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My 1st Light-Trails!


My 1st Light-Trails!
Photo Information
Copyright: Thong Wing Hoong (Ah_Thong) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 364 W: 74 N: 385] (2485)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-03-02
Categories: Nocturnal
Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: f/22, 8 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Night traffic, A moment of speed [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-03-15 10:35
Viewed: 940
Points: 19
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi all,
Finally I posted my 1st "Light-Trails" photo today. As a beginner, this type of 'ghost' photo really impressed and amazed me.. I still remember when a friend show me his light trails photos, and also when i saw some light-trails photo here in Treklens, I always wanted to do and try something like that.

And i hope this photo looks ok... and i think i will try better places for better composition for this kind of light trails photo in the future.

Here is how i took this photo :
1. Find a good overhead pedestrian bridge (this is in Gelugor, nearby my house).
2. Set up my camera and tripod. (Must use Tripod because of the super-long shutter speed)
3. Get a good view of both main road, and set my camera to manual mode... to the smallest aperture size (f/22... for my camera).. and set the shutter speed to around 6-10s. (play around with the combination and see whats the results).
4. Ok, wait for lots of cars to come...then press the shutter release...and wait...
5. If no good, then just try again..and again..with different combination of Aperture and Shutter Speed values.

I like this photo and hope you like it too.

Comments, Critiques and Workshops are welcomed.
-thong-
wiselum, letr, maleentjeh, torr, alagoa, Dingo, laine, svan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To wiselum: nice ...goc 4 03-17 09:22
To wiselum: very usefull tips!!!Ah_Thong 1 03-16 06:54
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Critiques [Translate]

hi there! nice try. however i think there are things to improve.
1. you may set slower shutter speed, so that the light trails would be longer and more intense(more vehicles passing by). i usually use 30 sec. however, it depends on the smallest aperture your camera allows too. if the aperture is not small enough, you might over expose in your picture, i see that the light in the surrounding is not too bright. so i think u can try longer exposure.
2. try to find the turning part of the road. then the light trails would be curving in which i think is more interesting.
3. or u can find a part of the road that split into 2 roads. because vehicles have to blink their car lights before turning. that would create interesting dotting light trails.
good day!
selina

Hi Thong,
Very nice. Composition looks good. Exposure looks good (I don't mind the shorter light trails at all) and, the way it is now, the lights don't look blown out like some people make them when trying to get longer streaks of light. Great work!

  • Great 
  • letr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1162 W: 419 N: 1111] (6780)
  • [2005-03-15 12:36]

Very nice experiment Ah thong, was thinking of triying this myself , will try to use your settingd here, I agree with Selina on the curves and blinking lights...but you did great here !!

Hi Thong, I think you did very well. Very nice capture.

Marleen

Excellent exposure time for this good night photo.
I like to feel the motion in this photo.
Well done.
Alexandre

  • Great 
  • torr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 406 W: 50 N: 80] (1735)
  • [2005-03-15 14:16]

Maby you can try it ones when the light is dropping down.
It is not allways nessesery to do this in total blackness.
You can keep some extra expression in it.
When you want it raser sharp use the remote or the timer of your d 70.
I do think that 4or5 sec are enough, ...
I do it my way?
The scene I think could be better shosen.
It is a fact that on briges in front of you or splitting roads it reflects more energy.
Still this is funn so ;o)

I think you did a fantastic job on your first try!!!! Great exposure, the light tracks are really well defined, not over exposed at all, I like the fact that they are thin. Keep on experimenting, because if the first one looks this good I just can't wait for the next ones ;-)
Ana

  • Great 
  • Dingo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2744 W: 369 N: 2624] (11948)
  • [2005-03-15 16:49]

A succesful first attempt, Thong ;o). Setting the aperture to the largest number (smallest aperture) was an excellent idea, the trail lines are very sharp and so is everything in the picture. I just notice that the picture is not level, but tilted clockwise. Well done, TFS.

  • Great 
  • laine Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 376 W: 37 N: 106] (877)
  • [2005-03-16 6:19]

good first try!
the compo forming triangle of lights, top light being the street lamp, is what i like here the most.
wish you luck in future tries!

  • Great 
  • c41 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 99 W: 21 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-03-21 5:48]

Results for your first try are great. Im always inspireded by this kind of shot and i should go out and give it ago. Well done, you did a good job.

looks great....i'm amazed.

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