Long Exposure Headaches

[pratopathak]

Camera: Nikon D60
Exposure: 174.9
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 38 mm
Focal Length: 37.8 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Flash: No Flash

Hi all in the above photo, I wanted to do a long exposure to get light trails. Unfortunately, the streetlights in the background appear too shiny and stand out too much in the picture. What could I have done better in this image to avoid the over-powering influence of these lights?
PS: At times when I shoot at normal shutter speeds, I still have some bright lights ruining my shots at night.

[private]

I would open your lens a bit wider (lower f stop). It will allow for more light to get in and you will not need to have such a long exposure...

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by private

I would open your lens a bit wider (lower f stop). It will allow for more light to get in and you will not need to have such a long exposure...

But -- the point was to get light trails, which really require the longest exposure you can manage.

You may want to try a somewhat shorter exposure, which may reduce the flare from the lights. But in general, you're not going to be able to avoid this, as long as there are street lights in your photo. Lights are bright, and in a long exposure they will contribute a lot more light than anything else. It looks like the area you've chosen is pretty heavily lit anyhow. Your best bet is to move -- recompose or find a new location which fewer lights, or where the lights are are at least more distant.

I would also suggest keeping yourself at fairly small apertures (f/16, f/20, etc.), because that will give you the nice stars on any lights in the photo -- at larger apertures, you may just get boring blobs instead.

[bradzo66]

In addition to what was said above , position yrself so you can zoom in to a point to leave the really bright lights out of frame , you wont get rid of all and ambient light will still be a factor but it will stop the glaringly bright lights from taking away from yr image , I always look for a darkish strip of road to do these and avoid angles that let headlights hit the lens .

[private]

You can get light trails with a 15 second exposure...

Here is an example of a photo with a 15 second exposure. The light trail is from a slooow boat, imagine if it was a car going 40 miles per hour.



The exif is:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 15
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 24 mm

[pratopathak]

Thanks guys for the suggestions.
But, I have also observed that when I shoot any form of light at night, there are bright circle like formations around the lights. Please see attached pic esp the white lights. In this pic I have cranked up the ISO as I did not want to use flash. Suggestions most welcome!



Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 18 mm
Focal Length: 18.3 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[SherifG]

I myself like the look of the photo trails in this photo... Although when I go shooting for this effect I go for several shutter speed setting and choose the best of them..!

All the best.

[freybear3]

i actually like the street lights in the background. i love how they are "blossoming"

[pratopathak]

thx guys.. im glad u like it but i wanted feedback on how i can reduce the glare ) thx!

[digirebelva]

Out of curosity do you have a UV filter on the lens...if so try removing it and see if that helps
You could try a graduated ND filter for the lights...