together' to achieve the results you were looking for- at least in this situation. By good pictures I'm assuming that you didn't move your position or she her position and ended up taking two pics from the same view. If you still have the two pictures and don't have the digital imaging software I'd be happy to take a look and see what can be done with them.
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
 
That's very kind of you Gil..

But unfortunately I wasn't able to produce good images of neither, so it is really not worth the hassle. But it would be great if you point out the steps of manipulating such photos in Photoshop.

sincerely
Hilal
Gil said:
You've got a lot of advice on what to do next time this shooting
situation comes up. But it seems to me that if you do have a good picture
of the fireworks and a good picture of your girlfriend you can use a
photo imaging program to 'put them together' to achieve the results you
were looking for- at least in this situation. By good pictures I'm
assuming that you didn't move your position or she her position and ended
up taking two pics from the same view. If you still have the two pictures
and don't have the digital imaging software I'd be happy to take a look
and see what can be done with them.
Hilal said:
Can anyone please help me in how to set the 950 for shooting subjects at
night while also showing lit objects at the background. I was very
disappointed that I couldnt take a proper picture of my girlfriend on new
year eve in front of Buckingham Palace.

When I used the flash, the subject (my girlfriend) appeared fine but the
background was completely dark.

When I didn't use the flash, the subject was under expsed but the lit
background was just ok.

Photography is not my speciality but I would like to learn..so please HELP!

--
Hilal
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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