I have a Nikon D7000 and a Nikon D90 using a SB 900 flash. I am going on a rally soon that includes some night stages. Does anybody have any advice on what maybe good settings to use on the night stages? Any advice would be really helpfull and i would really greatfull.
Photos During Night Car Rally w/D7000, D90, SB900-Advice?
(16 posts) (6 voices)-
Posted 7 months ago #
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which lens are you using ?
The best time will be just after sunset
focusing a fast moving car in low light will be a challenge
the infra red focusing on the SB900 will not work on C
try and find a spot with some ambient light
near a TV crew with flood lights can be good
it may be better to set focus to M and focus on on predetermined spotset the ISO to at least 1600 or higher
if using flash in total darkness, do not use the diffuser
depending on the course, look at at least two vantage points, one at the start and one at the end, and have a mate and fast car, to get you form one stage to another
get close but do try to not get run overPosted 7 months ago # -
You want to shoot from the car or of the participants....? At check points, if well lighted, use the D7000 and available light with high ISO. The lens...you did not say... How about giving more info about the available lenses. My thoughts are a 24-35mm f/1.4 or f/2 for the check point available light shots, if you want telephotos... 135mm f/2 Nikkor w/ full powered and the ISo cranked up to get an f/stop of f/8.
You may have to manually focus at night if the IR focus will not reach. Flash w/a 50mm f/1.4 might also work if you can be close enough, but be careful. Some drivers are busy threatening the lives of the navigator, others not paying attention to the objects at the side of the road and still others may be in over their heads....been there, done this....good luck.
Posted 7 months ago # -
The rally will be in November and the night stages i will be attending will take place in a forest and be at 18.00 hours and 21.00 hours so will be very dark. The lence i am wanting to use is a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3
Posted 7 months ago # -
Well, if you had a fast prime, this would be nice... If you are a competitor, shooting from your car, a short fast prime or zoom is the only way to go, but if you are at the side of the road and can be at a check point, you may be able to shoot at a high ISO and get some shots.
What you need to do if you want to really get photos is to go out and do a dry run in a similar situation in the forest to that which you will encounter during the rally. You will then have some experience and will not totally screw up the photos when you are live.
Posted 7 months ago # -
msmoto said:
Well, if you had a fast prime, this would be nice... If you are a competitor, shooting from your car, a short fast prime or zoom is the only way to go, but if you are at the side of the road and can be at a check point, you may be able to shoot at a high ISO and get some shots.What you need to do if you want to really get photos is to go out and do a dry run in a similar situation in the forest to that which you will encounter during the rally. You will then have some experience and will not totally screw up the photos when you are live.
Cheers for that. The shots will be taken from outside the car,if i can get the same spot as i normally get it will be on the outside of a hairpin bend. I am hoping to take shots of the side of the cars or even taken head on as they approach the hairpin
Posted 7 months ago # -
OK, but shooting flash into the driver's eyes may not be good. When shooting available light, head on, the headlights will fool the light metering system into thinking there is a lot of light and the result is you get black photos of nice bright headlights and no car.. So, shoot after the headlight is off you, adjust about a stop or two (add + 2 ev) for the apparent light and test from there.
If using flash, I would try a Lumiquest soft box at about a foot over the center of the lens with the SB-900. Maybe even holding the soft box/flash about four feet above me...on a pole. This might help to eliminate any reflections from the car sides. Have your grip (assistant) hold the flash....LOL...actually, a lightweight pole can be inserted into a back pack and with a lot of gaffer's tape of duck tape made into a sturdy flash holder.
So, you did not want all this advice... but this is a monster problem and I was just working it out based upon my experiences... and what I might try. By all means be careful and do not place yourself in any danger...
Posted 7 months ago # -
Practice panning as you are pushing (or over) the limits of your gear.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Yes, spraynpray, I might even try 1/125 sec, panning at about 6-10 FPS or whatever the camera can do... no flash...wide open with a fast prime lens at f/1.4. And maybe even very slow shutter speeds, hoping to get one or two. Panning at 1/30 sec can get a few if you are very good.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Thanks for the advice, i will give it a try. I know i am pushing my camera to the limit but as with a lot of people sadly money is the problem!
Posted 7 months ago # -
You're going to have and pan if you're shooting at night. The P mode on the D7000 will be your best bet using the flash in this situation and I'd use auto iso.
On metering I'd use Dynamic because of the headlights and then use a software where you can recover shadows, Nikon's free ViewNX2 software has an excellent shadow recovery. You're also going to have some noise to get rid of and for that I suggest Topaz's Denoise 5, it's the best denoise software out there and it's inexpensive.
Good luck and look forward to seeing your shots, Andy.
Oh, one more thing, get behind the biggest tree you can find! :)
Posted 7 months ago # -
I attened the R.A.C Rally last night and here are my results https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.440323846016664.97995.100001171566590&type=3 and https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.440459386003110.98013.100001171566590&type=3 hope these links work. I had my camera set to f/6.3 aperture,shutter speed 1/60th, exp:comp:+1,ISO 800 and my SB900 flash was set on GN, +3EV asnd 20.0m
Posted 5 months ago # -
Sorry try this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/90425553@N04/ . Hope this works
Posted 5 months ago # -
Great shots.. this must be a vintage car rallye, correct?
Posted 5 months ago # -
Cheers mate, yeah it was the Roger Albert Clark Rally for historic rally cars. These shots were taken in Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Great Pics Andy :D
Posted 5 months ago #
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