Long Exposures... apps? books? suggestions?

[JWMster]

So I'm after some long exposures in twilight of dawn/dusk when not much of anything is going to read on an exposure meter. EV 1 or 2 or something like that. That's the obvious stuff. But then there's the stuff for practice inside.... still life under low low low light and the like.

Question is how to find some guidance on this. I downloaded an iPhone app and apps with a lot of power tend to be under documented. Read: Yes, that's what I got and it's set up just fine if I lived in Sydney, Austrailia... which I don't. Something simpler might do. Even a book!

Wonder if you've any particular recommendations? Appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

A good handheld meter (I'm still using old LunaPros, named such because they really will meter moonlight.) will meter the levels you want to photograph under.
That, and reciprocity failure tables should get you started. Keep accurate notes, too. Color films can shift their color balance, B&W will have only the reciprocity issue.

 

[tedr1]

Bracket like crazy!

 

[Sirius Glass]

So easy. Print out this calculator slide. I have been using it since the early 1960's with great success. It works exceptionally well with slide film.

http://f-sunny.com/night-exposures-in-a-jiffy/
http://www.cppdh.org/download/jiffy-calculator-for-night-light-exposures.pdf
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Cameras/JiffyCalc.pdf

 

[Molli]

...
Question is how to find some guidance on this. I downloaded an iPhone app and apps with a lot of power tend to be under documented. Read: Yes, that's what I got and it's set up just fine if I lived in Sydney, Australia... which I don't.
...

I think you should probably just move to Sydney, Australia... but then, I may well be a tad biased!

Failing that, Sirius Glass' link to that Jiffy Calculator has worked well for me over the years as well. If memory serves correctly, I also spent a long time reading every thread I could find on long exposures and reciprocity failure here at Photrio and threw in some (barely educated) guesses and a touch of "what the heck" luck when I first started out. I also kept very good notes so, at the end of the day, I could see what worked and what didn't and extrapolated from there.

.....but, seriously, just move to Sydney, Australia!

 

[JWMster]

Well.... thanks guys! Given the degree of difficulty.... between printing out a webpage and moving to Sydney.... it's Sydney here I come! Wait... I forgot about the salt water crocs, the highly toxic spiders, the fire tornadoes.... okay.... I guess the print out looks the way to go. Thanks! ESPECIALLY for the enthusiasm. Given a friend wants to go with me to shoot a water fall at dawn.... I've gotta figure this out pronto. Thanks!

 

[Bill Burk]

Check out Post 23 of this thread where Vaughn gave us Michael Kenna's tip sheet:

https://photrio.com/forum/index.php...-nighttime-shots-always-look-so-bright.98446/

 

[jimjm]

I can recommend "Night Photography" by Andrew Sanderson as a good reference. There are a few copies available on Amazon now. Lots of examples shown in the book and he covers equipment, film, exposures and all types of challenging lighting situations. Also a section on processing and printing techniques for night photography.