Low light photo: output quality?

[S_Sanyal]

Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/4.8
Focal Length 50 mm (50mm nikkor f/1.8D)
ISO Speed 400

This is the first time that I have perhaps shot fast action in low light on my D90; I want to know whether the output quality is acceptable.

This is a slightly unusual frame of a worship ritual ( Ganga Arati) that happens in Varanasi; clicking the image give you more of the story if you're interested. 2 more (relatively conventional ones) here:

Holy Smoke 01 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Holy Smoke 02 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Ganga Arati is well documented by many global photographers. here's Ami Vitale's:
India Harrison Ganges River | Ami Vitale

I couldnt help but see the picture in context of others who have shot this event. And I would much appreciate feedback on the processing and output of this image; also its composition and feeling..the blank space left on top of the frame is to balance the composition, I have a hunch its a tad bit more than required. Is that true?

Other feedback is welcome. Thanks in advance.

[tyasa81]

Hi S Sanyal... i checked the other 2 photos in your stream related to the event... i really like the one with the smoke going circular... i'm afraid i'm not as fond with this one... somehow the feeling i get is of awkwardness... i understand you are trying to get the man's expression so that you can relate how heavy or tough it is (i can't find the statement here in your post... maybe something in your flickr relate to this?) ... but in doing so, you've cut off a lot of the candle frame... i've never seen the ceremony before, but is there another man carrying the frame maybe closer to you? if the man is relatively in the foreground, you could get more of candles frame in the background? sorry bro, the black doesn't really eases this feeling either... sorry i can't be more of help... it's an interesting ceremony... and this happens every night?

[abhivg]

I see that you have clipped of the legs in your images of the arati. It seems that the lamp is quiet heavy and needs some amount of physical effort to carry and wave about. Maybe including his legs would have highlighted the physical effort a bit more.
But then you took those with the 50mm prime and maybe you didn't have room to move around

Also would have liked to see the complete lamp in the pic. Maybe you could have reduced the black space to the left.

BTW, the pitch black background with the spotlight and light from the flames creates a nice atmosphere. IMO empty space at the top helps in this, so I am ok with it.

Overall nice series..

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks Tony, I understand. I needed some responses. I'll wait on some more. Its equally important to understand what people SEE - and thanks for your feedback on that

I personally like the smoke circle one too. graphically its more balanced.

Yes, this happens every evening.

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks Abhi. Experiments are helpful to understand what to do and what not to as well

With my not-so-expensive gear in this kind of a situation, I somehow felt that the 50mm gave me the most control over speed. The others you see in the series are shot with the 18-200 mm and had to bump up ISO to 800 there !!

[S_Sanyal]

Apologies for the embedded picture disappearing.
Edited OP. Cheers