Question: Night time electric light parade photos in the bitter cold--is it best to use a monopod or a...?

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Answer #1:

More important than a monopod or tripod, make sure you have a fast enough lens, i.e. big enough f/stop. When I shoot night parades, I'm using a 50mm f/1.8 with the f/stop between 2.0 and 2.8 (1.8 can give too shallow depth of field) and the shutter speed no slower than 1/100. In general, if you keep the shutter speed at least twice the focal length of your lens, you can often get by without needing a tripod or monopod, i.e. 50mm lens = 1/100 shutter. Any slower than that and you'll get image blur from either you moving or your subject moving. If you do want to use some type of stabilzation, I'd opt for the tripod. The monopod will give you good vertical stability, but you'll still have possible horizontal motion.

Answer #2:

Your biggest issue is going to be keeping your shutter speed up to prevent streaks from the lights while the parade moves past. Now, how to do that is going to depend on exactly what effect you're going for. If you want to be able to see the vehicles, people, etc. clearly, you're going to have to get the ISO way up there to pull it from the darkness.

However, to me, the electric light parade is all about the lights. Therefore, you really don't want the capture to be proper according to your in-camera exposure meter. Remember: Your exposure meter wants to get whatever the exposure area is to 18% gray. What you're going to want is mostly black, with some bright colors here and there.

So, that means manual exposure, keep the shutter speed to the inverse focal length and maybe one stop better (so if you're at 50mm, go for 1/100th), start with ISO at 400, set aperture to get about 2-3 stops under exposed according to the exposure meter, and take a quick test shot. Your shot should be mostly black with the specular highlights of the lights.

As a test, take some Christmas lights, plug them in in your bedroom, turn off the lights, and close the door most of the way to simulate the lighting you'll expect.

This is one of those times when I'd set up my camera based on above, and check the first shot or two on the camera and adjust.

Have fun!

Answer #3:

I absolutely hate lugging around a tripod, but I'd probably go with it instead of the monopod. I just have better luck with it, tho' that could have something to do with having used the monopod less. I have a really steady hand, but when it's cold and you can't even feel the camera in your hands, let alone the shutter button, it's harder to keep it steady. You're probably going to be better off doing a manual setting, too, to get the colors, maybe even some movement, like those cool light trails you see at times. You're smart to have experimented before hand, I might note. I'd also suggest hand warmers, both for your hands and the camera's battery. The cold depletes battery life fast, so the warmer you can keep that battery compartment, the better. That's where the tripod becomes a pain in the you know what, cos I'll normally tuck my camera under my coat or at least warm it in a hand that's holding a hand warmer. Harder to do with the tripod, but certainly possible. Most likely, you'll want to control your shutter manually, too. The tripod will help give you some sharp, clear pix of the lights, but don't be afraid to experiment and try for the, say, trails of colored light that we see in some photos, too. If you're using flash, try it with and without. I don't know about you, but I take a gazillion photos to get the ones that everyone raves about, so think hand warmers and have a blast.

Answer #4:

It may be a bit more cumbersome, but it will definitely give you the stability you need while the monopod may or may not. You can't really be sure without testing it first.
But here is the biggest advantage of the tripod: You can get your hands warmed up in your pockets! Can't let go of the monopod... :)
Also, a tripod can be a monopod as well. If you can use fast enough shutter speeds, just extend one leg.
Just my 2 cents. The tripod covers all the bases...
Mark





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