Night photo

anton980 · May 5, 2005

Shot this photo tonight, and I'd like to hear your comments. Thanks!

Anton

DIRT · May 5, 2005

Great shot. the only thing I would do is crop out the dark edge of the fountain at the bottom. and maybe a tad off the top. but non the less a great shot.

Raymond J Barlow · May 6, 2005

Ya, a little too much black at the top, but a awesome shot!! Looks like something from "back to the future" ??? great colors!!

anton980 · May 6, 2005

Thanks very much for comments, Dirt! (feels awkward calling you that, sorry). You think the pool edge is a distraction? I actually intentionally left it in to create somewhat of a base for a photo.

Ray, thank you very much! How much of the top would you suggest I crop out? I spent some time playing with the cropping, and I felt taking too much out would make the photo look claustrophobic, so to speak. If you have any suggestions, feel free to modify this photo. Thanks again!

I only wish the moon was passing through that part of the skyscape

Anton

Fadi · May 6, 2005

nice. I like the bottom of the fountain edge there.. But agree with cropping the top.

I've been trying to hone my night taking skills, especially now dealing with a bit of insomnia, how did you get the building so clear, and crisp? I tend to have my iluminated buildings get blurry from too much light with long exposures...

anton980 · May 6, 2005

Fadi said:
how did you get the building so clear, and crisp?

I shot a few photos yesterday untill I got it the way I liked it (I'd probably have to shoot a full roll of film with slightly different settings to make sure I get at least one exposure perfect). But ballancing exposure time with aperture size did the trick. I also metered for the brighter spot on the clock tower to make sure I dont blow out the whites.

If you wish, I can post the exact settings for this shot.

Fadi · May 6, 2005

Yes, I'd like that! thanks. Then I can compare to mine to see what I can do..

anton980 · May 6, 2005

Hello again. Here are the numbers:

Camera: Nikon D70
Focal Length: 18 mm (it's a tightly cropped photo)
Mode: manual
Exposure compensation: -0.7
Aperture: f18
Shutter: 30 seconds
Metering: Matrix
Time of exposure: 2005/05/06 @ 20:54:30 (I got there late, I wanted to capture a nice gradient sky, but now that I think of it, that wouldnt work anyways - this photo is looking to the East)
Saturation: Enhanced
Color: Mode3A
Hue: 0
Tone: Auto
Sharpness: Auto
WB: Auto
ISO: 200

Also note that a cooling filter was used to give it a more bluish tone.

Hope that helps!

By the way, I just looked at your night DC gallery - #5 is awesome, but I'd clone the tree branches out from the left.

Anton

dalebe · May 6, 2005

great capture! yes all i would do is a top crop! everything else spot on :thumbup:

ClarkKent · May 9, 2005

I like it a lot. Maybe a better crop would help out....however great night shot.

Shan · May 10, 2005

DIRT said:
Great shot. the only thing I would do is crop out the dark edge of the fountain at the bottom. and maybe a tad off the top. but non the less a great shot.

I agree!

anton980 · May 11, 2005

Thanks to everyone for contributing a critique. I agree with the "too much black on top" comments, and I've fixed that. However, I'm not touching the base of the fountain!

Anton