Which unique techniques does Scott Kivowitz use for shooting at night fairs?

Hi, I’m Scott Kivowitz from ScottWyden.com. How can I help?

At night fairs, a few techniques make the images feel unique:

• Long exposures (around one to one-and-a-half minutes) to blur crowds, erase many moving people, and turn rides into streaks and circles of light
• Stopping down the aperture (around f/22) when no ND filter is available, to allow those long shutter speeds without overexposing
• Embracing mixed lighting (tents, rides, fireworks, ambient sky) and using it creatively rather than trying to neutralize it
• Planting the tripod right in the crowd and letting people move through the frame for added energy and atmosphere

What part of night-fair photography are you most interested in: camera settings, composition, or working with crowds?