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Beautiful St.Petersburg, Florida
Sep 6, 2019 04:35:03   #
Armando Pinon Loc: Tampa, Florida
 
After watching a video of how to take long exposure photos, I decided to take my first pics in downtown St. Petersburg. After watching the results on the computer I realize several mistakes on composition. What would you have done differently to improve composition on these pics? All comments are very welcome.


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Sep 6, 2019 06:22:54   #
Silverrails
 
Armando Pinon wrote:
After watching a video of how to take long exposure photos, I decided to take my first pics in downtown St. Petersburg. After watching the results on the computer I realize several mistakes on composition. What would you have done differently to improve composition on these pics? All comments are very welcome.


As a 2.5 year "Advanced Beginner", and not having any experience as yet with doing any "Long Exposure" Photography, I consider these images you created as "Very Nice", I see the effects of the "Slow Shutter-Speed" in the Water(s), and the rest of the images seem to my eyes, to be quite accurate as far as Composition, Light, Focus, etc. Enjoyable Images to view, for this "Advanced Beginner" Photographer.

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Sep 6, 2019 07:29:56   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
For the lower / 2nd image, clearly the boats are moving in the water. But, the background elements are not particularly sharp in either image. The pier posts near the center of the top are sharply focused without movement. The similar posts in the middle of the bottom image are not as sharp.

Confirm the VR / similar is turned off for the lens on the next attempt. Look at using a ND filter rather than only small apertures and long shutter durations.

Just handholding the camera & lens (or from the tripod), assure you can take a sharp image from this position with a 'normal' exposure. For the top image, you should have an image at f/14 that all aspects of the image, the near boats, and pier, and the far details of the buildings, should all be in sharp focus. If that is not the case for a 'normal' image, investigate the lens, the camera, and / or the exposure settings. From a tripod, try various combinations for a 'normal' exposure, say f/8 to f/13, and review results. The settings that yield a nice, sharp image in a normal situation should yield a sharp image when adjusted for a long shutter duration.

Finally, consider where you've place the focus point(s). The top image would seem the boat in the center would be where to focus. The bottom image, the pier posts in the center would be the focus. I suggest these because of their 'distance' into the frame, not because of the center position. For an image with a small aperture desiring a deep depth of field, pick an image element about 1/3 into the frame. But, your compositions have only flat water at the 1/3 distance, so I suggested moving back to about 1/2 into the image. Finally, try framing your image so you don't cut off the tops of the masts.

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Sep 6, 2019 07:34:25   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
Armando, composition in photography could be something very personal although following the rules is the standard. I know that with the long exposure your purpose was to show a silky appearance in the water and indeed you achieved your goal but to me showing more of the sky would have worked much better in these photographs. Selecting the right lens the effect you wanted in the water while showing the sky could have been achieved. The movement showed by the two boats does not help in my opinion in that second shot. That floating debris on the right could have been cloned for a more pleasing photograph.

The exposures are fine in both shots. In my case I would have moved the camera to the left to photograph more of the building in that first shot but that is me.

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Sep 6, 2019 07:35:04   #
treadwl Loc: South Florida
 
You are off to a fine start with Long Exposures. I wish you had included your camera settings (ISO Shutter Speed and Aperture and if you used a filter which one or ones)

In photo #1 I see two issues that are< at least for me, major. First you clipped the mast tops for the ships and thus they look awkward. Second, I know you are thrilled with the look of the water, but I feel that you have too much of it. The reflection is not clear enough to warrent that much water so I would crop in in about half.

In photo #2 my comments are about the same. In the water I would crop just below the reflections of the posts. They have interesting reflections Then there is the mast issue again. You have beautiful water, but you have a blurred mast which ruins the image. You can't crop it off, and even if you include the whole thing it is still a blurred mess. You have to be careful with your subject when you shoot long exposures.

You could solve this problem by taking one exposure of the water with a slow shutter, then using a fast shutter shoot the same shot again freezing the rocking boats and then blend the two to get the perfect shot. But I would suggest working on one skill at a time.

Try shooting the sky line at night---building don't move, and you will get great reflections in the water.

You are really off to a great start. If you have questions, please feel free to send me a private message. I'll be glad to help.

Larry

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Sep 7, 2019 05:56:15   #
Armando Pinon Loc: Tampa, Florida
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
For the lower / 2nd image, clearly the boats are moving in the water. But, the background elements are not particularly sharp in either image. The pier posts near the center of the top are sharply focused without movement. The similar posts in the middle of the bottom image are not as sharp.

Confirm the VR / similar is turned off for the lens on the next attempt. Look at using a ND filter rather than only small apertures and long shutter durations.

Just handholding the camera & lens (or from the tripod), assure you can take a sharp image from this position with a 'normal' exposure. For the top image, you should have an image at f/14 that all aspects of the image, the near boats, and pier, and the far details of the buildings, should all be in sharp focus. If that is not the case for a 'normal' image, investigate the lens, the camera, and / or the exposure settings. From a tripod, try various combinations for a 'normal' exposure, say f/8 to f/13, and review results. The settings that yield a nice, sharp image in a normal situation should yield a sharp image when adjusted for a long shutter duration.

Finally, consider where you've place the focus point(s). The top image would seem the boat in the center would be where to focus. The bottom image, the pier posts in the center would be the focus. I suggest these because of their 'distance' into the frame, not because of the center position. For an image with a small aperture desiring a deep depth of field, pick an image element about 1/3 into the frame. But, your compositions have only flat water at the 1/3 distance, so I suggested moving back to about 1/2 into the image. Finally, try framing your image so you don't cut off the tops of the masts.
For the lower / 2nd image, clearly the boats are m... (show quote)


Thanks for your remarks. I did use a ND 10 stop filter and a tripod to take these photos. I will follow your suggestion to try f/8 and f/13 next time. The focus point probably was my biggest mistake to produce a sharp image. The first photo was taken with a Nikon D3400 28 mm iso 100, 30 seconds, f/14. The second photo iso 100, 30 seconds f/11. Again I appreciate your comments, they will help me improve my photography.

