PDA

View Full Version : Lighthouse after sunset

Justiss
21st of June 2009 (Sun), 19:36
Hi all, I'm trying out some longer exposures - well I am a newbie so I am trying everything out...What do you think of the picture? Does the lighthouse look soft to you? Do you prefer one crop over the other - or do you suggest binning and starting again? If so, please tell me what you would do. Thanks in advance!

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m66/kjustiss/40DJune21539.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m66/kjustiss/40DJune21539-2.jpg
bfree32
21st of June 2009 (Sun), 21:26
I like the boat in the foreground. I would even crop a tiny bit off the top of the second photo so the horizon isn't dead center. Where is the focus point? Was it shot with a tripod? Looks a tad soft to me, maybe just needs some sharpening?
iwannabe
21st of June 2009 (Sun), 22:25
In agreement with above. It looks like you have a spot on your sensor as well. To the left of the lighthouse in both shots. I'd clone it out if it were me.
24alpha
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 04:30
the focus is clearly on the boat in the bottom left. pity, would have been a lovely shot!
Justiss
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 07:54
In agreement with above. It looks like you have a spot on your sensor as well. To the left of the lighthouse in both shots. I'd clone it out if it were me.

What do I do about fixing the spot? Do I have to live with it? :cry:
Justiss
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 07:56
the focus is clearly on the boat in the bottom left. pity, would have been a lovely shot!


Thanks for the comments. I can go back and re-shoot, this is really close to home.

I don't have a tripod, I was using a railing.

Thanks!
Wynder
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 08:49
What do I do about fixing the spot? Do I have to live with it? :cry:

Might be dust on the lens -- clean with one of the bulb syringes with the brush on the end you can get with your standard lens cleaning kit. In the meantime, you can use the healing brush tool in Photoshop to get rid of it.

Agreed, though -- were the lighthouse in focus, it would be pretty awesome... I would've gone with the top crop, maybe even a bit higher so the horizon line was at the bottom 1/3 of the photograph. Nice location, though -- try to head back there if you can!
photoguy6405
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 11:30
I prefer #1, without the boat. In fact, I'd crop a bit more off the bottom to lose the rocks in the foreground, too. Would make a nice panorama... after you straighten the horizon.
dr1ft
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 14:11
Retake the shot -- it's too soft. The colors are nice though.
PhotosGuy
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 16:41
What do I do about fixing the spot? Clone it out, or try to avoid it with a larger f-stop than this one you used: Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 22/1 = F22
And, don't jiggle the tripod. ;)

Some personal views on Sensor cleaning. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=184448)
Bloody Chucklz
22nd of June 2009 (Mon), 21:32
Not sure if this would be of any help, but here is a link to a DIY tripod which can be made relatively cheap. I made this myself and will be the first to admit it's definitely not the best in the world but if you put it together good enough it will serve its purpose in most cases. http://lifehacker.com/software/photography/diy-anywhere-tripod-219396.php
Justiss
23rd of June 2009 (Tue), 20:42
Thanks everyone for the comments! Really appreciate the feedback! :D
chopper5654
23rd of June 2009 (Tue), 23:41
Retake the shot -- it's too soft. The colors are nice though.

this, right here. i LOVE the color in the shot. and, yes, the boat is in focus. you just needed to change where your dof landed. for sunset shots, i think you would be better served to place the focal point just shy of infinity. if you want the boat in focus, too, you need a hi f/number and a tripod because the exposure will be a long one.