Question about night photography...

[Raigoki]

Hi guys... im new here!
Newbie in photography and i would like to ask a question regarding night photos...

here's my shot...


how can i shoot this scene with more sharpness without using a tripod?

ISO 400
Shutter speed 1sec
Aperture size is F3.5

by the way, im using Olympus E-520...

I'm a newbie so pleas bear with me!

[Samanax]

You need to get the camera out of your hands and onto something stable. If you don't have a tripod, use a wall or a ladder or your car or a barrel or put the camera on the ground (or a bean bag on the ground)...anything that doesn't move.

If you must hand-hold the camera then you want to use a Image Stabilization lens to help with the long exposure, but even with Image Stabilization lenses they'll only help if the exposure isn't too long.

You could up the ISO to the max your camera is capable of but be prepared to get a very noisy image.

Use the largest aperture the lens is capable of to help keep the shutter speed up.

Breath slowly and evenly and while the shutter is open, hold your breath.

Hold the camera so that your elbows are tucked in tight to your body.

But for long exposure shots you really should be using a tripod.

[fletch]

With IS built into your E520 you can prob shoot down to 1/10 to 1/20 if you brace, have a steady hand and use a short focal length. To get there you can open the aperture up wide and bump up the ISO (although Olympus are bad for high ISO noise (I have one I can say that!)). However from the shot above you won't be able to to that speed so your only option would be to balance the tripod on something steady such as a wall, bag etc or get a tripod.

[Raigoki]

wow! thanks for the replies!!! i'll try to shoot some night scenes again...

[Samanax]

I tired long exposure night photography awhile ago and this was the result...it's just the street where I live.



Shooting info:
Canon XTi
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II @ 55mm
ISO - 100
Aperture - f/8.0
Shutter Speed - 20 seconds (this is why a tripod is absolutely essential)
Manual Focus
Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod with Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head

[Wombat]

Shoot in Hyper-focal settings. It will be sharp.