night pictures

[syrio]

Hi everyone,

I have noticed that I really suck at night landscape photography. The problem I have is that I get halos around the lights (especially when photographing buildings or a skyline). How can I get a clear black (or dark blue sky) without all this light around the buildings?

Here are 2 examples of pictures I took in Shanghai and on both, the brighter buildings are creating this halo. I did a lot of post processing to reduce those but it's still there.


Exposure 1.3
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 17 mm
ISO Speed 100


Exposure 0.5
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 24 mm
ISO Speed 200


These pictures have been taken with a Canon t2i (550D) and a Canon 15-85mm. The camera was on a tripod.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[navcom]

It appears that much of your problem might simply be due to humidity in the air. Humidity (water droplets in the air), just like clouds, reflects light and acts like a soft box. So on humid days at night, any light source is going to be surrounded by a softer version of the light.

One way you can tame it down is by adjusting your dark point and/or contrast. It won't take it away without causing other quality problems but it can help a bit.

Hope that helps!

[kylethemiller]

Yes, it is most likely humidity or very well could be smog....

[syrio]

Thanks for the info navcom and kylethemiller, it make sens.

However, is there a way to reduce it (while taking the shot or in post-processing?). I am traveling mostly in "humid" countries and I would really like to be able to improve my night pictures.

Thanks!

[kylethemiller]

Originally Posted by syrio

However, is there a way to reduce it (while taking the shot or in post-processing?). I am traveling mostly in "humid" countries and I would really like to be able to improve my night pictures.

Not that i can think of to do it manually in the camera. It would probably have to be done in post processing as far as i'm aware. Just clone stamp or heal it from a darker spot in the photo....but that could get difficult and maybe not even look right. you'd have to play around with it. try playing with the curves as well.

[syrio]

Thanks Kyle, I'll play around. Maybe it is time for me to switch from Lightroom to Photoshop for this kind of fixes.

[OsmosisStudios]

It's a mix of some kind of fine particulate matter (fog, humidity, smog, etc) and bloom. Bloom is when lights get overexposed and start to 'overflow' into surrounding pixels.

[syrio]

I see. Maybe, I will try to underexpose and see if it reduces the glow.

Thanks OsmosisStudios!

[smash125]

Why not try to meter to the brightest part of the scene in manual mode? I would try shooting in raw if you don't already because you can really fix a large part of your blown out highlights. Still very nice pictures.

[syrio]

Thanks smash125, I will definitely try that.

I am currently in South America and I didn't have the opportunity to shoot cities at night. I will definitely try these recommendations and update this post.