How can I get the sharpest night cityscape photos from a moving boat?
Asked 9/2/2011
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I’m taking a night boat cruise in London and want to photograph the illuminated riverbanks from the moving boat. My gear is a Nikon D7000 with a 35mm f/1.8, a 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6, and two flashes. Since the boat and background are both moving, flash won’t help for distant buildings, and I’m worried about motion blur. What settings and approach should I use to get the sharpest results, and are there any creative alternatives worth trying?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
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Depending on the lighting of the riverbanks, you may or may not be able to achieve sharp images, but I can explain how to get as sharp as images as possible.
Your Nikon D7000 should have no trouble with ISO 3200, so I would not be afraid to use it. The amount of noise at 3200 should be correctable in post if you prefer to remove some of it. Along with that ISO, chose your widest possible aperture on the 35mm f/1.8 and you are basically setup to shoot the best possible images considering the circumstances.
You can test out bumping up to ISO 6400 or down a notch to 1600 depending on your preferences, how fast the boat is moving, how far away the riverbanks are, and the ambient lighting.
A final suggestion would be to do a bit of tracking of the riverbank as it floats by. You may be able to get sharper images if the boat is moving very fast. I am guessing that a dinner cruise type event moves pretty slowly though, so this might not work.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
14y ago
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Use the 35mm f/1.8 first: set it wide open at f/1.8 and don’t be afraid to raise ISO. On a D7000, ISO 3200 is a reasonable starting point, with 1600–6400 depending on how bright the riverbanks are and how much blur you can tolerate. A good practical setup is Aperture Priority with Auto ISO, minimum shutter around 1/50s, and max ISO 3200. If the light is better than expected, raise the minimum shutter speed or lower the max ISO.
Also try the 16-85 at 16mm. The wider view lets you use a slower shutter speed than with 35mm, and it may produce more interesting compositions.
To improve sharpness, brace yourself or lean on part of the boat, and try gently tracking the riverbank as it passes.
Your flash won’t help much for distant scenery, but it could be useful if you include people or part of the boat in the foreground.
For a creative option, use a wide lens and a long exposure while pointing over the front or rear of the boat and including some of the boat in frame. That can keep the boat relatively sharp while turning the city lights into streaks.
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