If you were the one taking this photo, how would you take it?

[Dom6663]

I am frusterated! I spent an hour sitting in the snow on the side of the road going for a picture that I had in my mind, but could not translate to camera. The biggest problem I ran into was my carelessness and impatience from the cold, as well as not being able to be directly on the road because it was night time, and I enjoy having four functioning limbs. I have a version where instead of overlapping the light streaks and the mountains, they are indeed separated. But in that image I had IS on and it came out too soft.

What would you have done differently with this photo?

Mind you this is unedited/uncropped

 

[Vtec44]

I'd aim further down the road a bit to convey distance.

 

[Pau1]

I would find a part of the road without a fence and snow.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I think it is under exposed and not interesting enough. This is what I would have done. I would use rear curtain flash and make sure the shutter closes when the whole car is in the frame on the left side. Preferably a cool car and it is someone you know. I just think it is weird if you flash a stranger

 

[Buckster]

If you were the one taking this photo, how would you take it?

What would you have done differently with this photo?

This just isn't a photo I'd have taken. I don't see a subject or a compositional element worth looking at, so I wouldn't have even set up.

I start by finding something interesting to look at, then exploring the ways I can capture it to make it even more interesting to look at. The red tail light streaks can be fun to exploit in a photo, but they need to add to the original composition in some way. Maybe they extend to the horizon as a compositional element of perspective or leading lines. Maybe they follow a curving road or, better yet, an S curve. Maybe they accent the speed and movement of a passing vehicle, as Schwetty pointed to. But they have to do something. They have to have some meaning to the overall composition. They need a reason to exist for the viewer.

 

[Dom6663]

This just isn't a photo I'd have taken. I don't see a subject or a compositional element worth looking at, so I wouldn't have even set up.

I start by finding something interesting to look at, then exploring the ways I can capture it to make it even more interesting to look at. The red tail light streaks can be fun to exploit in a photo, but they need to add to the original composition in some way. Maybe they extend to the horizon as a compositional element of perspective or leading lines. Maybe they follow a curving road or, better yet, an S curve. Maybe they accent the speed and movement of a passing vehicle, as Schwetty pointed to. But they have to do something. They have to have some meaning to the overall composition. They need a reason to exist for the viewer.

Well if I had something interesting to take photos of id be all over it! Unfortunately its more farmland and straight roads to the left of me and to the right of me. I think the nearest curved road is 4 miles away.

to the topic of a flash, I indeed do not know these people in the cars. I end up having to sit next to the road and wait for a car to approach, then I open my shutter. This time I was able to get a few cars, a rare commodity out here in the sticks

 

[DiskoJoe]

I'd aim further down the road a bit to convey distance.

This.

 

[Buckster]

This just isn't a photo I'd have taken. I don't see a subject or a compositional element worth looking at, so I wouldn't have even set up.

I start by finding something interesting to look at, then exploring the ways I can capture it to make it even more interesting to look at. The red tail light streaks can be fun to exploit in a photo, but they need to add to the original composition in some way. Maybe they extend to the horizon as a compositional element of perspective or leading lines. Maybe they follow a curving road or, better yet, an S curve. Maybe they accent the speed and movement of a passing vehicle, as Schwetty pointed to. But they have to do something. They have to have some meaning to the overall composition. They need a reason to exist for the viewer.

Well if I had something interesting to take photos of id be all over it!

Don't take photos. Make photos! :thumbup:

Unfortunately its more farmland and straight roads to the left of me and to the right of me. I think the nearest curved road is 4 miles away.

You're making excuses now. Make photos instead. There are viable compositions all around you. You just have to make them.

Where I live, in northern Michigan, I've got the same thing - straight roads and farmland. So when I'm there, I get creative, even when I want to play with streaks of light in long exposures. Examples:

That led to this:

and that led to this:

Get creative. Think about overall composition. Think about leading lines. Think about shapes. Think about color. Think about juxtaposition. Think about defining a subject, even if it's a barn or a tree. Make compositions. Make photos. You can do it. Just put a little more thought into it first. :thumbup:

 

[Dom6663]

Just put a little more thought into it first. :thumbup:

Challenge accepted!

 

[480sparky43 43]

The camera needs to be higher. It makes me think the vehicles going by are those flying type we were promised back in the '60's.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Here is an idea dom. Just like buckster example... you need creativity. Lets look at your photo. What if you take 2 shots. The first shot is what you took. The second shot is you ducking under the light streak shot with flash. Merge the 2 shots together and it will look like you were dodging laser beams or something. Do the matrix pose or something LOL. Think outside the box.

It can also be done with 1 shot. You go under the light and flash your self during the long shutter.

 

[Dom6663]

Here is an idea dom. Just like buckster example... you need creativity. Lets look at your photo. What if you take 2 shots. The first shot is what you took. The second shot is you ducking under the light streak shot with flash. Merge the 2 shots together and it will look like you were dodging laser beams or something. Do the matrix pose or something LOL. Think outside the box.

It can also be done with 1 shot. You go under the light and flash your self during the long shutter.

Ha! Good idea. I suppose I just have fallen into the photography is serious business mentality. No wonder im so frustersted, I just haven't been utilizing my surroundings as much as I could, or at all.

Thanks guys! I seem to find a cure for every ailment on tpf.