Tyne (Night Shot)

[Rick-Reid]

Hi All,

Following on from my post in the 'Beginner's forum (http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/fo...ead.php?t=9026).

Here is a shot I took last night from the Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

http://flic.kr/p/bWH8eg

ISO-200
F8
13s
Center weighted metering

Please feel free to comment and provide any hints and tips for night photography (In beginners terms if you can).

Cheers


Rick

[andydo]

Originally Posted by Rick-Reid

Hi All,



Please feel free to comment

Cheers


Rick

homesick

[jet_kit]

Hi Rick,
Good potential here. The exposure is damn near perfect and the colours are stunning. However, I do have a couple of issues with the shot. I know there's nothing you can do about it, but there's a lot of movement in the reflections which tend to spoil the image.
You've cropped the bottom of the picture a little too tight, the reflection of the Millennium Bridge support needs a bit of room to breathe.
Finally, with shots like this the key is symmetry. This is one of those instances when the rule of thirds goes out the window and everything needs to be centralised. Your vantage point needs to be altered slightly to get the old bridge 'framed' by the new.

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by jet_kit

Hi Rick,
Good potential here. The exposure is damn near perfect and the colours are stunning. However, I do have a couple of issues with the shot. I know there's nothing you can do about it, but there's a lot of movement in the reflections which tend to spoil the image.
You've cropped the bottom of the picture a little too tight, the reflection of the Millennium Bridge support needs a bit of room to breathe.
Finally, with shots like this the key is symmetry. This is one of those instances when the rule of thirds goes out the window and everything needs to be centralised. Your vantage point needs to be altered slightly to get the old bridge 'framed' by the new.

I'd agree on all points there! (dammit!)..... I'm wondering if a longer exposure would have made the water appear more 'still' - and therefore sharper. Easily done - just go for ISO100 (or go to f/11) - your exposure would then have been 26 seconds.

[Rick-Reid]

Thanks for your comments guys, some very useful pointers and help there.

I'm planning on making another trip down the Tyne one night soon and I will give my shot another atempt based on your feedback.

Will post my results.

Thansk again.


Rick

[GeoffWessex]

Just another thought....... I can't remember the geography of Newcastle too well but I assume you're shooting with a tripod from a bridge. Unless that bridge is free of traffic there will always be vibrations - enough to give some blur to a long exposure.

If the bridge really is vibration-free - don't forget to switch off your Vibration Reduction, either in-lens or in-camera. If there is vibration on the bridge, better try it both ways - VR on and VR off.

[andydo]

lookin at the shot id say it was taken from the quayside, the millenium bridge(gateshead eye) is the last bridge before the sea. cannit remember if its the blaydon, scotswood, redheugh, king edward(train), q.e2 metro bridge, high level, tyne, swing and eye

[Rick-Reid]

Hi All,

Further to your comments, I managed to get out last night for a couple of retries.

Here is my effort taken you consideration.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickreid/7187980813/

This was taken with the following settings:

ISO-100
F/5.6
6seconds
48mm
Center weighted

I have manipulated this in PS, played around with contrast. curves and the like. Feel free to comment and crit.

Cheers


Rick

[GeoffWessex]

Good shot! I was expecting to see something like 25 to 30 seconds exposure, so there must have been more light around for this one.

[andydo]

much better with the rest of the bridge in