Zen and night photography

[flavio]

One of the many areas of photography that I still get wrong is night photography.
The other night, I walked out to the garden and realized the the interplay of dim light and shadows could result in interesting compositions to be captured and shared. So, this is an exercise in a technique called long exposure.
I set up my tripod, switched the camera to manual, found a frame and started shooting.
I tried different combinations of shutter speeds and apertures keeping the ISO around 80-100. I think in this case soft focus may be appropriate...
I don't have a remote click thingy so I used a 2sec. delayed shot.
I like the results and I hope you will enjoy the late night atmosphere too.
I read somwhere that it is better to shoot from far away from the subject and zoom in as much as possible. Something about the focal lenght that I didn't put to practice here.
I'm sure it can be improved. All sugestions and critiques are more than wellcome.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to look and comment.

Zen Garden at night, front


Camera: Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Exposure: 10
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 6 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire


Zen Garden at night, back


Camera: Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Exposure: 10
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 6 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Cactus light and shadow:


Camera: Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Exposure: 10
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 6 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[pjflan7]

I see what you mean...yes the lines created by light and shadow plus the wooden planks all combine in a nice interplay of lines, patterns and shapes and the long shutter worked out really good for you....You captured the light just right

[jakethepig]

You did a great job Flavio, The first one, my favourite is very atmospheric. The lighting look excellent. It's nice to play with settings especially at night. Love the shadows in the others too. Great work and nice framing too.

Dave.

[flavio]

Originally Posted by pjflan7

I see what you mean...yes the lines created by light and shadow plus the wooden planks all combine in a nice interplay of lines, patterns and shapes and the long shutter worked out really good for you....You captured the light just right

Thanks for noticing.
I was not sure all that transpires to an objective viewer.

[flavio]

Originally Posted by jakethepig

You did a great job Flavio, The first one, my favourite is very atmospheric. The lighting look excellent. It's nice to play with settings especially at night. Love the shadows in the others too. Great work and nice framing too.

Dave.

Thanks Dave,
Your comments are encouraging. I'll keep playing with the settings and see what happens.

[Chewys Dad]

Nice effect Flavio! I like the 1st one because of the Depth of field; I haven't done much of this type of capture yet, but your results are interesting and inspire me to a few ideas.
Thanks for sharing these
Michael

[Heaterguy]

Really nice shots. I like the first one as well particularly the way it leads my eye out to the upper right of the frame leaving me wondering whats just outside of the shot. I like the warm tone and the lone colored flower on the left as well.

[leonaashlee]

I really like these flavio...they are really interesting. Thank you for sharing them.

[flavio]

Originally Posted by Chewys Dad

Nice effect Flavio! I like the 1st one because of the Depth of field; I haven't done much of this type of capture yet, but your results are interesting and inspire me to a few ideas.
Thanks for sharing these
Michael

Thanks Michael,
If I really inspired you with ideas and stuff, well you made my day!
Go for it, lets get some interesting results and learn from them.

[flavio]

Originally Posted by Heaterguy

Really nice shots. I like the first one as well particularly the way it leads my eye out to the upper right of the frame leaving me wondering whats just outside of the shot. I like the warm tone and the lone colored flower on the left as well.

Thanks. The red flower is a geranium. I was surprized that it came out red even under the di, light.