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Photographing night surfing with floodlights in Ahangama

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E
Emma R.•2480 rep•2

Some boutique surf hotels in Ahangama light up the reef breaks with floodlights for night surfing. How do I shoot this without getting motion blur on the surfers.

14
surfingdiving

2 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

Night surfing at places like Insight Resort requires very specific gear. The floodlights are bright for the human eye but dim for a sensor. You need a fast prime lens (at least f/2.8, preferably f/1.8 like a 135mm). Push your ISO high (3200-6400) and accept the grain to keep your shutter speed above 1/500s. Panning with the surfer as they ride the wave will also help keep them sharp while blurring the dark background.

25
N
Nimal S.•1810 rep•1

Use a sturdy tripod and a gimbal head to track them smoothly. Handholding a heavy 70-200mm lens in the dark will result in unusable shots.

47
O
Oliver B.•3580 rep•2

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