Brisbane at Night.

[EmyB]

I've been wanting to try some night shots like this for ages and finally got a chance. I am interested in critique on the exposure, colours and composition. I am worried I bumped up the exposure and colours too much? Not sure....

I like the sky - it looks like that because we had quite low cloudcover and it was reflecting the city lights, but I'm not sure if others will just think it's a mess?

Also, I realise there are some blown out highlights but I was thinking they might not matter so much in this situation when I am doing long exposure with street lights.... thoughts?

I realise probably many DSLR owners have taken a similar shot but I am just learning!

ISO 100
f/9.0
30 seconds




Many thanks for any CC.

[gagehingeley]

Hello, good picture but...

I think there is too much going on here. Sky is cool, nice long exposure effect, I do that a lot with my pictures when its after hours. When it comes down to the lights, I dont really like it, there is so many different lights and they all seem cluttered to me and it sort of confuses me when I look at the picture. I dont really know what to think when I look at this image. Maybe focus on your main subject, I am guessing you were just sort of messing around but with each image I try and focus on one main subject that draws my audience to that specific location and I suggest you do the same. Maybe you were going for the "city life/lights" subject but not working for me here.

I am also a beginner too and only 15 so you dont really have to take in anything I say. Just thought I would try and help you out.

[EmyB]

Thankyou very much for your reply - don't discount your opinion and your eye because of your age! You and I have probably been learning for the same length of time anyhow and that's likely what matters hahaha.

I hear what you're saying about how there's not one main subject/busy image. I actually quite liked all the different coloured reflections, and that's what I was trying to capture. I wonder how I could have done this differently..... perhaps I should have been zoomed out even further to get this better. Maybe with some space under the reflections it would have looked better.

Thanks again for your opinion. I'd love to hear any other's thoughts too?

[gagehingeley]

Hm, I have no clue how this would look, but try transferring it to black and white. I know you were trying to capture the colors though. It could look horrible or it could look good. Because I think the sky is kind of eery (i dont know to spell that) and it could give it a complete different mood.

[gagehingeley]

Hope you dont mind but i made it black and white real quick for you so you can check it out.

[truchb28]

I know you were going for the colors, but it just doesn't feel right. however, I'm loving the B&W! That is a quality capture in my opinion.

Clouds make that picture work, B&W emphasizes them. Good suggestion gagehingelely

I'm digging it.

[gagehingeley]

Originally Posted by truchb28

I know you were going for the colors, but it just doesn't feel right. however, I'm loving the B&W! That is a quality capture in my opinion.

Clouds make that picture work, B&W emphasizes them. Good suggestion gagehingelely

I'm digging it.

Yah I really love it in black and white. I would use the B&W!!

[Krusty79]

Nice shot and I think anyone who is used to seeing night time exposures won't think the sky looks strange. I don't mind some of the overexposed lights, but I think those two strong yellow reflections are kind of distracting, or maybe too dominant in the image for my taste.

I was surprised at how good the B&W version looks also.

[russgill]

I do like the B&W better. That is quite appealing.

[litenphrame]

I like B/W for the contrast that seems to define things, but I prefer the color one. Why, well I'm not looking for detail in that photo. I'm enjoying the color in a slightly abstract perspective. This draws my eye because of the color. I like the sky with the subtle color that adds to the abstract feel. I would say the one very bright yellow light in the left center area is a tad distracting though. JMHO.