How did these night time pictures go wrong? (C&C)

[jdong217]

The first two are Hong Kong at night, and it was super foggy/hazy out so that might have had something to do with it, but they're not as detailed as some previous cityscapes I've gotten in other cities. When taking night time shots, is it better to have longer exposure and smaller aperture or shorter exposure and wider aperture?

The last one I could not focus for the life of my. I was using a gorillapod on the ground and the problem was the I couldn't get low enough to focus in the position it was at. How do you focus the gorillapod on the ground? I tried focusing it in my hands first, then putting the apparatus on the ground but that didn't work out so well

#1.

#2.

#3.

 

[analog.universe]

If your tripod is sturdy enough (I've not used a gorillapod so I can't say), you'll get the sharpest shots on most lenses between f/5.6 and f/8. The first 2 shots, you should be able to just focus at infinity. Infinity is not necessarily where the focus ring stops turning however. Using live view (if you have it?) and zooming in is probably the easiest way to be sure. The last shot seems reasonably wide angle, so using the hyperfocal distance at f/8 or even f/11 is probably the easiest way to focus something like that. Google "hyperfocal distance" if you're not familiar with it.

 

[analog.universe]

I dig the composition in the last one by the way :thumbup:

 

[jdong217]

Thanks! The gorillapod is pretty sturdy, though I'd be happier with a tripod. The only reason I don't have one is because I do a lot of walking around all day and it's kind of difficult to lug it around in the Hong Kong humidity and heat. Any recommendations for an inexpensive tripod for the Nikon D3100? The heaviest lens I have is the 55-200mm VR lens, and it's not all that heavy at all. Ideally, one that can collapse into a backpack would be great. I have a small camera shoulder strap bag with three compartments, but with the camera and two lenses, it's already reasonably full.

I'm positive the first 2 were focused at infinity. Besides aperture, which was part of the problem, is it possible the ISO settings could have caused that too? I did most of my long exposure shots at anywhere from 100-400 ISO.

And live preview - I'm not sure if it's just me but it's really hard for me to get a good grasp of what's in focus using live preview. So far I've found that looking through the viewfinder gives me a better idea. Maybe my settings are wrong, if that's possible?

 

[McNugget801]

1 and 2 just look hazy
I dont think that has anything to do with your tripod.

But analog.universe is correct, a sturdy tripod is the number one factor when shooting at night.

 

[oldmacman]

I like the pics. I don't think they are as bad as all that. Are you open to tweaking the exposure? The top two seem to be missing blacks. This can be adjusted in LR or PS. Because it was hazy, you could also apply some sharpening. I tried both of those on the image and it seems to be an improvement.

 

[jdong217]

Hmm, is there anyway to cut down the effect of the haze/fog without using photoshop? Because every single day I've been in Hong Kong it's been incredibly hazy/smoggy. I'm on the 50 something-th floor of my apartment complex and I can't even fully see the airport sometimes, which is only about 1/2 mile away.

And I'm probably headed up to Victoria Peak eventually so I want to be able to get better shots

edit: @oldmacman just saw your post. I do have access to photoshop but not lightroom, but I'm still learning haha. I'll definitely try those out though

 

[oldmacman]

Hmm, is there anyway to cut down the effect of the haze/fog without using photoshop? Because every single day I've been in Hong Kong it's been incredibly hazy/smoggy. I'm on the 50 something-th floor of my apartment complex and I can't even fully see the airport sometimes, which is only about 1/2 mile away.

And I'm probably headed up to Victoria Peak eventually so I want to be able to get better shots

edit: @oldmacman just saw your post. I do have access to photoshop but not lightroom, but I'm still learning haha. I'll definitely try those out though

I would suggest a UV/Haze filter, but that would be more use during the daytime I think.

 

[Infinite_Day]

It looks like it's just an issue of the fog diffusing the light to me. I wonder if underexposing it some might cut it down? Think you'd possibly lose some of the details, though. They would both be good shots if the conditions were clear.