Thread: Help; How to photograph outdoor Haunt in 2011

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Ok, hours and hours went into building my outdoor haunt this past year and what do I have to show for it? Memories, no pictures, no videos, only memories. Why do you ask? Because I do not know how to take pictures (or video) in the dark!!!

Can anyone help educate me on the best way to do this? I have seen many great pictures and videos in this forum so somebody has to be able to guide me. And I am sure that I am not the only one with this problem.

I look forward to your "tricks and tips".

Get yourself a decent digital camera and a tripod. Make sure the camera has a night setting. This setting lets all the wonderful color in, but you must use a tripod to hold the camera steady because it takes a few seconds to actually process the picture. That's it really- without doing much work you'll get beautuful shots on that setting. Most digi still cams can also take video too, but nothing beats a dedicated video camera. The hardest part of all? Putting the budget towards the equipment instead of halloween props. But even just a digi still cam is better then nothing. As you've noticed, without one it's all just in your mind and nothing to look back on. I prefer Sony digital cameras but there's a ton of them out there.

Dan

Originally Posted by Shockwave199

Get yourself a decent digital camera and a tripod. Make sure the camera has a night setting. This setting lets all the wonderful color in, but you must use a tripod to hold the camera steady because it takes a few seconds to actually process the picture. That's it really- without doing much work you'll get beautuful shots on that setting. Most digi still cams can also take video too, but nothing beats a dedicated video camera. The hardest part of all? Putting the budget towards the equipment instead of halloween props. But even just a digi still cam is better then nothing. As you've noticed, without one it's all just in your mind and nothing to look back on. I prefer Sony digital cameras but there's a ton of them out there.

Dan

Everything Dan said and take plenty of them.
I photographed mine over several days.

Wanted to add I got a new camera a cannon powershot it takes great pictures.One day I will invest in a more expensive one.

I love my digital camera... but RELY on my trusty old Ricoh 35mm film camera for my best Halloween pics. I use a tripod, high speed film and no flash. I take a set with both film and digital just to be sure and record everything. And always, my film shots are the ones that truly capture the look. I make sure to have the film processed and saved to a digital format so that I can save and tweak them on my computer.

I have a coolpix camera and that is what I use to take pictures of everything. Its really simply. Hold a camera up and snap.

also, try taking the pictures at dusk rather than full night time.

El cheapo Pentax DSLR here (I buy models several generations old to get them cheap).

I've had horrid luck with video, however.

In my line of work I have to take a lot of pictures at night. A good camera that you can adjust the settings on makes a big difference. However, a tripod and a camera on an automatic setting with no flash might be good enough for what you want. My problem is most of my set up is only Halloween night and I am usually in a rush to get pictures so I dont set up like I would normally do. The main thing is practice before the big night and take lots of night time photos so you know how you want to set the shot up. Alot of times I just go out in the back yard at night and practice. Its amazing what you can do sometimes.

Great thread Savage. I have always wondered how everyone gets great nighttime shots of their haunts. I take pics of mine and my flash turns everything daytime!!

Can't wait till Halloween to try out my new photog skills now.