What do you think?

montyvox · 05-08-2010, 12:54 AM

Hello everyone-

I wanted to throw this picture on the forums before I submit.

I like it but I wanted to get some ideas on it.

Thanks
Matt

rathman11 · 05-08-2010, 01:06 AM

I'm no pro in the night photography department, but it is too dark and empty on the left hand side. What looks to be a signal is too far off in the distance, thus not giving the photo any point of interest. I like the idea but I think you need something more of interest, possibly the headlight being more prominent and showing more of the right of way. I'm hoping Chase will chime in on this one, he is definitely the one to listen to about night photography.

bigbassloyd · 05-08-2010, 01:27 AM

Way too much dark nothing in the shot. I would not suggest submitting it. The moon and distant lit signal are not able to carry the scene.

Loyd L.

Chris Z · 05-08-2010, 01:29 AM

I like it a lot. I wouldn't mind having it hanging on my wall. But, I think it might be too artsy for RP.

Now that I look at it again, it may look better if the silhouette of the mountain was a little more visible along with the pole on the left and the code line. Having the the rails visible leading to the signals would help too. I think that would require a longer exposure.

Chris Z

nikos1 · 05-08-2010, 02:33 AM

I wasnt a fan at first until i saw the mountain in the background. Dont know if RP will accept but who knows give it a try, I think you would have better luck if there was a shine on the rails and telegraph wires but you would probably end up blowing out the image letting the train get closer.

troy12n · 05-08-2010, 04:03 AM

I like it, whether or not it will get on, who knows.

Holloran Grade · 05-08-2010, 09:01 AM

Lighten it up (a bunch) and show us what it looks like.

The spot and the idea have real possibilities but you may need to re-shoot it.

milwman · 05-08-2010, 11:08 AM

Needs glint off the rail or the moon lighting it better, Think like this if the stamp sized photo looks like a black patch and not much more who,s going to look? Think like a sales man? Good or not it's can it be better.

GIZMO · 05-08-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montyvox

Hello everyone-

I wanted to throw this picture on the forums before I submit.

I like it but I wanted to get some ideas on it.

Thanks
Matt

http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/users-guide/index.htm

I suppose that your D50 has the 18-55 lens and I would zoom in with the 55mm setting and crop in later to about what I have here and ignore the moon. Ken Rockwell likes ISO 1600 with the D40, saying that noise is less of a problem than blur with this combo..

So I would max everything, aperture, ISO and zoom. And run off a bunch with different exposure compensation to get one that looks best. And take a bunch if motion and blur looks like a problem. And if I am going to be taking different levels of zoom full manual control makes it easier to control the lighting, since auto-exposure with various levels of zoom becomes hard to judge with the light filling only a small but variable part of the image.

milwman · 05-08-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIZMO

Ken Rockwell likes ISO 1600 with the D40, saying that noise is less of a problem than blur with this combo..

So I would max everything, aperture, ISO and zoom.

That works sometimes but best not have a bunch of black in the photo. Ken Likes him self a lot but bet he would have a hard time getting a photo on RP.

GIZMO · 05-08-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milwman

That works sometimes but best not have a bunch of black in the photo. Ken Likes him self a lot but bet he would have a hard time getting a photo on RP.

I agree about Ken. He has to talk about LOTS of cameras to drum up donations I guess. I was thinking keep the black down when I mentioned zooming and cropping. I tend to push the ISO anyway, with my personal attitude that speed solves lots of problems. Of course one needs to check constantly to keep the balance of noise vs grain in balance. Also many people use a tripod a lot more than I do..

milwman · 05-08-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIZMO

I tend to push the ISO anyway, with my personal attitude that speed solves lots of problems. Of course one needs to check constantly to keep the balance of noise vs grain in balance. Also many people use a tripod a lot more than I do..

If you do it right you wont see much noise but think 800 ISO is about all you can get a way with, Did shoot a band playing with stage lights at 1600 with fill flash that came out well but a band guys didn't care about noise!

montyvox · 05-09-2010, 03:35 PM

Thanks everyone for their opinions.

I think putting a picture up first in there is any doubt about it here is a great place to start.

Thanks again-
Matt

Paolo Roffo · 05-09-2010, 11:53 PM

One of my recent RP-accepted shots was captured at ISO-1600. And I'm using a 30D, which doesn't handle high ISO settings as well as newer cameras, so it can be done.

troy12n · 05-10-2010, 12:56 AM

Night + high ISO is usually a bad idea. The thing to do if possible is longer exposure at ISO100. Layer if necessary to capture detail

milwman · 05-10-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy12n

Night + high ISO is usually a bad idea. The thing to do if possible is longer exposure at ISO100. Layer if necessary to capture detail

You would think so but some times having a shorter exposure works. Look at some of Craig William's night shots.