London Eye At Dusk

[Matthew James Norman]

Hi all,

This was taken a while back with my Canon Powershot A60 P&S camera. I'd never really taken any photos before then, especially at low light, so didn't really know what I was doing. It was dusk and I didn't have a tripod so had to use a pretty quick shutter speed and bump up the ISO, hence the grain. Some PP added.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389112@N05/2236566002/" title="London Eye by M J Norman, on Flickr" target="blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2017/2236566002_b371124a1c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="London Eye" /></a>

AV: f/3.2
TV: 1/60
WB: Auto

Just wondering if you think the image suffers from the amount of grain and sharpness. I'm undecided, but wavering on the side of yes, I think it looks.... a bit wrecked. I'd love your comments. Thanks in advance.

[clockdoc]

Grain or "noise" in digital photos doesn't bother me as much as it does some folks. I suppose it is a product of learning photography back in the day when you "pushed" Tri-X black and white film up to speeds of 1200 and beyond just to get the photo. I appreciate the fact that you shot you photo at a time other than full daylight. Nice sky colors. My only suggestion would be to feature more of the structure of the large wheel unless that is the angle you felt best for the shot.

[peeperita]

it's grainy for sure.....but, no where near wrecked.....

my only suggestion is to watch your preview box when sharpening....there's a perceptable halo between the darker bits and that beautifully saturated sky....

sometimes, you can get around the grain in a shot.....especially in large expances like your sky.....a layer of just the sky selection with a smidge of smart blur added to it can smooth things out.....

thanks

peeper

[Saralonde]

There are programs such as Noise Nija that can help smooth things out. But, like Clockdoc, I come from a film background and a certain amount of noise doesn't bother me. In fact, some photographers add it after the fact to give it a film feel. My first thought upon seeing your image was not grain, but the position of the Eye. I don't know where you were standing, but looking at it from this angle seems a bit awkward, but I understand that another phoptgraphic position might have been unavailable.

[Matthew James Norman]

Thanks, both - Good comments for me to consider.