Exposure Help Needed Please (Page 2): It appears that you are shooting from an overpass. It seems like there may be some motion/vibration on that overpass that I see in the image. I...

DaveC1 Loc: South East US

It appears that you are shooting from an overpass. It seems like there may be some motion/vibration on that overpass that I see in the image. I would consider going with a higher ISO and get that shutter speed down a bit.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

rdrechsler wrote:

.....I've seen a lot of your pictures where you manage to capture the shadows and still not blow out the bright lights.....

It's guaranteed that those images will have had extensive PP to get them the way you saw them. It's also possible that the brightest lights in those images weren't as bright as those in your image.

Some of the lights on the bright building near the centre are blown and there's only one way to avoid that - reduce the exposure. Or just accept it because it's not a shot spoiler.

Another possibility is to use a tripod and make two exposures - one for the bright lights and one for the darker areas - then blend them using the desired bits from each exposure. Or alternatively use exposure bracketing. You would only need a neutral and a dark exposure, and the dark exposure would have a faster shutter speed so it wouldn't be a problem.

Either way, your D850 has very good dynamic range and low light capabilities, so it should give you a lot to work with in PP.

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

I may be missing something, but if the final product is the goal, in PS I would stack two images each having the correct exposure for the two "end members", and and mask out the "other" part on each. But if the procedure of capturing the scene in one exposure is the point....well, I bow to those having better expertise as proffered.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

My final 2 cents -- Think rdrechsier got about all he could get out of the photo with 1 shot --- I suggested a couple more stops only to give him more room to play within postprocessing -- Probably would not have helped much if any
Actually, As I view it --a good looking shot as is
Bottom line = His response to give it another go during the golden hour -- Right after sundown ---
Good idea --- Good work & great effort

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Dick, this was the best I could do, reference the banding in the sky. The banding was from having to torture a jpg image. If this were a RAW original, I could have brought out a lot more natural looking detail in the overall image.
--Bob

rdrechsler wrote:

In the attached photograph I'm trying to capture t... (show quote)

(Download)

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

rmalarz wrote:

Dick, this was the best I could do, reference the banding in the sky. The banding was from having to torture a jpg image. If this were a RAW original, I could have brought out a lot more natural looking detail in the overall image.
--Bob

Bob, You could have avoided the banding if you had converted the image to a 16-bit TIFF before you started to adjust the tonality.

But of course, there is no substitute for starting from the raw file in the first place.

AlohaJim Loc: Retired. Hawaii >> N. Arizona.

rdrechsler wrote:

In the attached photograph I'm trying to capture t... (show quote)

For fun.
I was wondering what it would look like just before dawn while the city lights were still on.
Hope you don't mind me sharing it. Spent about 10 minutes on it with a new program (bad learning curve). . . . Messed up the sun and way too pink.
Put a sky to cover up the banding.
(click on download to see full pic)

(Download)

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

rdrechsler wrote:

In the attached photograph I'm trying to capture t... (show quote)

I decided to drive back to LA last night and reshoot this shot. The original (not the one we're discussing here, but the one posted with the new one) has been accepted into a local art exhibit at the Community Hospital starting next week, so I needed to get a better shot. The sunset sky in both was added in PS. I think I nailed the second one. Easy for me to say, right. "The L.A. Sky is on Fire" Nikon D850, Tamron 17-35mm, f/2.8-4 lens @17mm, f/22, 15 seconds, ISO 31.

New Version
New Version...

(Download)

Original Shot a few Weeks Ago
Original Shot a few Weeks Ago...

(Download)

davefales Loc: Virginia

The complete, uninterrupted headlights/taillights are a great improvement.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Don't be averse to softening the sky. It'll be in contrast to the hard outlines of the buildings.

AlohaJim Loc: Retired. Hawaii >> N. Arizona.

rdrechsler wrote:

I decided to drive back to LA last night and reshoot this shot. The original (not the one we're discussing here, but the one posted with the new one) has been accepted into a local art exhibit at the Community Hospital starting next week, so I needed to get a better shot. The sunset sky in both was added in PS. I think I nailed the second one. Easy for me to say, right. "The L.A. Sky is on Fire" Nikon D850, Tamron 17-35mm, f/2.8-4 lens @17mm, f/22, 15 seconds, ISO 31.

Very nice.
Good job.
Aloha
jim

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

davefales wrote:

The complete, uninterrupted headlights/taillights are a great improvement.

Thanks Dave, yes and I think the whole composition, lighting, focus...it all works better in the new shot. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

R.G. wrote:

Don't be averse to softening the sky. It'll be in contrast to the hard outlines of the buildings.

The image has been accepted to an Exhibit called "The Sky's the Limit," so I actually wanted a dramatic sky. I do understand what you're saying and it might be a little easier on the eyes with a softer sky, but not this time. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. The advice and feedback I get on this group is truly invaluable.

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

AlohaJim wrote:

Very nice.
Good job.
Aloha
jim

Aloha Jim, thanks for your input. I’m going to be in Hawaii in September because I’m getting married at the Fern Grotto in Kauai!