A tough one for the experts

[Kretch]

Here's a tough one.
How do you photograph a cruise ship at night with all the lights on it.
They are beautiful but every attempt has failed. If I leave the shutter open too long, all of the lights are blown out. If I increase the shutter, it's too dark but the lights are better.
Any suggestions?

[RichardTaylor]

Merge multiple exposures or HDR techniques?

This was is a combination three RAW shoots originally planned for HDR however I didn't like the HDR look so merged them manually (Layers with appropriate masks).

[Kretch]

Wow, that's beautiful.
So -1, 0, +1 correct?
I see you shot at low ISO. I actually though I had to shoot at like 1600

[RichardTaylor]

Re ISO.

I like to shoot at fairly low ISO (in this case it was 200) to keep the noise down. I was on a tripod wit a remote release..

If not on a tripod the yes I would use higher ISO, and possibly a monopod, so camera motion wasn't a problem. It will depend on what sort of light you are shooting in.

(2) Another example shot the the "blue" hour so the extreemes of contrast are reduced.

Just one exposure (RAW) hand held - An image stabilised lens was used.
Camera Canon EOS 5D
Exposure 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 45 mm
ISO Speed 1600
Exposure Bias 0 EV

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As far as bracketing goes. 1 stop either way at the very minimum.

I would usually shoot a bigger sequence especially if it is a static subject and the contrast is extreme.
-2, -1, 0, +1, +2
Shoot RAW as it will give you more leeway when PPing.

Keep in mind you want your aperture constant as well as your focus so that means varying the shutter speed only and manual focus..

[tharp]

Wow, you handheld 1/15 sec with a moving ferry boat? Good job. You must not be a coffee drinker! LOL
I have trouble at 1/125 without a tripod even with VR

[RichardTaylor]

Thanks Very much. I do drink coffee but only 2 cups per day.