RAJAN ISLAND (first attempt at night photography)

[docxnoel]

This is my first attempt in night photography, feel free to critique this photo in any way, i know it helps me to improve



Canon 500D
F5.6
20 secs exposure
ISO 100
No Flash

[SwissJon]

Seems to be about a mm down on the left hand side compared tot he right.

You really need to guide us to the kind of things you want to know.. It's in the rules you know

[docxnoel]

I want to know if i my composition do right, how about the lightings, can you suggest some points where i can improve this photo. (for the location, i can't come closer to the island, i was on the other side and i dont have a zoom lens, i only have 18-55 mm)

[SwissJon]

Ok..

As I said before, it's not quite straight.. the edge of the dock is about a mm lower on one side than the other.. It's not a lot, but just visible, and enhanced by the water having some movement, easily fixed.



Normally it's suggested that you put the horizon (in this case, the edge of the dock) either 1/3 or 2/3 up the picture depending on whether you want to emphasise the foreground or background.. Your composition has it in the centre, and while it seems to work, I wonder if it wouldn't be enhanced by placing it higher and having more water in the foreground.

I don't think you needed to zoom in at all, the focal length seems about right. You've placed the subject (the building with the columns) at the right place and my eye starts there and scans to the right, so that seems to be good.

The lights are burned out, but that's normal for a night photo, but you might want to adjust the colour balance.. Everything seems a little brown.. Alter it so that the blacks appear black and the rest of the photo should look right..

For a first night shot, it's pretty good

[docxnoel]

Thanks for the comments and tips, i'll do it does in my next attempt , but im trying to edit this as well.

[SwissJon]

You can straighten and fix the white balance after you take the photo in post processing..

Where is Rajan Island? Google doesn't seem to have heard of it.

[flyfort]

SwissJon .... I have a few questions here on this snap...Please bear with me.. am so new to SLRs and still a lerner

1) The light seems to glare... is it becaue of delayed shuter i.e. 20 secs exposure
2) Will increasing ISO help in anyway .. say 200.
3) when we f\refer to white balance, does that mean going in -ve here. And will it help to lower down the yellow effect.

[docxnoel]

Rajan Island is the name of this park here in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

[Krusty79]

Your white balance setting should give you options like Sun, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, etc. My take on your shot is that you have a lot of similar lights with the same colors at about the same elevation. Nothing really stands out as a focal point. IMO, it would help if you had one building that was taller, with different colored lights, that would attract the eye. Right now, you have some cool lights, but they all kind of look the same, so my eye wanders over the image and doesn't settle anywhere. I think ISO 100 was correct. Good for a 1st shot, though.

[sgeary]

Great first shots play with the white balance in PP and see if it gets rid of the brown and yellow tinge...if not try bringin down the yellow and green colors in PS...