Night in Po Toi O (Hong Kong)

[jasony8]

Took a few shots in a Chinese seafood restaurant in Hong Kong
What you guys think?

Did you guys think that these photos were out of focus and blurry?
I seem to have this problem with my Canon 40D (EF-S 15-85mm - Stock Lens)



Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 1000
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[windrider86]

Please read. txs

[EMansfield]

I didn't have much problem with the focus but more on its lighting. The photo is just too dark for my taste that I can't see enough details in the background.

Cheers!

Eric Mansfield

[jasony8]

Originally Posted by windrider86

Please read. txs

Sorry

I am new to the forums on this website, I will make sure to follow the rules in my later on threads.

Thanks

[jasony8]

Originally Posted by EMansfield

I didn't have much problem with the focus but more on its lighting. The photo is just too dark for my taste that I can't see enough details in the background.

Cheers!

Eric Mansfield

Any suggestions on what I can do to fix the lighting problem?

Thanks!

[junglebear]

I agree that it's just too dark, you can't really make out any detail. The lights make a nice reflection on the water, but there's too much black, especially on the left side.
Looking at the exif data you probably need a longer shutterspeed, and a tripod.

[jasony8]

Originally Posted by junglebear

I agree that it's just too dark, you can't really make out any detail. The lights make a nice reflection on the water, but there's too much black, especially on the left side.
Looking at the exif data you probably need a longer shutterspeed, and a tripod.

Do you think that it would be better if i cropped out majority of the black on the left?

You also mentioned about using a tripod. When you look at this photo, do u seem to see problems with the overall sharpness? I think my 40D has problems with focusing, I don't seem to be able to achieve the sharpness in the photos I take.

[offwhitedog]

Overall, I like it! (I am predisposed to like night shots anyway )

Specific comments:

-FOCUS-
- I agree focus is soft in parts but I think this is probably more of a DOF issue since you shot at f/4.5
- but anyway, focussing in low light is always going to test your camera's AF
- if shooting on a tripod and AF is struggling, try this: initially focus manually or in back-button mode, switch to Live mode, set on-screen magnification to x10, check focus and adjust manually, (switch back to normal shooting if you want to check your composition in viewfinder), then take the shot without re-focussing

-LIGHTING / EXPOSURE-
- I like dark landscape shots but this really is very dark; did you shoot RAW? have you tried bringing out some of the detail in the dark? and/or boosting the exposure?
- I'm not generally a fan of HDR but you might be able to use that to good effect here (but be subtle!)
- why ISO 1000? (I thought maybe you added a '0' when you typed but I checked flickr and it really is 1000) don't you get noise problems? (I couldn't see any on the 1024x683 version on flickr but up close is it ok?)
- usual 'recipe' for this kind of shot is: ISO 100 (to minimise noise), aperture around f/11 (+/- 1 stop depending on DOF you want), **tripod**, and set shutter speed as required
- I see you used Evaluative metering; for this shot I'd suggest try Spot metering off one of the darker green boats around the centre of the frame, and bracket above & below to get the right balance for the overall shot

[jasony8]

Originally Posted by offwhitedog

Overall, I like it! (I am predisposed to like night shots anyway )

Specific comments:

-FOCUS-
- I agree focus is soft in parts but I think this is probably more of a DOF issue since you shot at f/4.5
- but anyway, focussing in low light is always going to test your camera's AF
- if shooting on a tripod and AF is struggling, try this: initially focus manually or in back-button mode, switch to Live mode, set on-screen magnification to x10, check focus and adjust manually, (switch back to normal shooting if you want to check your composition in viewfinder), then take the shot without re-focussing

-LIGHTING / EXPOSURE-
- I like dark landscape shots but this really is very dark; did you shoot RAW? have you tried bringing out some of the detail in the dark? and/or boosting the exposure?
- I'm not generally a fan of HDR but you might be able to use that to good effect here (but be subtle!)
- why ISO 1000? (I thought maybe you added a '0' when you typed but I checked flickr and it really is 1000) don't you get noise problems? (I couldn't see any on the 1024x683 version on flickr but up close is it ok?)
- usual 'recipe' for this kind of shot is: ISO 100 (to minimise noise), aperture around f/11 (+/- 1 stop depending on DOF you want), **tripod**, and set shutter speed as required
- I see you used Evaluative metering; for this shot I'd suggest try Spot metering off one of the darker green boats around the centre of the frame, and bracket above & below to get the right balance for the overall shot

Unfortunately I shot this photo free handed without a tripod.
I currently only have the 40D kit lense (EF 17-85 f/4 IS USM), would setting it down to 4 make a big difference, instead of 4.5?

I shot this photo in RAW... I will try boosting the overall exposure.
Do u think that will bring out the overall details?
I haven't experienced with HDR, any good tips?
I think I went over with the ISO in this photo, the noise isn't TOO bad....still acceptable in my opinon.
You reckon that i will be able to get more light with spot metering mode?

[offwhitedog]

Originally Posted by jasony8

I currently only have the 40D kit lense (EF 17-85 f/4 IS USM), would setting it down to 4 make a big difference, instead of 4.5?

No, you want to do the opposite: to get more Depth of Field you need to use a smaller aperture, something like f/8, f/11, f/16 - but these will require longer shutter times so handheld shooting won't be possible in this light

Originally Posted by jasony8

I shot this photo in RAW... I will try boosting the overall exposure.
Do u think that will bring out the overall details?

If the detail exists in the original shot, you should be able to see it better by taking the RAW instead of the jpg simply due to the better colour depth, but also you can increase the exposure when processing the RAW, which will make the whole shot lighter and therefore bring out more details
...but of course if you make it too light, you will lose the great dark feeling to the shot and amplify any noise, so you have to find the right balance

Originally Posted by jasony8

I haven't experienced with HDR, any good tips?

My only tip is, keep it subtle! With HDR it is easy to make images look over-prcocessed.
Also, there is a basic tutorial here

Originally Posted by jasony8

You reckon that i will be able to get more light with spot metering mode?

You will get more control. With evaluative metering, your camera is trying to recognise what type of shot it is and set the exposure from this, but in conditions where you have bright lights and very dark background both together, it often gets it wrong. Spot metering means it measures the exposure off a small area in the middle of the shot, so that is what will be correctly exposed. Doing this gives you (the photographer) greater control but greater opportunity to get it wrong

The way to use spot metering is: decide which part of the shot you want to be exposed exactly right, aim the camera so that this point is in the centre of the frame, and measure the exposure. Then recompose the shot the way you want, and take the shot with the exposure you just measured. (If you shoot in any auto mode (P, Av, Tv) you will need to use the exposure lock while recomposing the shot, so it's easiest to use manual mode.)