Night pictures for C&C

[Krazy]

Ok, here we go. Since I'm not used to using the Bulb function without a cable stop, and had to go rude and crude and use my livestrong bracelet and a rock last night since my camera does not have the screw in function on the button.
Every pic was shot on on the bulb setting, some longer then others. If you ask "how long per picture" I'll have to honestly tell you about 1 to 3 or maybe 4 songs on my ipod

I am trying to learn the how long should I wait before releasing the button.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

 

[Compaq]

The exposure in #1 is much more sensible one. Why did you, in the last four posted, use an aperture of f/22 and ISO-100? I'd go for a much bigger aperture to let more light in as well as to get sharper images - these are pretty soft (due to shake and diffraction of the light). Unless you need such a long exposure (for trails or blurry water or something like that), I'd go for a much shorter exposure duration. In #1 you had your shutter open fro 1 second - a much more convenient shutter speed. The effect in the water in #4 is quite pleasing, but the top part of the reflection isn't very interesting, IMHO. If you shot this right after sundown, you'd get a blue-ish purple-ish sky which is much more pleasing to look at than a black sky.

In #1 and the last one you've got some nice lines going on, but I don't think you have used them to their full extent. I'd try a portrait orientated framing in #1.

 

[Krazy]

Thanks for the help. After sunset would be a prime time for me to get out and get pictures, but that time is not good for pictures in these areas. There is high pedestrian traffic, and lots of extra lights on in these areas that really hurt the look of the pictures.
i was out between the hours of 1 am and 4 am taking pictures. that is the reason for the long expositor times in the last 4 pictures. I will give a higher ISO and shutter speed a try when I make it out there again.

I found out if i just set the camera to the night setting it takes a 30ish second picture and brightens up the sky like you are talking about, but IMO that is the lazy way out for me. I love (if I could) to get a few stars in the pictures as well, but the lights of the city just hamper my ability to get what I truly want...

 

[spacefuzz]

that looks like milwaukee.....

I would also suggest shooting at blue hour, much nice pictures result. also agree with compaq about shooting at f/8. Youll be hard pressed to get a lot of stars in a down town metro area.

One nice cure for pedestrian traffic is the 30 second exposure. Very rarely will people be hanging out that long on a foot bridge (and if they do you can take multiple tries until you dont get ghosting). For example I used it several weeks ago taking photos of interesting architecture in a mall, I was able to remove all of the shoppers with the long shutter speed.

compositionally the leading lines in 1 and 5 are best. but I wouldnt have cut off the top of the spire,.

 

[Krazy]

Yes it is Milwaukee, One of the most photographed buildings is the art museum here, and that is that picture #1, 4,&5 are of... plus what else it nice is that i'm roughly only 15 min from there, so I dont have long to be in a car to try and try again on before I take the camera really on the road and get mad when something doesn't work

I will give the 30 second trick a try.. Thanks!