Traffic Circle

Ok guys, I need some ideas, as composition is probably my biggest weakness. This is a busy traffic circle (or roundabout) near my home. Theyre very rare out here in CA, so I want to capture some cool shots of it. I do feel this angle is uninteresting, so am looking for ideas to make the circle pop out. I tried snapping from the hill on the left for a more aerial view, but there are tons of signage that get in the way, and the big tree in the center blocks out half of the circle.

BTW, I plan to do a long exposure shot to blur the cars once my ND filter comes in the mail.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nBaS​Cr

how about using your 10-20 lower to the ground and closer to the road, then taking the picture with a remote?

DutchinCLE wrote in post #16965512
how about using your 10-20 lower to the ground and closer to the road, then taking the picture with a remote?

Hmm...not sure how that would better display the circle, but does sound like an interesting angle that I've never thought of. Will try that out. Thanks.

I don't think you've picked a very interesting subject, but good luck getting an interesting photo.

If you could somehow get your camera up higher, you'd see more of the circle shape. I'd try to get as high and as close as possible if I were you. (well, I'd pick another subject, but that doesn't help much, does it?)

jefzor wrote in post #16966112
I don't think you've picked a very interesting subject, but good luck getting an interesting photo.

If you could somehow get your camera up higher, you'd see more of the circle shape. I'd try to get as high and as close as possible if I were you. (well, I'd pick another subject, but that doesn't help much, does it?)

...Possibly. I'm just trying to be creative with what is around me, and trying to find something different. I've always read that every subject or situation has the potential to make an interesting photo. It's up to the photographer to find it. Thus I remain hopeful .

And every CC helps!

ya as mentioned use your widest lens u have and move some where to get the actual circle,if u didn't say this photo was a round about no one could tell as u don't see a crcle haha,u need to get wider,much wider

wider and higher,i meant to say haha

i think if u could get very high and try the long exposure with blur at night would look awesome,trailing tail lights around the roundabout would look very cool

p00kienrayray wrote in post #16966169
...Possibly. I'm just trying to be creative with what is around me, and trying to find something different. I've always read that every subject or situation has the potential to make an interesting photo. It's up to the photographer to find it. Thus I remain hopeful .

And every CC helps!

Yes, boring subjects can still provide interesting photos, it's just a lot harder to pull off.

Not sure if you can tell from the pic, in the far back to the left, there's a street leading into the circle. It's on a slope which would give it a great angle. Problem is that I would have to be in the middle of the street for a good angle bc the sidewalks have a lot of traffic signs that obstruct the view. Fortunately, there's a center divider wide enough to accompany myself and a tripod. The question is whether im crazy enough to set up my camera at night in the middle of a busy boulevard lol.

Oh BTW, Amazon screwed up my order and sent me a CPL instead of a ND filter... So pissed.

How about getting inside the circle and down low with a fisheye? Maybe pointed west just after dusk.

up on a tree with some fisheye?

osh_sekta wrote in post #16967699
up on a tree with some fisheye?

I don't think I will be that adventurous...not yet anyways.

There's a parking garage near the hospital (just off PCH west of the traffic circle) that might allow you to get a little height. Trees and signs may still be obstructions, but it could be worth a look.

You might be able to get something interesting from the greenspace in the center of the circle, but that could be exceedingly dangerous to get to.

I'd say playing with it at night would be your best hope.
Are you sure that circle is worth much of your time?