Frosty Trees

[Canadian Mum]

This is a picture that I took at 12:30 am, when I got home from a friend's house. It was an extremely foggy night and the trees were covered in frost. I couldn't resist running out with my new (less than a month old) camera and snapping a few pictures.
I haven't really gotten the hang of much more than the basic point and shoot... but I am trying.
Here is my shot - taken looking straight up into the branches.
I would love some input...


(this is straight from the camera, no post processing)
(exif on Flickr)

[sukanta]

it would be more appeling if it is in natural light.Flash kill the effect of frost there and I didnt understand why did you put 1/3 exposure compensation.

[steevdavis62]

My friend, i love the idea of your photo. Very stark, artsy and cool. But technically it is flawed, but thats definatly understandable as it sounds like your just learining.. Like Sukanta said, becareful using your flash...it kills the natural lighting.

[Canadian Mum]

I know what you are saying... but it was shortly after midnight... so there was zero natural light.
I think I took it in auto mode... so that is why I had it in 1/3 exposure... I don't really remember... I was freezing so I was just trying to snap the picture quick before both the camera and I froze up!

[phlyersphan]

I love the idea of what you were going for! To do shots in natural light at night, you need to use a tripod or have some other way to keep the camera absolutely still, as it will require a longer exposure (a few seconds or more). I've done things like setting the camera on a railing, or on the roof of my car, when a tripod isn't handy. I'm not sure what kinds of settings your camera allows, but you can get some amazing shots even after dark.

There was a neat article in the latest Outdoor Photographer magazine on shooting after sunset. The picture on the main page of this article was taken 30 minutes after sunset, but with longer exposure times, very neat things are possible

Here's a link to the article online - http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/c...h_sunset.shtml

Thanks for sharing!

[ryan_vt]

Most 'branch' type photo's I've taken show mainly the sky with the branches underexposed, so I like how this mixes it up and has the branches as the detailed part of the image and the sky dark. You should bundle up and try this a few more times with the suggestions above. A good idea can come quick, but a good shot can take more time!

[jiminyClickit]

Canadian Mum,

"I can resist anything but temptation."

I know that first bold "shoot the world" feeling, and some good lessons can come out of it. When you have a more calm moment, set your alarm for just before sunrise, go set up your tripod and camera to wait for the Sun to backlight these same icy branches. The reward is a glistening glasslike sculpture well worth the little time it takes.

[Canadian Mum]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

"I can resist anything but temptation."

Geez... have we met before! lol... that totally sums up my first attempts.
I got a tripod for Christmas. I will give it another try, hopefully when its not
-27 degrees Celcius with a roaring wind!

Thank you everyone for your input, I am going to take notes and give it another try!

[jiminyClickit]

[Geez... have we met before!]

Ever been to Texas? Probably just a meeting of the minds over reality and such. I am cautiously adventurous: when a thought strikes, sometimes my feet take me where my head hasn't had time to analyze and assess for danger (or frostbite). Here's a chance for you to test that arctic coat or electric socks.

Waiting for sunshine's probably harder.

[jdepould]

I think off-camera flash might have worked really well here. Done right, it would've really made the ice pop.