long exposure night skyline

[Anonimar]

I was doing some night time skyline stuff today after I saw this photo:

The Inner Harbor Skyline at Night, Baltimore, MD. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Nikon D90
NIKKOR AF-S 18-105 @22mm
ISO200, f14, 30 seconds

I did a very similar type photo myself:

Nikon D90
NIKKOR AF-S 35mm
ISO200, f14, 25 seconds

Any idea why his reflections in the water are so much different looking than mine? Look at how much more his colors stick out and how much blurred and smooth his reflections are. Look at the wave on the right, on his it literally bleeds until the bottom of his picture, same with the guitar.

Note: mine is completely unedited at this point.

 

[JustJazzie]

Maybe it was windy the night the first was shot causing more movement in the water??? Just a complete guess....

 

[Nevermore1]

The Inner Harbor, thinking of going there this weekend! I agree with JustJazzie, probably the wind on the water.

 

[Anonimar]

Maybe it was windy the night the first was shot causing more movement in the water??? Just a complete guess....

It was my understanding that wind on the surface of water doesn't really accommodate reflections. Example:

very little wind: late twilight reflections (with Mother Church & Colonnade) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

wind: wind on water (with Mother Church & Colonnade) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

i'm still very new to reflections though so my understanding might be completely wrong.

 

[skwty]

Is the water movement causing the difference? Or maybe the 5 seconds difference? Just guessing of course.

 

[Anonimar]

Is the water movement causing the difference? Or maybe the 5 seconds difference? Just guessing of course.

Nothing to do with the exposure time for sure, here's a 30 second:



I mean, I guess it could all be attributed to the wind, it's such a huge difference though I'm thinking there's other factors in play though. His reflections are literally just blobs of color, you don't really even make out buildings.

 

[JustJazzie]

Nothing to do with the exposure time for sure, here's a 30 second: <img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=66726"/> I mean, I guess it could all be attributed to the wind, it's such a huge difference though I'm thinking there's other factors in play though. His reflections are literally just blobs of color, you don't really even make out buildings.

Is there a reason you don't just assume photoshop?

 

[Aloicious]

the reflection 'clarity' difference is most definitely water disturbance, either wind, or otherwise, if you look at his, you can see what appears to be some sort of wake from a watercraft that may have come by just before he shot disturbing the water surface...there is also the factor of the sky as well, it looks like his shot was during a fairly overcast time, where yours looks like a fairly clear night (or atleast moreso than the night his shot was taken), which will reflect some additional color back down onto the water.

 

[minicoop1985]

Just a thought, how close were you to the water level? Not sure if that would have anything to do with it, but it looks like you were slightly higher up than the other shot. I could be wrong.

 

[vipgraphx]

I am thinking they may have used a ND lens filter. This helps to slow down moving water making it more buttery. Also looking at their horizon and yours is different. yours is higher theirs is lower. I think this is where you see more light reflect on the water vs is yours.

 

[EIngerson]

Angle and relationship to the subjects are different. In the photo you're comparing yours to, the camera is lower and the photographer has the shoreline at the bottom third instead of the top third. It appears that the reflections are longer, but they aren't. They are just framed different.

 

[fokker]

Looks like his shot was (I think) on a moonlit night, you can see the light from the moon at the top left, and how the sky is much more lit up. Not sure though if or why this would affect the reflections, but it is a point of apparent difference.

 

[JTPhotography]

Water movement, atmospheric conditions likely are a factor, as well as post processing. White balance too. No info provided there. Were these shot from completely different locations and from different heights? Look different to me.

Mostly, I think the wind and extreme water movement caused his reflections to be more blurred, I bet it was much more calm when you shot yours.

This is a good example of why you should never try to copy anyone's photo using identical settings. Subtle changes can make two photos completely different. You need to reshoot this many different times, on different days, on different conditions, using different settings, and compare the differences.

Have you considered the fact that the original photographer may not be to pleased with the fact that you are attempting to identically copy his photo, then when it doesn't work out, admitting to doing so by openly posting both his and yours in a forum? Just a thought.

 

[Anonimar]

Have you considered the fact that the original photographer may not be to pleased with the fact that you are attempting to identically copy his photo, then when it doesn't work out, admitting to doing so by openly posting both his and yours in a forum? Just a thought.

Identically copy his photo? Come on... our compositions are extremely different, his is featuring the sky, mine is emphasizing the water. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking an aspect of a photo you like and trying to execute it yourself. It is an extremely good way of learning.

 

[vipgraphx]

Have you considered the fact that the original photographer may not be to pleased with the fact that you are attempting to identically copy his photo, then when it doesn't work out, admitting to doing so by openly posting both his and yours in a forum? Just a thought.

Imitation is the highest for of flattery!

It's not like he posted anything wrong. He wants to better understand how to do this. He is asking for help on a photo forum. I am sure that person he is trying to mimic does not own the rights to that particular spot. I'm sure the OP is not trass passing on that other guys land.

People copy techniques all the time. If something works why not? If you can't figure out how to and ask for help there is NOTHING wrong with that especially when you are asking on a photo forum. He also linked that guys image bring more people to Flickr to see his photos. He did not post as his own here on TPF.

If someone did the same thing to one of my images I would be honored that someone has taken the time to try to figure out what I did to get a photo the way it is.