rexxal

Took these the other night and like the effect.

Should these lights be sharper?

rballard29 Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I the think the photo is just fine the way it is. I think the lightes seem out of focus because they are over-exposed but to adjust the cameray to expose the white lights correctly would make the rest of the photo too dark. I'm no expert on this type of photography so I'll watch for another answer from someone who is.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Perfect opportunity for HDR. The little white lights are very over exposed compared with the rest of the shot. Make one exposure for the white lights and another for the rest of the photo and combine the two or three exposures to make it look right.

photojax Loc: West Michigan

Technically speaking, the lights are overexposed but I like the shot the way it is. Just one opinion.

EdAnderson Loc: Hanover, PA

I used to shoot a lot of outdoor backlighted signage for an advertising client. We had to keep the signage itself from overexposing, while trying to hold detail in the lighted store interior, the area (typically gas pumps) under the canopy, and the surroundings, if possible. Always arrived early, got set up, waited for twilight, and used a Sekonic Spot meter like a machine gun on full auto. That end of the day light can't be beat to balance several simultaneous conditions. Almost all of these were shot on 4X5 Ektachrome and no post-processing.