How to capture a dramatic night scene including streaks of light from passing cars...

Twilight is a wonderful time to take pictures. The sky becomes an extraordinary shade of blue, and the light is balanced throughout the scene. Even in rainy conditions as shown above, twilight complements cityscapes and landscapes. This can be one of the best times to record taillights from passing cars as red streaks, creating a dramatic photograph. Twilight lasts for a very short time and the blue sky will fade to black, which can offer creative options as well. Want to capture passing cars with streaks of color? Try these tips...

• Use a tripod, cable release or your camera's self timer
• Choose a low ISO, and use a small aperture for good depth of field 
• Timing, wait until just before a car enters the scene to release the shutter
• The longer the shutter is open, the more streaks that can be captured (more cars, longer streaks)

This photo was taken at  ISO 100, f/11 for about 8 seconds. This is just a generalization, as your exposure will vary depending on quickly or slowly cars are moving through your composition. If the shutter speed is too short, the taillight streaks will end abruptly in the photo. Increase the exposure time as needed to record longer, and more streaks. This is a fun technique and the results can add a lot of color and impact to your photograph! Make great pictures! ~ Deb

PS -My nighttime workshops are sold out in St. Augustine for Florida's Birding and Photo Fest, however I'll cover cool nighttime techniques during my Creative seminar.  I hope to see you there!

Photography Tip - Be a Good Storyteller...

A photograph is an opportunity to create a visual narrative about what you want to communicate to the viewer. Look for elements that will instantly tell a story. Create emotional content through your composition that will connect with others. You can do this through carefully selecting your subject and waiting for the right moment.

I noticed this young egret beginning to preen her feathers in the morning light. What I was feeling when watching her was grace, beauty and a sense of peace. There was something very elegant in the gesture of extending her wing. She seemed to be counting her feathers one by one. I set up my tripod and camera, waiting for the just the right moment to take the photo that would tell my story.

This photograph was taken at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, FL. This location attracts a variety of birds and is the perfect location for finding great subjects. Visit early spring for the highest concentration of birds and activity. I hope to see you there next year. I'll also be at Florida's Birding & Fotofest held in St. Augustine - a great event for photographers. Make great pictures! ~ Deb