How to set my nikon d3000 step by step so i can light paint?
I'm new to light painting with a really good camera and its a nikon d3000.
how do I set i up so that I can light paint.
please tell me step by step as in where to go and what to set what setting to etc.
* Set the camera on a tripod.
* If you are doing the actual drawing of the light graffiti, you will need to manually focus the lens to where you will be performing the drawing
* You will also need to use the $15 Nikon remote shutter release to hold the shutter open as long as you need to do your art.
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Prop the camera up in either a pile of towels, book shelf, table or, if ya have a tripod, use it… Haha.
You have shutter speeds down to 30 seconds (as well as B or time exposure later). AND use your self timer on the camera for shutter release.
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OK, have the room totally dark. Have pen light flash lights or laser pointers ready. Have a light painting scrip or routine set up that you want to do. Names. Shapes, etc, ideas you want to do, and kinda run them through a 30 second trial run.
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OK, photo time… Set the self timer to 10 seconds and have shutter speed on 30 seconds. Camera on M and set the lens focus to the about distance you are from it in feet. Have f/stop at 5.6 and ISO at 200 or 400.
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Trip the shutter, turn off the lights, you have 10 seconds before the shutter goes off. Have the light in your hands and listen for the shutter to open. When it does, start your painting your words, shapes or such till the 30 seconds are over. It IS a long time tho… 30 seconds sounds fast till you are in front of a camera.
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If you use pen lights you can color the bulbs and have other people in the painting too. You can also show the light on "things" (your self, objects, etc) and these will show up too, if the light is there for a few seconds and you or the object are not moving.
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Now, if you have room, this cud be a backyard and you use regular flash lights and get even more crazy…
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AND, if you need more time, use the Bulb setting and the lens will say open as long as the shutter button is held down. You will need a remote shutter release or someone to hold the shutter down on a very solid mounted camera. Now you cud light paint down the field or street at your fun and leasure…