Cityscape test - DPChallenge Forums

12/12/2005 07:37:49 AM · #1

I would like to know the goods and bads of this photo.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/12/2005 08:33:13 AM · #2

anybody?

notonline

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/12/2005 08:47:24 AM · #3

I've looked at the photo twice briefly and don't really know what you wanna hear. I would like to know what you were trying to achieve.

IMO the photo is way to blown out, the white balance is off which is causing an orange glow and all in all not a photo I'd wanna hang on my wall.

If your looking for tips and tricks then you might wanna say that so people have a better idea of what it is you want. Also include what F-stop you used and include the ISO. for example: ISO 100, F8, 15sec. exposure, auto white balance etc. This will allow people to make suggestions for what you should correct.

There are a few night shots in my portfolio and all include the exif data if you look at the properties. This may give you a better place to start from.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

12/12/2005 08:48:39 AM · #4

It looks like you've exposed longer than necessary for the light available, which caused harsh blown (over-bright) areas. Try the same shot with about 1/2 the exposure time, maybe less and you'll be quite surprised at the difference.

goc

Apple iPhone 4

12/12/2005 08:50:55 AM · #5

exposure too long
wrong white balance
what else ?

:-)

peace,
goc

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

12/12/2005 08:52:36 AM · #6

First off I'm not sure of your camera or it's abilities so some of these suggestions may not help.

The lights are totally blown out, try a shorter shutter speed or even bracketing to see what would be the perfect mix of the large mass of lights and the house lights. I shot probably more than 5 images (would have done more but was freezing!) with different settings to get this shot

and still ended up post processing some to darken the street light.

others to show how hard it is to balance the lights:

The color is yellow because of the lights. You will see that change as you adjust the shutter speed as mentioned above. If your camera will do a custom white balance try setting it off of the scene first and see what happens. If you can adjust in post processing then try that too.

There is the slightest bit of fuzzyness to the buildings which is hard to avoid when doing long exposures but not impossible. Use a tripod or something staple if at all possible. If you are using one, set the camera's self timer and once you press the shutter don't touch the camera or tripod until it takes the picture.

The grass in the bottom left could be easily cropped out so that isn't really an issue.

It looks like it would be a beautiful image if you can get the lights to act right. You could also try to take the image before it gets totally dark and use a fast exposure to underexpose the image and see what you get. Good luck and keep trying you'll get it.

Message edited by author 2005-12-12 08:55:51.

nsbca7

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

12/12/2005 08:52:40 AM · #7

Originally posted by Giorgio:

I would like to know the goods and bads of this photo.

I think you captured the fire bombing of Orange City with stunning accuracy.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/12/2005 09:28:11 AM · #8

I think the exposure is a bit too bright/orange as others have mentioned. I'm not sure what your settings were, but I like to do long exposures at small aperatures. That seems to be a good combination.

The lighting in the mid-left almost looks like a bomb was detonating.

I'm also not sure about the composition here... it seems too evenly divided in half, between the city and the sky.

It also looks a like it could be a little sharper overall.

Just some honest opinions.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

12/12/2005 09:40:06 AM · #9

What I've found recently is that when you are trying to cover a lot of area...in focus, you might need an f10 at least, or higher to get a substancial part of your image sharp, meaning longer shutterspeeds. This open you up to all sorts of problems, even as simple as a soft night breeze.

Your image is quite overexposed and the sharpness if off but it's hard to tell why. Maybe your tripod couldn't handle the job...if you used a tripod, at all. What was your aperture set at?

More info would be helpful...

This was around 3 seconds, at f5 or f8, taken on a great tripod (Manfrotto/Bogen) in windy conditions.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/12/2005 09:40:11 AM · #10

Originally posted by nsbca7:

I think you captured the fire bombing of Orange City with stunning accuracy.

ROFLMAO!

It's definitely too *chuckle* bright... like everyone (including nsbca) said, it's also *chuckle* too orange for my tastes. You probly need a manual exposure.

Damn you M.

12/12/2005 12:07:22 PM · #11

Thanks alot for the constructive comments. I have here another version I would like to be commented on.

Exposure: 8s
F 2.8
ISO: 100
Auto white balance
CS2 adjustments: autolevels,shadow/highlights,USM,neatimage.

12/12/2005 12:31:50 PM · #12

anybody?

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

12/12/2005 02:55:37 PM · #13

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

12/12/2005 03:07:29 PM · #14

Your second version definitely looks better. I suppose it's along the lines of what you were aiming for.
If that's the case, I am beginning to question why you posted the previous one :S
Anyway, the second one is much better and you have controlled the exposure in that one well. There's a lot you can do in your processing, but it's all down to personal taste.

ragamuffingirl

Sony Alpha NEX-5N

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/12/2005 03:37:12 PM · #15

I think the second one is a much better picture, but just me, myself, and my weird taste...if those blown out spots in the first one weren't quite so bright, I think it would be a very interesting picture.

Like someone already said, it looks like a bomb is going off or the city is burning.

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

12/12/2005 03:42:33 PM · #16

Originally posted by Giorgio:

2nd looks much better, still a little blow out on the building on the right..(what is that a gas station?) but much better. Now you may even be able to play with the curves a little and see what you can bring out (or hide) in the shadows and sky.