First attempt at light trails in a tunnel

[memily]

Hey guys,

This was my first attempt at capturing light trails. What do you think of these? I love the tunnel, but I think I learned that I need a MUCH longer shutter speed to really get some cool light trails. It was my first time, and it was very loud in the tunnel and I'll admit I was a little distracted. Looking back, I'd go with a longer shutter speed to catch more of the red tail lights trailing through the entire image.

My questions:
1) In #1, are the light trails too light and not enough to make this a "good" shot?
2) In #2 and #3, does this type of implied motion "work"...or not really?
3) Which of these is best?

Any cc is welcomed. Thanks for looking.

1)

2)

3)

 

[TheBiles]

I think you need the trails to go the length of the road. You will need a longer exposure time to achieve this.

 

[memily]

That's what I'm thinking too, like #1, but even longer to catch more cars going through. I do think this tunnel is cool though--maybe I should just keep one of the ones with no light trails, and just the tunnel lol.

 

[Eventer]

I think the first is best still regardless of the faintness of the trail, i think the issue is is you need alot darker tunnel?

 

[memily]

True, it was pretty bright--brighter than I thought it was when I decided I wanted to do it. I have quite a few pictures with super bright red tail lights but none that went all the way through the tunnel like the first but definitely a darker tunnel would show the lights more.

 

[JMBriggs]

I think that if you would have used a ND filter and changed up your white balance it would have made the light trails pop a bit more... If that's what you want. Also I agree that the exposure time could have been another 1/4sec longer... That's where the ND filter would have come in... But otherwise it is a good first try! Practice makes perfect!

 

[memily]

Wow, I had a ND filter on it and took it off when I went into the tunnel. Didn't realize it would be good for that. Thanks for the tip.

 

[TheBiles]

Also in the first you could turn down the orange and yellow channels and turn up the red to make the trails pop out a lot more.

Edit: I'd also play with the white balance because you should be able to eliminate most of the yellow/orange with a cool enough WB.

 

[memily]

I did pop the reds up, but I did not turn down the orange and yellow. I will try that! Thanks!

 

[molested_cow]

The problem with this situation is, the color of the tail light is too close to the color of the environment. You should try shooting the other way instead with the cars coming at you and see how it turns out.

Another thing you can try is to increase the exposure. The ambient light will become lighter where as the red tail lights will remain red, so there will be more contrast to show the difference.

 

[D-B-J]

The problem with this situation is, the color of the tail light is too close to the color of the environment. You should try shooting the other way instead with the cars coming at you and see how it turns out.

Another thing you can try is to increase the exposure. The ambient light will become lighter where as the red tail lights will remain red, so there will be more contrast to show the difference.

To add, adjust your white balance. This tunnel looks muddy and yellow.

 

[memily]

Is this better? I adjusted the white balance and toned down the oranges.

 

[TheBiles]

White balance is still way off. See how everything is orange? Can you post the RAW?

 

[Starskream666]

It's orange because of the lighting? i think it looks good with the orange light

 

[johnh2005]

That tunnel is probably that color. LOTS of the older tunnels look that orangish tint because of the lights that they use. It is supposed to be easier on the eyes as you go through.