How can I take a photo like this with my camera?

[Matrixgravity]

http://i.imgur.com/CRpOB.jpg

How can I take a photo like that?

How good of a camera must you have to take a photo like that? I mean, the quality of the photo looks very professional. As if it was shot with a very high quality lens. Because if I attempted to take a photo of a street with my camera, it would not even look close to that. Maybe because my camera isn't a DSLR.

If I attempted to take a photo like that with MY camera, here is how it would look.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2712/4188122462_babe5156e9.jpg

See the difference? See how crappy my version looks compared to the first one?

 

[shootermcgavin]

What camera do you have, I don't see anything tough with that shot it's just a long exposure shot. Point and shoot would not be possible but a dslr with a tripod or something to hold the camera should work. It may have had some editing done too but not a ton, you could make that image look a ton better IMO. The details in all the signs are lost.

 

[CCericola]

Why don't you ask max Delgado what he used?
Max Delgado | Facebook

 

[Matrixgravity]

What camera do you have, I don't see anything tough with that shot it's just a long exposure shot. Point and shoot would not be possible but a dslr with a tripod or something to hold the camera should work. It may have had some editing done too but not a ton, you could make that image look a ton better IMO. The details in all the signs are lost.

Thanks for your response. I own a Samsung NX 100. It is otherwise known as Mirrorless camera. It isn't a DSLR but it has adjustable aperture/iso/shutter. It cost me about $500. In general, it does take relatively good pictures but nothing as good as DSLR..

 

[MLeeK]

The first photo was taken at night using a very narrow aperture and a very long shutter speed.
Aperture f/22 maybe? No lower than f/11. Lower ISO and a looooong shutter. maybe as long as a minute or so depending on what you need for exposure.
You will need a tripod and a remote trigger to do it.

They are a lot of fun to practice on the christmas tree or similar.

 

[shootermcgavin]

I don't know what to tell you, first you need to try to take one at night with a longer exposure, whether your camera can achieve it or not I would not know. An entry level Canon XS should be able to pull off that shot, but I would set the bar a little higher that looks like a shot you can get at most cities... I have a feeling it's an HDR shot but I don't know why he would leave the streak of lights from a car passing by.

 

[Matrixgravity]

The first photo was taken at night using a very narrow aperture and a very long shutter speed.
Aperture f/22 maybe? No lower than f/11. Lower ISO and a looooong shutter.
You will need a tripod and a remote trigger to do it.

But the thing that I'm saying is, even if I used these exact settings and technique, I don't think my camera would be able to produce a picture like that in terms of quality. Like for instance, if you compare a picture taken from an ordinary P&S camera, and a professional Canon DSLR, you will see what I mean. DSLR will obviously be superior because it has a stronger sensor I guess? I guess this is what I get for purchasing this garbage camera that I own. I should have just bought a DSLR to begin with. But yeah.. I guess I just won't be able to take that kind of picture unless I purchase a DSLR..

 

[Matrixgravity]

I don't know what to tell you, first you need to try to take one at night with a longer exposure, whether your camera can achieve it or not I would not know. An entry level Canon XS should be able to pull off that shot, but I would set the bar a little higher that looks like a shot you can get at most cities... I have a feeling it's an HDR shot but I don't know why he would leave the streak of lights from a car passing by.

I will try it with my camera and post my results. I am very doubtful it will look as good though. But I will try when I get a chance this week. I should have just bought an entry-level DSLR to begin with. Guess now I know better. And by the way, what exactly is HDR?

 

[shootermcgavin]

Try it first before you throw in the towel, I'm 85% that he used HDR processing on the photo. The reason I say that is the street lights have those funky lines shooting out of them, the only time I've gotten that effect on a night shot that strong is with HDR. There may be another way but I don't know about it.

 

[Matrixgravity]

Try it first before you throw in the towel, I'm 85% that he used HDR processing on the photo. The reason I say that is the street lights have those funky lines shooting out of them, the only time I've gotten that effect on a night shot that strong is with HDR. There may be another way but I don't know about it.

Yeah I will definitely try it, thanks! Although I am not certain what "HDR processing" means. Although I think the streaks of light were made by having slow shutter speed!

 

[MLeeK]

The first photo was taken at night using a very narrow aperture and a very long shutter speed.
Aperture f/22 maybe? No lower than f/11. Lower ISO and a looooong shutter.
You will need a tripod and a remote trigger to do it.

But the thing that I'm saying is, even if I used these exact settings and technique, I don't think my camera would be able to produce a picture like that in terms of quality. Like for instance, if you compare a picture taken from an ordinary P&S camera, and a professional Canon DSLR, you will see what I mean. DSLR will obviously be superior because it has a stronger sensor I guess? I guess this is what I get for purchasing this garbage camera that I own. I should have just bought a DSLR to begin with. But yeah.. I guess I just won't be able to take that kind of picture unless I purchase a DSLR..

While I am far from sold on those mirrorless cameras, you can definitely do it with your camera. Just because it's not a DLSR doesn't stop you from using the technique.
The trick is the way the very small aperture causes the diffraction of the light to cause a starburst. Just get some christmas lights out and try it. Try f/22 and a shutter of 30 seconds, then 1 minute until you get a good exposure. You'll get the image.

 

[KmH]

. Like for instance, if you compare a picture taken from an ordinary P&S camera, and a professional Canon DSLR, you will see what I mean. DSLR will obviously be superior because it has a stronger sensor I guess?

What you consider a professional DSLR may not in fact be. There are 3 levels of DSLR: entry-level, prosumer, and pro.

The Canon 1D series is their only professional DSLR's. Nikon's professional series is the D3 series.

 

[MLeeK]

Try it first before you throw in the towel, I'm 85% that he used HDR processing on the photo. The reason I say that is the street lights have those funky lines shooting out of them, the only time I've gotten that effect on a night shot that strong is with HDR. There may be another way but I don't know about it.

Yeah I will definitely try it, thanks! Although I am not certain what "HDR processing" means. Although I think the streaks of light were made by having slow shutter speed!

The funky star effect will happen with the very small aperture and long shutter speed. It's the light refraction. It's not an HDR technique.
Google light star effect without a filter.
Photogs/optics experts: Star effect with no star filter--how? - Straight Dope Message Board
Flickr: Discussing Camera Techniques - Light 'star' effect in
Effect of Star filter without star filter


It's the same effect of a star filter, only it is without the filter. You will get a number of points that correspond with the number of blades in your aperture

 

[Matrixgravity]

. Like for instance, if you compare a picture taken from an ordinary P&S camera, and a professional Canon DSLR, you will see what I mean. DSLR will obviously be superior because it has a stronger sensor I guess?

What you consider a professional DSLR may not in fact be. There are 3 levels of DSLR: entry-level, prosumer, and pro.

The Canon 1D series is their only professional DSLR's. Nikon's professional series is the D3 series.

Sigh I don't think you understand what I mean by professional.. I can't bother explaining it. It's too hard to put into words.

 

[MLeeK]

Your camera is capable of the quality of professional camera within it's means. It's not capable of being pushed to extremes and more like a professional camera can-but in the range of normal every day work? you'd never look at an image produced with your camera and the exact same image produced with my 1d3 and know there is a difference. Can yours do what my 1D3 can? maybe! Probably not going to handle high ISO's half as well, probably not going to shoot for sports like my 1D can, probably not going to take the demands a professional camera can. The sensor is smaller so there are some limits to it, but if you are working within those limits your camera will make gorgeous quality images.