The absolute most challenging urban night scene ever!

[Tuolumne]

Also to comment on Tuolumne's point, how the heck can you peer at a small screen on the back of a camera and be sure that you have achieved proper focus and are free of the weird light effects? That's one of the things I don't get about digital cameras --it's very hard to make any sort of critical evaluation of an image based on the LCD screen.

OK, sorry the rant. I agree with the others' suggestions -- a lens hood, a slower shutter speed and smaller aperture are what you need. And a tripod is probably best for the purpose, though it does slow things down considerably if you need to beat a hasty retreat.

I just can't agree with this. I do it all the time. Try using the magnification feature of your digital camera. Focus? Try autofocus. It works, especially in the dark when you can't see. I'll challenge anyone to a focusing contest using auto-focus vs manual focus at night. I'll even bet on the results - how about we do it in the total dark instead of this semi-lit scene?

I really don't understand technology bashers who obviously haven't mastered the use of the tools that they bash. If it doesn't suit you - stick with film. It doesn't mean the rest of us are idiots for knowing how to use the tools that utterly elude you.

BTW, if you want to get a better white balance using a digital camera, just twist the knob to "Tungsten". Oh, what's that, you say you didn't have any tungsten film with you when you came across that scene? Shame..what a shame...

/T

 

[Gumby]

I wonder what exactly you consider a "Winner".

You're not talking about Ywentz's pics, are you? think about it... he's a guy with the guts to go into a bad neighborhood after dark, get drunk, drive home, climb the side of a 10-story building and then leap back down to meet a girl... taking pictures all of the time. He's spiderman with a camera if you ask me... a true superhero!

EDIT... oh, now I know who you're critical of. Ignore my first sentene... the question.

 

[ywenz]

I really don't understand technology bashers who obviously haven't mastered the use of the tools that they bash. If it doesn't suit you - stick with film. It doesn't mean the rest of us are idiots for knowing how to use the tools that utterly elude you.

BTW, if you want to get a better white balance using a digital camera, just twist the knob to "Tungsten". Oh, what's that, you say you didn't have any tungsten film with you when you came across that scene? Shame..what a shame...

One word: MSN Web TV

Check the traffic log for RFF.com, I bet you'll see a higher than usual percentage of Web TVs.

 

[Pherdinand]

True to certain degree, but what if not shooting f/16 or smaller? BTW, stars aren't "distortion", they are an element of artistic interpretation 😀

p.s. mi nombre es Eduardo, senor.

Y cual es tu numero?
De donde eres? Quien eres? Que es?
Soy de Ponferrada, hablo Castellan.

Sorry, my spanish classes were of rather basic level. I don't see your point.🙂

PS: distortion does not only mean optical distortion by the lens. To me a star filter is a way of distorting the image and they are not really artistic 😀
But i lso don't like porcelain cats in the windows, or garden gnomes, and I rarely take sunset shots (and i am mostly ashamed of it, later).

 

[Pherdinand]

What??

???????

One word: MSN Web TV

Check the request log on RFF, I bet you'll see a higher than usual percentage of Web TVs.

 

[Pherdinand]

Ywenz, mah brotha, why is a Ricoh GRD a POS ???
??????
Well it's a rather expensive piece of sh|t, then. I wish my stomach would be able to produce such.

 

[Pherdinand]

Finder, you're right of course. Sodium lamps have a weird spectrum.
But you're a genius, of course you are right😀

 

[ywenz]

Ywenz, mah brotha, why is a Ricoh GRD a POS ???
??????
Well it's a rather expensive piece of sh|t, then. I wish my stomach would be able to produce such.

Because it being a digital P&S, such as it is. In the eye of the proverbial RFFer, it's a POS. I'm doing my best to be agreeable.

 

[Pherdinand]

LOL, you're slightly overdoin' it, mah brotha.

PS: i just confirmed. Mah stomach makes noting like a digital camera. Oh well. Life's not fah.

 

[Tuolumne]

I am totally baffled by the above exchange...and WebTV is a POS.

/T

 

[ferider]

Any comments as to what to do here?

Dmr,

I recommend to try:

- tripod
- Fuji Press
- remove any filter
- bracket for exposure
- don't shoot in the middle of the night; either a little after sun-set or before sun-rise. (*)

Some examples of (*):

Roland.

 

[Pherdinand]

I am totally baffled by the above exchange...and WebTV is a POS.

/T

me too. Especially about this web tv stuff. About what the heck web tv is, and why is it discussed in this thread.
Let's admit it, the whole thread went a bit funky. Including your post about people being idiots not knowing how to use the "adverbial POS" 😀
(the one my stomach cannot produce no matter what i eat)

 

[Pherdinand]

woah Roland, the second shot, that's the best sunset i've seen lately 😀

 

[ferider]

woah Roland, the second shot, that's the best sunset i've seen lately 😀

After, I said, after (like an hour ?). And I was not embarrassed taking it 😀
I did fall in the tide pools though ....

 

[Anupam]

Magnificient work, Roland. Thanks for showing these. I live the two bridge shots, especially the second.

-Anupam

 

[Pherdinand]

then that's a way overexposed moon, you know!

hehe
i imagine now you fumbling with a heavyweight tripod and a pack of fuji press and - blub! disappearing in the pool
glad you saved the memory card though! 😀

 

[Pherdinand]

hey have you used a star filter by the way, to get that star effect of the moon highlight?

 

[ferider]

Magnificient work, Roland. Thanks for showing these. I live the two bridge shots, especially the second.

-Anupam

Thanks !

hey have you used a star filter by the way, to get that star effect of the moon highlight?

You can buy them on ebay: they are called Fresnel filters, to be put
around your subject. Shipping costs will kill you though 😀

 

[Anupam]

I rather think it's a lighthouse.

 

[Pherdinand]

i rather tell you i was joking before who knows what. 🙂