Do you mean low light shots or photos of say reflections of lights on the water etc in the dark? The latter requires a tripod and a longer exposure. A low light shot generally requires a higher ISO and some technique hand holding for the shot. A lens that is 1.4 or 2.8 wide open is also good for low light shots. It would be helpful if we knew what you wanted to take photos of?
You're using a compact from a quick glance at your project? What is the longest exposure time you can set for? Can you set for exposure times and different ISOs? And what are you hoping to achieve?
I'm using a p&s camera with similar specifications and I can't get more than 1s exposure, which cuts out a lot of night shooting. I have managed light trails, I'd have to find it to show you, and that was using a surface and timer. I've currently got a night shot up - that one was hand-held braced against a wall, using the 2s self-timer. I've got shots of water and reflections (not here, last year's project and on Flickr) and used the self-timer and a wall to get them, I've also played panning at night.
Wobble is a huge issue and I find setting the 2s self-timer helps for pretty much any night shot - you wobble the camera a surprising amount when you click the button to take a shot.
Upping the ISO means a shorter exposure time but more grain - which can be effective but isn't always that great.
Hi Sandra, I took this shot of the Tower of London last weekend. I do use a DSLR, but this is taken with my camera placed on a wall with the front tipped up slightly by putting the lens cap underneath as I didn't have my tripod with me. My tripod is rather bulky so I don't like to take it out with me so I tend to look for night shots that have somewhere I can rest my camera on. Good luck!
I've just got home from practising the same thing. Getting used to manual. This is a 5 sec exposure, but I let the camera work out the rest. Tripod on the sand was a bit tricky!
@kellc well for example my kids tonight was out with there sparklers I took a great shot and will post it to let you see what more i need to do ..I like to take pictures of all of us out sitting around at the fire when it gets cool at night..
@shannew I think the longest I have is like 4s. I will have to go and see. I took a picture of the kids tonight that I am going to put on here.. to let yall know what I mean..give me more ideas
I absolutely love shooting through the night, it is a whole different world. My recomendation is already a popular one. Use a tripod and another tip tip I garnered from Brendan a while ago, F11 is a good place to go for detail nd expose for the shadows, its amazing how much light is available on a night time. When I use my Tripod I generally shoot at 200 ISO right the way through the night, if you don't have a remote then use your 2 or 10 second timer to avoid camera shake. The only other advice I can offer is get out there, you can ask as many questions as you like but until you are in the field making mistakes you won't learn much. A nice trick I like doing is using zoom whilst shooting for light trails from static lights and there is obviously the Bokeh effect. Even a glint of reflected light in a piece of broken glass is the Bokeh enthusiasts friend on a night time . Most of all though, just have fun.
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I'm using a p&s camera with similar specifications and I can't get more than 1s exposure, which cuts out a lot of night shooting. I have managed light trails, I'd have to find it to show you, and that was using a surface and timer. I've currently got a night shot up - that one was hand-held braced against a wall, using the 2s self-timer. I've got shots of water and reflections (not here, last year's project and on Flickr) and used the self-timer and a wall to get them, I've also played panning at night.
Wobble is a huge issue and I find setting the 2s self-timer helps for pretty much any night shot - you wobble the camera a surprising amount when you click the button to take a shot.
Upping the ISO means a shorter exposure time but more grain - which can be effective but isn't always that great.