New user with night pics, critique please

[polysom01]

These are some pictures taken at night. Carnival is a 1 second exposure. Street is a 2 second exposure taken in the rain. Would love some critique.

[Doom1701e]

Hi there! Welcome to the forum. I am not to good on critiquing but I guess if I had to point something out, I would say on the first pic it is a good start, but it might have turned out better if there wasent any camera shake (the EM sign on the right is really blurry) and the second one is pretty good although you cut the top of the wheel off which to me takes away from the photo a bit. All in all its a great start though! BTW, were you using a tripod at all or were these hand held?

[polysom01]

They both are handheld.

[MP0WER]

That's what i would have suggested also... use a tripod, get the whole wheel in, and lastly extend the shutter speed so that the car head lights make it all the way through the frame. But, I kind of like the hand held look, it gives it a little gritty feel to it. That's the great thing about art and photography, it's all about what's pleasing to your eyes.

Good Work!

[bikerider]

The first is nice and 'arty', love the muted colours and hand held blur, it just works well with the rain. Second shot would be better on a tripod and yes with all the wheel in, again there is some appeal for the hand held nature of this image too. Nice work!
Roger.