Night time shots C&C please

[ssive]

HI all,

here are a few night shots i have taken, any comments are welcome as to how i could better them, or general opinions :)
thanks
1
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/ssive90/Photography/Perthlights2009.jpg
2
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/ssive90/Photography/KingsparkTrees.jpg
3
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/ssive90/Photography/ConventionCentre.jpg
4
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/ssive90/Photography/Belltower.jpg
5
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/ssive90/Photography/citylights.jpg

Thanks in advance, i have a few sunset ones that i am still working on :D

[ssive]

*edit*
posted in wrong thread i think can mods delete or move if required?

[THIEF]

Overall,pretty nice.Like #2 w thge trees.They all look little soft to me though.What lens were you using?I just got a shutter cable,will be trying some bulb exposures myself here soon,
Thanks for posting !

[ssive]

honestly i was using a CRAP (in comparison) Fuji s6500fd - non removable lens etc with a tripod and 3sec timer :D as was with most of those pics from memory

*edit*
so would you recommend some sharpening???

[Scottes]

I don't think sharpening will help - they look out of focus.

Next time, try focusing on one of the lights at the appropriate distance. I use center-point only, and lay that right over a distant light, and autofocus on that. I then switch the lens to manual focus mode, ensure that all my settings are correct, and shoot a few exposures.


Also, make sure the aperture is set to capture the desired depth of field. I would guess that you shot these wide open. The background stuff looks soft and OoF.


In my opinion, these are over-exposed. The lights and light-falloff is too bright. I would reduce the exposure a bit.

Also, it's best to bracket exposures until you get used to using your LCD screen and/or Histogram to judge exposure. (After a while you can get a good idea, really!)


A very good trick for getting the right exposure at night is to set the ISO to the highest setting, and shoot wide open. This will allow the fastest shot possible, and will get you to the correct exposure. Then count the stops back to ISO 100 and f/8 or f/11 or whatever you wish.

For example, let's say that I shoot handheld and get a proper exposure at ISO 3200, f/4, and 1/60th second. But I want ISO 100 for the least noise, and f/16 for a large depth of field. So I set the camera to Manual mode and count off the stops:
Changing ISO from 3200 to 1600 to 800 to 400 to 200 to 100 is 5 stops.
And changing aperture from f/4 to f/5.6 to f/8 to f/11 to f/16 is 4 more stops.
So I'll need to change shutter speed by 9 stops.
So I'll go from 1/60 to 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s - a 9-stop change.

ISO 3200, f/4, 1/60th will give the same exposure as ISO 100, f/16, 8 seconds.


They also look like the contrast was set a bit too high in post-processing, but that's a wild guess. It's just that the shadows look too black. Some of those shadows should have a little light.


Besides all that, I think these are great, interesting subjects. I do enjoy every one of them - though the last is easily my favorite. You've got a good eye for seeing night scenes.

[ssive]

Thanks very much mate :D most helpful...
now i have the new camera i can get out there again and try some more...

[Todd Lambert]

Beyond what was posted above,

I think I'd straighten #1 and #4.

#1, even if the horizon is straight, the building on the left makes it look crooked. I'd make that building line up with the edge.

#4 I'd straighten it so the spire is directly vertical.