Nightime Long Exposure

I was trying out a long exposure and I got what looks like lens flare? If you look where the mountain curves you can see it. What is it and how can I prevent it?

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

I can't say what those lights are. They almost look like low power search lights aimed into the sky. I think you should be more concerned about finding a night time scene that is a compelling subject and composition. This one leaves me flat.

i totally agree with the above. looks like searchlights or something, not flare. not a fan of the picture, it's just not an interesting composition. hope you're posting it just because of the "flare" thing.:p

The think the perspective and the directions of the major lines make this picture.

Very interesting!

Marj, first of all i wouldnt worry about a little lens flare on a long exposure. Just clone or burn it out in Photoshop. That might sound like a cop out but there's a little of that every time I take a long exposure shot. These shots can look great when they go right! I'm only learning too...

The critique i'd have is that I don't think your exposure is long enough. Try starting the exposure when there are no cars on the road and leaving it on for at least 30 secs, or more using the bulb setting. You can always play with the aperture if you're getting too much unwanted light. Keep the ISO low and just use a medium aperture and long exposure. I've found with these settings I get a good colour and plenty of light!

Hope this helps

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

joedlh wrote in post #5732763
I can't say what those lights are. They almost look like low power search lights aimed into the sky. I think you should be more concerned about finding a night time scene that is a compelling subject and composition. This one leaves me flat.

Joe -Thank you for the critique. I was actually in a park with a higher view point and got kicked out by the police. I am still learning good composition. I thought the road at a diagonal would work with the mountain in the back ground, obviously not. I will put this it in my lesson learning pile, thank you.

DrFil - Thank you for the comments.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #5734565
The think the perspective and the directions of the major lines make this picture.

Very interesting!

Bob - Thank you for the complement. I am glad you enjoyed the picture.

thebeatnut wrote in post #5739969
Marj, first of all i wouldnt worry about a little lens flare on a long exposure. Just clone or burn it out in Photoshop. That might sound like a cop out but there's a little of that every time I take a long exposure shot. These shots can look great when they go right! I'm only learning too...

The critique i'd have is that I don't think your exposure is long enough. Try starting the exposure when there are no cars on the road and leaving it on for at least 30 secs, or more using the bulb setting. You can always play with the aperture if you're getting too much unwanted light. Keep the ISO low and just use a medium aperture and long exposure. I've found with these settings I get a good colour and plenty of light!

Hope this helps

thebeatnut - This really helps me, thank you. I did take a longer exposure. I didn't post it , because the lights were really blowing out. I never thought at the time to up the aperture which was only at f/8 at the time. I will remember that next time, I should of thought of it here. I did keep the ISO @ 100, so I got that right. Thank you for the Photoshop tip, I don't do much PP, so I'm not good at it. That will be my next learning curve.