Night City Landscape

[Salvador M. Rodrigues]

Hi everyone,

 

Continuing with my night shot experiments, I am also planning, or would like,to shoot a city's night glow off a neighbouring mountain hill. I would say the distance from my spot of shooting preference to the city is around 15 to 20 km (9 to 12 miles).

 

How can I go about getting this shot ? I am filming on a s16 bolex ebm. The widest aperture from my collection of lenses, is 1.4, and I believe to be a Kern Switar rx 50mm (Not sure because I don't have the lenses with me at the moment)

 

Can this shot be achieved ?

 

Thanks in advance for any reply!

 

SMR

[Paul Bruening]

I don't know how your lens will behave wide open but an old rule of thumb is: Wide open for city lights and fires.

[Michael Nash]

There was a thread about this awhile back; can't find it now.

 

Basic rule of thumb for urban night exteriors: T-1.4 @ 640 ASA. If you need a wider aperture than your lens will allow, shoot at a lower frame rate.

[Salvador M. Rodrigues]

what about exposure ? On my Ebm, the slowest shutter I can get is 1/28th at 10 fps.

 

Another option I can try is shooting on my Bealieu super 8 4008 ZmII.

 

With this camera, I am able to shoot single frames. Perhaps with the assist of a digital camera for metering and reference, I can take single frame long exposures ?

 

All the best,

 

SMR

[Salvador M. Rodrigues]

Basic rule of thumb for urban night exteriors: T-1.4 @ 640 ASA. If you need a wider aperture than your lens will allow, shoot at a lower frame rate.

 

Hi Michael,

 

Do you suggest pushing a 500 film to 640 ?

 

Thanks

 

SMR

[Michael Nash]

Do you suggest pushing a 500 film to 640 ?

 

That's exactly what the other thread was about (found it here).

 

It's up to you -- pushing the film adds visible grain and contrast. A slightly underexposed image on a filmstock with good shadow sensitivity (like 7218) might look acceptable and cleaner. 640 ASA is only 1/3 stop faster than 500.