night on a mountain town

[Devananda]

check out this photo I took the other day...
all feedback welcome PLZ

 

[Myspacepix!]

be neat if you focused more on the tree. and then have the lights out of focus that would be neat, overall i think it's.... very ok

 

[LaFoto]

The sky is nice, the lights complement the colour of the sky really well, there are good colcour contrasts and the walkway leads us right into the photo.
However I feel there is way too much foreground there, the brightly lit scene of the town at night is too centred ... and for some odd reason this photo feels like it is leaning to the left ... which it isn't, judged by the very straight side of the building on the right along the right border ... but it feels funny.

Do you remember which aperture and more so which ISO-setting you went for? It is very noisy!

 

[Devananda]

thanks guys for your feedback!
here as all the info on the pic:

Nikon D80
2007/03/25 07:15:16.3
JPEG (8-bit) Normal
Image Size: Large (2592 x 3872)
Color
Lens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Digital Vari-Program: Night Landscape
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/5 sec - F/5
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 1600
Optimize Image:
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-A
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Auto
Sharpening: Auto
Image Comment:
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: On (Normal)

 

[LaFoto]

Digital Vari-Program: Night Landscape
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/5 sec - F/5
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 1600

Here we go: Next time you go out for nighttime photography, try to go ALL MANUAL, with no nighttime programme and all, then set the ISO to a much lower ISO number, put the aperture to a smaller aperture than f/5 (something like f/11 or f/16 ...) and then the camera will demand a LONG exposure. Really long. For that you need a tripod, and either a remote release or you set your camera on timer, focus, and step back to let it take the photo without being touched. Try that and you will find the night photos look better .

 

[Devananda]

lafoto...
yea I am still learning how to shoot in manual mode...the whole ISO to aperture thing with F stops still giving me trouble...but once I learn a bit more I will retake the shot to see the difference.

 

[jimiismydaddy]

Those antler archways are very cool. I love that town. I second the suggestions on the night tips, will make much better pictures.