Okay , so ... I just got this D40 and I went out to take waterfall pics tonight and it wouldn't take pics ! it was very dark out and I tried to take pics in all the settings it could and it would just keep flashing and not taking them , it was trying to focus and everything but it wouldn't take them =( it seems like it wont take pics at night lol .

 

take day photos, learn your limits with that first. Work your self around the settings with it being bright out, then work with the night settings. Also get a tri pod.

 

Welcome to the club, my XSi does this ALL the time. Ive never really tried to figure out why since I dont do many poorly-lite nightshots.

 

Well I know my XTI does it alot but I just learn to get past it an find a better shot.

 

phew ! I thought it was just my camera lol , Well thanks once again TR.

 

Anytime.

 

Put the focus on AF-C never had a prob with night shots

 

I'm assuming your on AF (Autofocus)
The lens can't find an object to focus on.

Switch it to MF. Focus it yourself and you wont have that problem.

I won't get into anything more technical then that.

 

DD is exactly right. Check your focus indicator (Nikon's have a green dot in the viewfinder that comes on when focused) because your camera won't shoot in AF if it's not focused.