Night Shot - Green glow in

[forknuts]

I've been experimenting with some night shots this evening and have been getting an unusual green spot or glow as shown roughly in the centre of this photo. Can anyone tell me what it is that causes this so that I can avoid it in future?

Also, any critique of the composition and exposure would be great as I'm keen on the idea of night photography.



Canon Rebel XSi / 450D
f/13
5 seconds
ISO-400
30mm
Auto WB

Cheers!

[navcom]

That looks like lens flare. It is caused by light from a very bright source being scattered inside your lens. It's usually most noticeable when shooting at night or into the sun at specific angles depending on the individual lens. In your case, the light source is the moon.

Every individual lens is different as to whether it will be more or less prone to flaring. Some filters (especially UV filters) can make it worse or even cause it to begin with. The best prevention method is to use your lens hood and remove your UV filter if you are using one (or other filters).

Hope that helps!

[StarShark]

Are you using a lens UV filter? I had this happen to me last December and I took off my filter and the green spots were gone.

The green spot(s) you are seeing is the metering you see at the bottom of your view finder.

[SwissJon]

I think you've got your answer with the spot.. So on to the critique..

The tree looks over exposed.. Was there a light source on it? Car lights, house lights? By the looks of the shadows, the light source was coming from the right hand side of the picture. They may not look like much when you're looking, but the exposure level is relative. The sky looks a bit bright for a night shot also.. It would have been nice to see some stars too.

Composition wise, it's not very inspiring. It's difficult to get a good composition at night, I know.. But in the end, the same rule apply as daylight photography.. So the best thing you can do is go to the site during the day, take the photo you're considering for a night shot, and examine it critically, and then return at night and compose the shot the same way.

Best subjects for night shots in the countryside are trees (from the side) and mountains. Also churches and other buildings that are lit at night. City shots are roads with car trails and brightly lit interiors of buildings.. office buildings etc.

Beyond Sunset: The Different Phases of Twilight

Night Photography Lesson

[navcom]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Best subjects for night shots in the countryside are trees (from the side) and mountains. Also churches and other buildings that are lit at night. City shots are roads with car trails and brightly lit interiors of buildings.. office buildings etc.

OK...gotta have a little fun with you now Jon.

Isn't that kind of the same during the day in the countryside? Trees and mountains? And why are they better compositions at night? And why are they the best night subjects? And what if I live where there are no mountains? Or no trees? Or neither?

LOL!!!!!

Just having fun with you man. I think you meant "some good subjects", not "the best subjects". But in all seriousness, your critique is great and you are right when you say what works during the day works at night (regarding exposure). The same can apply to composition. A compelling subject is compelling regardless and you can find compelling subjects everywhere...night or day...and that's how you should approach it. All that changes is the lighting and how it affects the subject.

What you might be getting at is there are some different variations of subjects between night and day. For instance, it's kind of hard to get star trails during the day. And a crowded beach scene isn't going to be easy to find at night.

[navcom]

OK...one more...couldn't resist! Sorry Jon! I'm in a good mood today!

Look! No mountains or trees!!





...ok, well...a couple trees in the first one..and that's not a mountian...more of a small hill...but in either case they aren't the subject.

OK...I'm off your case. Just couldn't resist!

[forknuts]

Thanks for the tips (and the interesting side discussion) guys! Yeah, I think I did have a UV filter on so that solves my problem. I'm still very much a novice so every little bit helps!
Cheers

[SwissJon]

LoL.. Now now, I never said they were the only subject, nor that you couldn't shoot them in day light... But if you're me, a small hill is a really bad subject.. Mainly cos I'd have to travel about 4 hours to go and find one and my mountains are very pretty, I forget what life is like for you flat landers, from my house, the lowest part of the horizon is about 20 degrees above horizontal. Kinda like living in a soup bowl.

Oh, and I did mention "Chruches AND OTHER BUILDINGS that are lit at night." And never once suggested that if you're cold and short you couldn't take a picture of the stars from inside your house. From the angle of the north (or south) axis in your photo, I can't blame you for not wanting to go out, looks like you're inside the (ant)arctic circle! The North Star Axis is just above the mountains for me.

I did find several crowded beach scenes at the Full Moon party in Koh Pha-nyang last November.. Woulda made a great photo if I hadn't been too busy doing other things.. yeah.. sometimes I even put my camera down and have some fun!

[navcom]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

LoL.. Now now, I never said they were the only subject, nor that you couldn't shoot them in day light... But if you're me, a small hill is a really bad subject.. Mainly cos I'd have to travel about 4 hours to go and find one and my mountains are very pretty, I forget what life is like for you flat landers, from my house, the lowest part of the horizon is about 20 degrees above horizontal. Kinda like living in a soup bowl.

Oh, and I did mention "Chruches AND OTHER BUILDINGS that are lit at night." And never once suggested that if you're cold and short you couldn't take a picture of the stars from inside your house. From the angle of the north (or south) axis in your photo, I can't blame you for not wanting to go out, looks like you're inside the (ant)arctic circle! The North Star Axis is just above the mountains for me.

I did find several crowded beach scenes at the Full Moon party in Koh Pha-nyang last November.. Woulda made a great photo if I hadn't been too busy doing other things.. yeah.. sometimes I even put my camera down and have some fun!

LOL!!! Well, not quite arctic, but damn close...at least it feels like it this winter (Minnesota, USA). We've had a cold winter up until this past weekend.

I've never been to Switzerland but would love to go sometime. The closest real mountains to us are the Rockies, often referred to as the North American Alps. They are wonderful subjects, no doubt! We are kind of in a "soup bowl" as well but of a rather more benign type. We live in the Mississippi River valley and it's surrounded on all sides by limestone bluffs...also very beautiful subjects.

[SwissJon]

Sounds very pretty.. I've seen pictures of the Rockies, and they do look a lot like my area in places.. I guess most mountainous places look similar..Switzerland's such a small country though, about 5 or 6 times smaller than Minnesota, but the population is about three times Minnesota, it has 4 official languages and English as an unofficial 5th one. And since most peoplr live in the valleys, you can imagine, there aren't that many wide open spaces.. So the mountains are my favourite get away, that and sitting on a lake or two in a boat.. Would love to come and see Minnesota one day.. It's so different to here. My office has an office in Toronto so there's half a chance, I know that's a fair way from you, but it's still closer than Europe