Attempted night landscape

[mathew]

Last week, on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, I made a first attempt at taking a long exposure in the early evening.

<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/515950056_41deb69b3b.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="Evening on Tanna" />

These are coral reefs around the high tide level. There was a building up on a hill behind me providing some light, and sun had just set below the horizon out to sea. It came out ok, I like the feel of it, but I could have done better with more understanding of the exposure.

Feedback welcome!

[jiminyClickit]

mathew, Welcome

Maybe an understanding of exposure could give you a different look, but I can't imagine how it would be better than this. Beautiful sky, curve of darkness, stars, sunglow. Then you echo that shape in the reef, which has turned golden in the light from the hill. Other-worldly, beautiful job.

[caseycroucher]

The sky is absolutely beautiful. But in my view, the rocks are a little too bright.

[mathew]

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them. I did try a shorter exposure but did not get enough detail in the sky, which is why I went with slightly brighter rocks.

[matthewchj]

Really, really, really, really, nice.
I like the way that the rocks and the sky near the horizon are lit up but the stars in the background can still be seen.

[wulf]

You must have used a tripod or other stable surface, so perhaps you can combine information from the two shots. The rocks are perhaps a bit bright but overall it is a very good photo; a strong composition and just the right time of day and weather conditions.

One thing I do notice is that the stars are starting to show movement blur - that could be another argument for going with a picture with a shorter shutter speed and then perhaps doing some post processing to enhance the detail in the sky.

Wulf

[mathew]

another argument for going with a picture with a shorter shutter speed and then perhaps doing some post processing to enhance the detail in the sky.


That's a skill in itself - judging how much can be done later in processing, and what needs to be done in camera at the time.

[xxpinballxx]

i think its a gorgeous shot! The sky is so vivid!
I dont see anything that would be better other than the rocks toned down just a tad...but a beautiful shot.....I wouldof had to take numerous shots at that location.

[Damo]

Wow I love that photo, I agree the rocks came out a little light but I am assuming that you had to use a fairly long exposure, and with what looks like powerful lights behind you its to be expected. You could try burning them in a bit in your photo program, but I think I would just leave it as is, I think it looks fine. Like xxpinballxx I would have been there for ages, although that kind of light doesn't hang around for many minutes I know. It almost feels like you are looking at the surface of the moon or something. Well done.

[mathew]

Thanks again all. The light really only lasted a few minutes, so I was glad to get what I did - considering I was trying to operate the camera without much light at all!

It felt very moonscape to me too at the time.