Long Exposure

[thirdxacharm06]

Originally Posted by arlon

This may sound silly but it works..
This evening when you're done with dinner, dishes, kids etc. Sit down on the couch with your camera and manual. Just start fiddling with it until things start to make sense, try all the modes and experiment with the settings. It may take several hrs of "toe time" (I tend to do hrs of testing from my recliner with my toes as the target) to figure out what everything is doing but the next time you go to the dam you'll be ready. My "toe time" is priceless when I get out to a real location and get it right. I like toes for experimenting because I'm only worried about trying to figure out what the camera does and not about getting a "wall hanger". Everything gets deleted when I'm done and I'll have learned some new tricks..

I always get a lot of "toe time" with any new accessory or idea. It is terribly frustrating to ge to a good shooting spot and not be able to get the shot.. Get some "toe time" in and your next shots will be stellar. There is no substitute for learning like taking pictures. May not be the specific answer you're looking for but I've had a number of folks learn more about their cameras with "toe time" than anything else.

Thanks Arlon! I appreciate your suggestions! I will definitely get some "toe time" in. I have been practicing with my studio lighting with my kid's stuffed animals so I'm not opposed to farting around with my camera and shooting my toes.

[Jinks]

When you say trigger, do you mean the Infra Red remote control?

I also have a D5000 and I've used an IR on bulb. With mine it's one press to open the shutter and one press to close the shutter with however long in between. Don't know if that helps.

[thirdxacharm06]

Originally Posted by Jinks

When you say trigger, do you mean the Infra Red remote control?

I also have a D5000 and I've used an IR on bulb. With mine it's one press to open the shutter and one press to close the shutter with however long in between. Don't know if that helps.

I was doing that but it seemed like I had to hold the button down for like 2 sec or it would just take a quick shot and not hold the shutter open for me until I decided to stop my exposure on my own. I know it was probably user error in there somewhere. LOL

[Tzetsin]

Do you know what ISO you were using? 100 iso 5 minutes wouldnt be hard to imagine, though the ghosting would still be there. I was outside doing galaxy shots last night, no moon, no light pollution and the country side was properly exposed at 20 seconds and 3200 iso. Your exposure is ok and there is alot of light pollution there, so I'd really guess 5 second. You would know better than us though, could you see your surroundings with the naked eye? if you could, then i'd say 5 second.

[Oilsands]

I use a Nikon wireless remote with my Nkon D70s, camera set for remote use with no time delay.
If I have the shutter setting at anything quicker than 30", I press the remote button once and it will take the photo and automatically close after the time is reached.
If I have it set to Bulb, then when I press the button on the remote (same length of time as if pressing the button on the camera) it would open the shutter, then another press (after the time I want for exposure) and the shutter closes.

Nice photo by the way, but have to agree with the rest that it is a 5 sec exposure. I use a 5 min exposure setting when shooting in near total darkness and an ISO of 400 or so.

[Ekir]

Great advice, Arlon!

This is what I too, do with any new accessoryand any new ideas kn mags that I have read..works wonders for understanding stuff better!

Lou.

Originally Posted by arlon

This may sound silly but it works..
This evening when you're done with dinner, dishes, kids etc. Sit down on the couch with your camera and manual. Just start fiddling with it until things start to make sense, try all the modes and experiment with the settings. It may take several hrs of "toe time" (I tend to do hrs of testing from my recliner with my toes as the target) to figure out what everything is doing but the next time you go to the dam you'll be ready. My "toe time" is priceless when I get out to a real location and get it right. I like toes for experimenting because I'm only worried about trying to figure out what the camera does and not about getting a "wall hanger". Everything gets deleted when I'm done and I'll have learned some new tricks..

I always get a lot of "toe time" with any new accessory or idea. It is terribly frustrating to ge to a good shooting spot and not be able to get the shot.. Get some "toe time" in and your next shots will be stellar. There is no substitute for learning like taking pictures. May not be the specific answer you're looking for but I've had a number of folks learn more about their cameras with "toe time" than anything else.