Night Lights Shot - Critique appreciated!

[baldtat]

Hi:

Here's a shot I took while playing with the shutter priority mode on my camera. I didn't use a tripod; I sat the camera on the overpass rail. While I really like the blur I achieved, I wonder how I could have eliminated seeing the license plates on the right side of the pic, although I think it's somewhat humorous that I caught a sheriff car image.

Also, is there a way I could show up the house lights on the hillside more? Not sure what the Aurora Borealis looking blue lights were but..
here's the pic. Comments welcomed and appreciated.


Night Lights by SLAPtography 101, on Flickr

EXIF data:

Canon Rebel XS
Kit lens 18-55mm IS
Shutter priority mode
55mm
1.600s
f8.0
ISO 400
flash

[KansaiGreenie]

Hi baldtat,

This is an interesting image. I like the curve; it makes for a really dynamic image.

Originally Posted by baldtat

While I really like the blur I achieved, I wonder how I could have eliminated seeing the license plates on the right side of the pic

You are seeing the license plates because the flash went off. They are reflective and bounced the light back into the camera. Don't use the flash and you won't see the license plates.

Originally Posted by baldtat

Also, is there a way I could show up the house lights on the hillside more? Not sure what the Aurora Borealis looking blue lights were but..

A longer exposure will collect more of the ambient light from the houses on the hill side. You might also try shooting earlier at night -- during twilight. The cars will still have their headlights on, so you will get streaks, and there will be more light in the sky and from the hillside.

Originally Posted by baldtat

Not sure what the Aurora Borealis looking blue lights were but..

That is a reflection of the headlights. Did you have a filter on the lens, for example, a UV filter or a protector? When you use a filters it is important to make sure that you use one that is specially designed for use with a digital camera. Bright lights pointed directly at the camera will bounce off of the sensor and out of the lens and then will bounce off of the back of the filter and back into the camera. The best thing is to not use a filter, but if you do make sure that it has anti-reflective coating on the back of it.

I hope that helps.

KG

[Michael_2010]

I like it and the tags frozen in time make for an interesting conversation point.

I'm glad I read this thread, because I did not even know that some filters are specific to digital cameras.

[EOBeav]

Turn your ISO down to 100, close your aperture down to f/11 or f/16, and you should have no problem getting longer shutter speed to make the license plates disappear and have the driving lights one solid blur. I like the composition here.