I bet these folks miss their National Guard

[SoCalDem]

AP - Sat Aug 13, 5:52 AM ET
The Blackerby Fire burns along a ridge after midnight Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005 near Grangeville, Idaho, as shown in this 20-second timed exposure. Federal fire managers adding crews and equipment to keep the fire at bay as it continued to burn near 80 homes. There were more than 10 active large fires in Idaho Friday, more than any other state, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

[Dude_CalmDown]

1. What does "20-second timed exposure" mean?

Sorry, don't know anything about photography.

[SoCalDem]

2. me either

:shrug:

[ohio_liberal]

4. Don't know much either

I think it just means the shutter stays open for 20 seconds and captures the movement of the fire.

[Canuckistanian]

6. That's right. Just put the camera on a tripod and open the shutter

Many night scenes are shot like that.

[Dude_CalmDown]

7. Thanks. So what is the reason for it? - n/t

*

[MountainLaurel]

8. To allow enough light

Into the camera to expose the film to the extent necessary to get a decent photo: a tricky task for nighttime photos.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Film is not as sensitive as our eyes in really dark situations

During daylight, shutter speeds as fast as 1/2000 of a second can be used because there's lots of light. As light decreases, the shutter needs to stay open longer to capture the scene in sufficient detail.
So, shutter speeds go to 1/125th, 1/60th or 1/15th of a second.

When it gets really dark you have to leave the shutter open for several whole seconds to get enough light for the film. That's what's known as a "time exposure".

The only drawback to time exposures is they can only be used on fixed, non-moving subjects or else they'll be blurry. And a tripod or other support MUST be used or else blurring will occur again for the same reason.

Does this make sense?

[Dude_CalmDown]

11. Perfect sense. Thanks - n/t

*

[WolverineDG]

3. film exposed for 20 seconds

i think. i'm not a shutter-bug, but members of my family are. don't tell them if i got this wrong because i'll never live it down....

dg

[gizmo1979]

5. This was on the news

the other night.They asked the pentagon to bring troops home for fire season,and they wouldn't.They not only miss the soldiers they also miss the equipment.It's costing them a small fortune to fight fires.

[leesa]

9. That was the Dem governor of Montana, I believe. Montana is also

on fire.

[gizmo1979]

12. yes that's who

it was.Didn't know he was a dem.How did that happen?