Esplanade 15/01/2009

[TroyP]

Here's 3 of my best shots that I took tonight.
These are my first attempt. The weather was extremely windy, it almost took my tripod!
I took 120 shots tonight, including the merlion + flyer, but don't think they are that interesting.
These are all original pics, none were touched up.

1. 8:21pm. Taken at 21mm with D90 + 18-105mm kit lens, tripod
Aperture mode, 15 secs, F11, ISO 100, EV +0.3, Division Metering, no flash, standard scene, Auto WB.

2. 8:51pm. Taken at 18mm with D90 + 18-105mm kit lens, tripod
Aperture mode, 13 secs, F8, ISO 100, EV 0, Division Metering, no flash, standard scene, Auto WB.

3. 9.05pm. Taken at 18mm with D90 + 18-105mm kit lens, tripod
Aperture mode, 13 secs, F8, ISO 100, EV 0, Division Metering, no flash, standard scene,
White Fluorescent WB (sodium-vapor lamps)

 

[Diveraz]

Amongst the 3 shots, I like the #2 best (noticed barrel distortion).

The #1 is ok, but alignment is out. Could be due to the embankment not being parallel, coz it gives the photo a tilted look (but the buildings on the rightside are straight), or is it because of barrel distortion from the lens?

Photo #3, I find the colour to be off, that is a personal preference. It's too blue/cool.

 

[imvane]

#2 gets my pick. I like the warmer and more natural feel that it gives.

As was already mentioned, #1 is tilted.

 

[TroyP]

Amongst the 3 shots, I like the #2 best (noticed barrel distortion).

The #1 is ok, but alignment is out. Could be due to the embankment not being parallel, coz it gives the photo a tilted look (but the buildings on the rightside are straight), or is it because of barrel distortion from the lens?

Photo #3, I find the colour to be off, that is a personal preference. It's too blue/cool.

yeah, I realise that now. I did align the Oriental Hotel on the right, failing to realise the left side of the shot. What's "barrel distortion"? Is it from movement in the wind? I got plenty of that last night, I had to keep timing my shots and also shielding the lens with my body.

 

[Diveraz]

yeah, I realise that now. I did align the Oriental Hotel on the right, failing to realise the left side of the shot. What's "barrel distortion"? Is it from movement in the wind? I got plenty of that last night, I had to keep timing my shots and also shielding the lens with my body.

You might want to read this -----> http://www.mediachance.com/pbrush/help/barrel.html to understand what barrel distortion means.

 

[Paladin]

Can be corrected easily using PS though.

 

[Kit]

Correcting tilts is not rocket science but it does require some understanding about perspectives. In the first photo, the reason why the horizon (centre line) appeared tilted but the buildings on the extreme right is straight is due to misalignment of the camera in relation to the buildings.

To get everything straight, you have to adjust the camera's position along 3 axis because the world in is 3 dimension. You can pan left/right, tilt left right and tilt up/down. So in this instance, the horizon is tilted because your camera is tilted more towards the right. This will also explain why the buildings on the right is straight but the ones on the left is tilted.

That brings us to the second part of this explaination. The fact that the building vertical lines is converging towards the sky (be it on one end or both) indicates that your camera is also tilting upwards.

So to solve this problem, you first have to tilt the camera back to centre along the tlit left right axis until buildings on both sides of the photo is converging towards the sky at the same angle. Then tilt the camera downwards till you get the building lines straight. Sounds complex but all you need is some practise.

Now for the composition. The angles you've chosen is what I would termed as "used to death". Its doesn't help when you took 120 photos in a single outing. You don't need quantity and you'd be better off spending your time scouting the area for some refreshing stuffs. You don't need more photos but more thinking time. Think about how you can approach the scene is a way that's never been done before. This is what I call a design intention for your photos.

A good photo is a marriage of sound technical knowledge and good design intentions. You are better off with a single success than leaving with 120 shots which leaves much to be desired, be it on the technical side or design contents. It pays to be hardworking, which I'm sure you are but you can be better faster if you'd just slow down and start considering other factors.

 

[TroyP]

Now for the composition. The angles you've chosen is what I would termed as "used to death". Its doesn't help when you took 120 photos in a single outing. You don't need quantity and you'd be better off spending your time scouting the area for some refreshing stuffs. You don't need more photos but more thinking time. Think about how you can approach the scene is a way that's never been done before. This is what I call a design intention for your photos.

A good photo is a marriage of sound technical knowledge and good design intentions. You are better off with a single success than leaving with 120 shots which leaves much to be desired, be it on the technical side or design contents. It pays to be hardworking, which I'm sure you are but you can be better faster if you'd just slow down and start considering other factors.

Correct, these angles have been used to death - I intentionally picked these angles because they are practice shots and I wanted to compare my skills with others that had taken shots at the same location. I wasn't trying to be original in any way.

I took 120 shots for 3 reasons:
1. It was extremely windy and I had to keep taking shots until I managed to get approx. 6 seconds without wind interference.
2. I was testing all the diff apertures, scene modes, white balance etc.
3. I took heaps of the flyer and got plenty of different colours. In the end I didn't like any of them because of some giant chinese lantern display which spoilt the shots. I also had shots of the Merlion, but they were rather boring, especially with the amount of construction work around.

With night photography being outdoors (weather conditions) and long exposures, it's not possible to get a perfect shot each time. Even great photographers such as Ken Rockwell taken dozens of pictures and pick 1 good one out of the lot.

 

[Kit]

Correct, these angles have been used to death - I intentionally picked these angles because they are practice shots and I wanted to compare my skills with others that had taken shots at the same location. I wasn't trying to be original in any way.

I took 120 shots for 3 reasons:
1. It was extremely windy and I had to keep taking shots until I managed to get approx. 6 seconds without wind interference.
2. I was testing all the diff apertures, scene modes, white balance etc.
3. I took heaps of the flyer and got plenty of different colours. In the end I didn't like any of them because of some giant chinese lantern display which spoilt the shots. I also had shots of the Merlion, but they were rather boring, especially with the amount of construction work around.

With night photography being outdoors (weather conditions) and long exposures, it's not possible to get a perfect shot each time. Even great photographers such as Ken Rockwell taken dozens of pictures and pick 1 good one out of the lot.

This is exactly what I meant by thinking more before you click. Why did it take you "heaps of shots" to figure that the lanterns spoilt the shots? Whay did it take more than 1 shot for you to realise they were boring? Chose your angles with more care and scrutinise it, pay more attention to the details. Stop giving yourself excuses.

 

[Kit]

The good photographers take multiple shots so that they can have a variety to select from. They don't take a whole bunch hoping that one would turn out good. There's a difference.

 

[TroyP]

The good photographers take multiple shots so that they can have a variety to select from. They don't take a whole bunch hoping that one would turn out good. There's a difference.

Most of mine were good too, but there's no point posting up so many of the same angle....

 

[Kit]

Its not about posting too many shots taken from the same angle.

The question is if its necessary to take that many shots of the same scene if you know what you are doing. If the wind is affecting you so much, then you'd have to assess if that was even an ideal condition to take photos to begin with. One of the many things you have to consider. If taking photos was as easy as just....... taking photos.....

 

[Sunny815]

Wah.. Nice lar.. i like the 3rd pic.. so cool!!!