Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 37036 Posts: 173
Posted: 2008-04-18 10:40:00
Hi All,
I wanted to get some tips on taking better night pictures and thought in general we could all benefit from an open discussion.
I recently posted two night pictures and would like some feedback as to how I could have made these pictures better. The idea is moving it from a 4* picture into a 5* picture.
Premium account Joined: Jan 08 Points: 35864 Posts: 74
Posted: 2008-04-18 12:06:00
Hi,
First of all, I think that there is nothing wrong with these two photographs, technically. They are sharp enough to show the detail and illustrate the scenery as it was. Whether they are 4* or 5* is a matter of taste, and everyone would have their own. Since this general urban scene is not particularly dramatic, unique or in fact attractive, the photographs do not 'shock'.
I do not have a golden method to shoot night scenes. Of course the most important factors are that the photo is sharp, correctly exposed, without noise and high ISO granulate. Surely, a tripod is essential to achieve good results with these. If the object is static, I find that the highest exposure (f13+) with longest shutter speed to balance the intake of light produce sharp images of urban scenes. The closest the object, the lower values these two can be, remembering that the lower f values will reduce sharpness of the background.
New digital cameras now come with over ISO6400 as standard, which can capture decent images in low light without the need of a tripod, but depending on the model, the granulate may still be quite visible when using ISO values higher than 800.
However, a good photograph would comply with some ground rules (horizon not splitting the image in equal halves, main objects not exactly central or in the lower right corner, etc) but some of the best ones break them purposely.
I don't see myself as an expert on photography but these pictures look pretty good to me. Hard to imagine that there is anything that you could have done to make them better.
--- The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~ St. Augustine
This is not a criticism but an inquiry. On the first picture it seems like a lot of the city on the left 1/3 of the picture is cut out. Was this deliberate? I like the picture, it was peaceful
Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 37036 Posts: 173
Posted: 2008-08-28 11:03:00
Michael, thanks for your comments - yes it was deliberate. I wanted to capture the lighting of the plants playing with shadows, colours and setting the scene. I like both pictures but I know there isn't anything really special about them.
Premium account Joined: Aug 08 Points: 2237 Posts: 28
Posted: 2008-09-12 20:35:00
Hi Amanda,
I'm not a pro neither, but just to share my experience with night shooting; for better results i use a tripod, use a iso 200 and 400, and shoot at 1 and 2 seconds and with 3 focales :8/9/11
it makes like 12/15 pix, then only keep the best results (less worse , sometimes)
I think, there's no clue as light is always different from one pix to another, the major subject might be also on a different angle or distance; for sure, flash is mostly useless with general city views.
But do not expect better than what you already did! there's a limit to perfection!
--- One travels, not to change locations, but ideas.
Hippolyte Taine (french philosopher)
one other thing - if you want to blow them up (and you should as they are great!) then make sure you take camera shake down to a minimum by using the self timer function. I find this takes another variable out of the issue and helps to keep things sharp...
--- One Off Places [url=http://www.oneo-ffplaces.co.uk]Villa to rent France[/url]
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