Sunrise

[Graemey]

Hello All,

I'm thinking of trying to get some shots of the sunrise, I have a ND Grad filter 2 and I read that I needed to lock in a reading while say pointing my camera at the grass then re focus etc. Is that right and any other advise please,

Thank you as always,

Best wishes,
Graeme

[SwissJon]

Hi Graeme

Don't worry too much about the exposure.. As the sun comes up, it's going to change constantly anyway. Keep an eye on the histogram on your display.. If it's all hunched over to the left, then crank your exposure up a little. If it's to the right, crank it down a little.

Get there about 1/2 an hour before sunrise at least.. Some of the most fabulous colours appear well before the offial sunrise time. At this time, when it's almost dark, you should be shooting some very long exposures.. I tend to use any aperture that allows me to keep the shutter open between 2s and 30s, you're shooting in almost dark, so take your camera off autofocus and focus it manually.

Take a tripod and a remote shutter release and use mirror lock up if you can.

Use ISO 100, (Or 200 if that's your native resolution) a small aperture (f/14-f/22) and adjust your speed to suit.

Don't forget the compostion.. The sunrise is a dramatic backdrop, not a subject in itself.. you still need foreground interest.

Keep shooting, changing your aperture, focal length. Try using the hyperfocal length.

Relax and enjoy.. It doesn't matter if all your photos don't come out perfectly.. In fact, it's unlikely they all will, some might, but if this is your first time you'll make mistakes, it's part of the leaning curve.. But DON'T hurry, get there in plenty of time, get your kit set up and start shooting.. If you hurry, you'll make more mistakes.. If you leave yourself time, and remember to check aperture, speed, ISO, focus, exposure, you should be ok.

[Graemey]

Hi Jon,

Thank you so much for your reply, a lesson in itself, I think I'll print it out and take it along with me,

Thanks again,

Best wshes
Graeme

[PowerPix]

Yeah, definitely follow Jon's advice. Be sure to get there plenty early, you don't want to miss that special moment in a sunrise where it's just perfect. You can check sunrise and sunset times for your location here -- http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

Here are two that I got just the other day with some exif info if it helps.

Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 100




Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 125