Reply
Sep 7, 2019 06:04:26   #
Armando Pinon Loc: Tampa, Florida
 
camerapapi wrote:
Armando, composition in photography could be something very personal although following the rules is the standard. I know that with the long exposure your purpose was to show a silky appearance in the water and indeed you achieved your goal but to me showing more of the sky would have worked much better in these photographs. Selecting the right lens the effect you wanted in the water while showing the sky could have been achieved. The movement showed by the two boats does not help in my opinion in that second shot. That floating debris on the right could have been cloned for a more pleasing photograph.

The exposures are fine in both shots. In my case I would have moved the camera to the left to photograph more of the building in that first shot but that is me.
Armando, composition in photography could be somet... (show quote)


Thanks for your comments. I totally agree that more sky and less water would have resulted on a much better photo. I try to remove the debris from the water but I don't know what happen that it did not got saved. Thanks, your remaks are very helpfull.

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Sep 7, 2019 06:05:18   #
Armando Pinon Loc: Tampa, Florida
 
Silverrails wrote:
As a 2.5 year "Advanced Beginner", and not having any experience as yet with doing any "Long Exposure" Photography, I consider these images you created as "Very Nice", I see the effects of the "Slow Shutter-Speed" in the Water(s), and the rest of the images seem to my eyes, to be quite accurate as far as Composition, Light, Focus, etc. Enjoyable Images to view, for this "Advanced Beginner" Photographer.


Thanks, I appreciate your comments.

Reply
Sep 7, 2019 06:24:45   #
Armando Pinon Loc: Tampa, Florida
 
treadwl wrote:
You are off to a fine start with Long Exposures. I wish you had included your camera settings (ISO Shutter Speed and Aperture and if you used a filter which one or ones)

In photo #1 I see two issues that are< at least for me, major. First you clipped the mast tops for the ships and thus they look awkward. Second, I know you are thrilled with the look of the water, but I feel that you have too much of it. The reflection is not clear enough to warrent that much water so I would crop in in about half.

In photo #2 my comments are about the same. In the water I would crop just below the reflections of the posts. They have interesting reflections Then there is the mast issue again. You have beautiful water, but you have a blurred mast which ruins the image. You can't crop it off, and even if you include the whole thing it is still a blurred mess. You have to be careful with your subject when you shoot long exposures.

You could solve this problem by taking one exposure of the water with a slow shutter, then using a fast shutter shoot the same shot again freezing the rocking boats and then blend the two to get the perfect shot. But I would suggest working on one skill at a time.

Try shooting the sky line at night---building don't move, and you will get great reflections in the water.

You are really off to a great start. If you have questions, please feel free to send me a private message. I'll be glad to help.

Larry
You are off to a fine start with Long Exposures. ... (show quote)


Larry, thanks a lot for your remarks. The mast issue was the first thing I notice when I saw the photos on my computer. I think that I was not putting too much attention to my composition, my main focus was to learn how to make long exposure. But by doing that I ruin the photo, lesson learned. I am not familiar with blending photos but I will look into it.

Photo 1 Nikon D3400 28mm iso 100, 30 sec. f/14 used tripod and a ND10 stops filter.

Photo 2 iso 100, 30 sec f/11 '' '' '' '' '' '' .

Larry thanks again.

Armando

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Sep 7, 2019 08:33:42   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Armando Pinon wrote:
Thanks for your remarks. I did use a ND 10 stop filter and a tripod to take these photos. I will follow your suggestion to try f/8 and f/13 next time. The focus point probably was my biggest mistake to produce a sharp image. The first photo was taken with a Nikon D3400 28 mm iso 100, 30 seconds, f/14. The second photo iso 100, 30 seconds f/11. Again I appreciate your comments, they will help me improve my photography.


My experience with an ND10 is I have to set up the camera on tripod and focus without the filter, then changing the lens to manual so it won't refocus when I carefully add the filter onto the lens and adjust the exposure parameters. I've found the filter is too dark, even in complete sun, to focus while the filter is attached. I prefer a wired remote release. You can also use a 10-second delay to avoid camera shake when you release the shutter. Mark sure the lens VR / similar technology is turned off for this long exposure.

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Sep 7, 2019 09:53:00   #
FredCM Loc: Central Illinois
 
For composition, I would zoom out a bit to get more sky. In photo 1 I move the camera to the left, moving the big building to the right, off center a bit. Then choose which I like better.

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Sep 7, 2019 12:22:41   #
David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
 
A nit pick here--in #1 the center and left buildings are slightly tilted. I am particularly sensitive to that--it's usually the first thing I notice. (Now, the tapering from looking up is different, because I expect that. If I can, I often try to straighten it. The comment here is that in a view like that one the tilt is not normal.)

Otherwise, I like both of them.

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Sep 7, 2019 17:32:22   #
Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida
 
Thanks everyone . This was very helpful for me. I am only beginning to use my ND filters and look forward to trying them out. There is so much to learn and know here. I am so lucky to have all of your great knowledge combined. It really matters greatly and I am grateful.
Thanks again guys.

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Sep 7, 2019 21:55:11   #
DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina
 
👍👍👍

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Sep 8, 2019 03:26:20   #
Sam9987
 
Makes me homesick, lived there for 12 years

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