New Orleans Streetcar-at night

[mmutte]

This is my first attempt at night shots...

Nikon d5000
M Mode
F/3.5
shutter speed 1/20s
iso 2500
18-55 kit lens, set at 18
(I really have no idea why I used these settings, I was simply just playing around with them)

minimal PP editing except for the black and white conversion.

I can't decide whether or not to crop any off the left and right sides or to leave it alone--or whether to keep the entire photo in black and white.

Please feel free to make any other comments as necessary--it will help me learn greatly.

thanks
matt

[LeeR]

As night shots go this is pretty good, though no one is doing selective color any more. Sorry, but it was a gimmick and as soon as the newness wore off no one wanted anything to do with it any more. Now, that doesn't mean you can mute the colors on everything but the street car, but the "black and white with a small bit of color" has died a lonely death.

[mmutte]

thanks for the info lee, i very much appreciate your reply. I will def keep in mind no more selective coloring--guess i really showed my inexperience with that

matt

[vjhoward]

Matt, you are off to a great start! Very nice first night shot. Black and white is a good choice. Color would have probably been too busy. I agree with Lee, selective color is "so yesterday".

You did a great job using the streetcar tracks to create lines that draw the eyes in, and the street lights with the line crossing over do a good job framing the streetcar. Lights are blown, but works for me...adds a touch of the "city" feel.

Back to the streetcar. The selective color is gimmicky, but I am not sure that your eyes would settle on it if it were just another shade of gray.

I really like the shot and I would love to see any additional editing you may do to it.

[hey joni]

Hi

I agree, the colour and b and w don't work for me, but everyone needs to experiment every once in a while.

I like this shot and personally feel that I would prefer it in colour due it being night time and the illumination is really a stand out part of the scene. Dark sky, darkk tarmac and then the coloured lights.

I can't help but think the picture isn't straight. My first feeling was that the left was lower than the right. Is this just me?

you might want to look at straighening the vertical lines on the left as well as they are slightly distorted.

I like this shot a lot and would like to see this after any changes you decide to make.

Cheers

Kev

[mmutte]

thanks for all the great feedback...i will def post any other edits to the photo!!

thanks again

matt

[smo2]

I usually HATE selective coloring, BUT this is pretty good. Tighter crop would be better IMHO.