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Anonymous
Sup guise

I just started getting into photography and have since bought myself a Canon Powershot S3IS. I really like this camera but since I don't know exactly how all the features work, (since I know dicksquat about cameras). I've been messing with it, and took a pretty cool picture (related). Now, iuno what the technique is called, but I've seen it in other pictures and decided to give it a try. I messed with how long the exposure is etc so that I might take this picture. I have a couple of questions, though, for anyone that uses/used this camera. Is there any way to make the picture less grainy? If you look at it even from afar, it looks grainy as hell. This camera takes awesome pictures, but I don't know why this came out like that. Also, is 15'' the longest exposure I can set it to? Is there any way I can maybe set it to about 1-2 minutes exposure? I wanna try making moar designs, but I don't nearly have enough time to use my penlight and flash it about to make something cool in 15 seconds. Any tips and help would be great.
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot S3 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size6.00 - 72.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.00Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2007:12:06 18:55:44Exposure Time15 secF-Numberf/8.0Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashFlash, Compulsory, Red-Eye ReduceFocal Length6.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2816Image Height2112RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualScene Capture TypeStandardExposure ModeManualFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeSharpnessUnknownSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeManualImage SizeLargeFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeTimedFlash ModeRed-Eye Reduction (On)Compression SettingSuperfineSelf-Timer Length10 secMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance1.300 mWhite BalanceCloudyExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed256Image Number109-0322
>> Anonymous
Set the ISO as low as possible to reduce grain. Some cameras require a shutter release cable to do longer exposures. Read your manual. I should also mention all digital cameras will have some degree of graininess in low level light.
>> Anonymous
>>98822all cameras will have some degree of graininess in low level light

Fixed.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>98822

OP here,

I found out what the technique is called. I believe it's called "light painting"

There are hella crisp pictures that I found on deviantART, and I'm aiming for something like that. (pic)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 300D DIGITALCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS WindowsPhotographerRobert MekišMaximum Lens Aperturef/1.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2006:12:29 17:19:02Exposure Time2 secF-Numberf/4.0ISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeAverageFlashNo FlashFocal Length50.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1024Image Height768RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandard
>> Anonymous
>>98837

It looks crisper because it was taken at ISO 100 on a DSLR.
>> Anonymous
>>98840

sooo with my camera I can't take a picture like that? I'm looking into buying an DSLR, also
>> BlackAdder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
>>98857

You could get similar to it, try lowering the ISO of your camera as much as you can and try it out. I don't know what the performance of that camera is.

A DSLR is always better when it comes to noise, though. The kicker is that it will cost you. You may as well try and practice with what you have in the mean time.