C&C Wanted: Skyline Pictures

[ironbelle]

I've owned a camera for a while but have never taken pictures at night. This is the first skyline ever. It's from Ferry Landing but it's my picture from Ferry Landing taken on a brisk Wednesday night. I shot these in RAW and then converted into JPEG. In the first image, I may have caught a plane or stars in the sky because you don't see it on every image I took. It was a clear night and the tides were rolling in and out.http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/383251744_f6314f25b5_o.jpg I thin a monopod may be more to my liking. I was sweating because I was nervous using the tripod to hold my camera and trying to make sure my big feet didn't kick over the tripod.

[Ryan93se]

the second image is much more interesting IMO because you were able to capture some moving clouds in the sky. Right off the bat i think if you level your horizon line it will be stronger. Also what WB did you set it to? it still looks a bit on the warm side to me. Nice shot though :)

[Ryan93se]

hope you dont mind.... i straighted the horz. line... a little WB tweak and a small unsharp mask adjustment.
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2661/329670103def12e7c3fbcoptt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ironbelle]

WB was not set. Have yet to set it. I shot the picture in RAW so I guess the WB was set as best as possible by the camera, then I convereted to JPEG. That looks great with the level action. I like the cloud action as well. The sky was clear and dark but then as it got close to 9pm, these clouds started coming in. Thank you for the adjustments. I don't mind, that is why I have my settings so that others with better PS skills can show me how they would PP the image.

[D. Craig Flory]

The water looks like ice ! COOL Next time, try this. Set up on your tripod around dusk and do some images without moving at all. Then do some as the sun sets. In photoshop you can use a layer mask to combine for dramatic apperance while also having detail which isn't blown out.

[ironbelle]

The water looks like ice ! COOL Next time, try this. Set up on your tripod around dusk and do some images without moving at all. Then do some as the sun sets. In photoshop you can use a layer mask to combine for dramatic apperance while also having detail which isn't blown out.

It does look like a Zamboni just drove over the bay. You like that eh? I wanted to go out around dusk, but traffice sucks and I unless I'm in Coronado already, I don't know if I want to sit in traffic just for an image. It is tempting and I do have some time off next week. Great ideal and great feedback, Craig.

[Lin-z]

Cool. Looks great! I love the clouds. You did a nice job here, very sharp!

[ironbelle]

It's been rough at work lately and I got a night off from my 2nd job so that I could go out and take night pictures. It really helps fuel my 2nd attempt and freelancing. I froze - anything under 70 is cold in so cal, but I'm happy with the results. Big thanks to Ryan for showing how my image looked better after he leveled the building on the right. THe shot Ryan helped was taken close to 9pm when some clouds rolled in right as I was calling it a night. The image is mine, the PP in PS was courtesy of Ryan.

[goforphoto]

The shot looks good, would have look better if you had captured it around twilight. You can however use layers and levels to get a hint of color in the sky. Also I would crop it differently either drop the horizon by cropping out some of the water or raising the horizon by cropping out part of the sky. Remember the rule of thirds.

[Lord_Malone]

Looks good. Nice PP work done too. ;)

[athomefun]

I like the one with the cropping out the bottom...great capture