Newbie here... critique pls

mchew · 18th November 2006

Hi there,

Newbie here... Although I've been browsing ClubSnap for sometime now, I haven't post nor comment on anything as my experience in photography is quite limited and I was really impressed with the quality of works here! I've been using PNS digital camera for a few years but mainly to take snapshots of interesting subjects as reference image for my art (I'm a part-time watercolourist )

Anyway, my friend bought a Canon 400D dslr a couple of weeks ago and we tried out some night shots around Singapore River. Below are two of the shots we took with tripod. Your critiques and comments are very much appreciated.

Tree #1
F-Stop 5.6
Shutter Speed 8 sec
ISO 400

Tree #2
F-Stop 5.6
Shutter Speed 4 sec
ISO 400

mchew · 22nd November 2006

No comments at all???

Stoned · 22nd November 2006

The colours look really artificial and weird. I don't really agree with the composition as well but the main thing that irks me about this image is the totally weird colours. It almost looks like it's been painted rather than photographed.

zac08 · 22nd November 2006

Using light painting?

a torchlight to shine at the trees??

mchew · 22nd November 2006

Hi Stoned & zac08, thanks for your comments.

The colours might looked weird as there was a huge spotlight shone on the trees (those located outside the Asian Civilization Museum, opposite Fullerton Hotel)... We used a tripod and adjust the camera to point almost vertically towards the sky to shoot the tree as it is, no photoshopping done on the image except for adding borders and text.

goldbird · 22nd November 2006

I believe what Stoned is trying to say is the nightsky doesnt look like night at all. I like the sharpness but the composition needs to be tweaked considerably.

JaPhotos · 22nd November 2006

nice attempt.
but i think you take the shoot abit too late in the evening. or maybe is just that day not so good (too cloudy)? A good time will be somewhere ard 715-730pm if you are in town (singapore). that will give you a more bluish sky while the greens of the tree will be nicely lighted by the spot lights.

just my pov.

zac08 · 22nd November 2006

Try using a lower ISO, smaller aperture like f11 or so.. and drop the EV.. it'll darken the edges of the trees and it may produce a better effect.

22nd November 2006	#3
Stoned Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Changi Posts: 4,376	Re: Newbie here... critique pls The colours look really artificial and weird. I don't really agree with the composition as well but the main thing that irks me about this image is the totally weird colours. It almost looks like it's been painted rather than photographed. __________________ My Personal Folio (of random events and things)

22nd November 2006	#4
zac08 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Posts: 10,953	Re: Newbie here... critique pls Using light painting? a torchlight to shine at the trees?? __________________ Michael Lim My Flickr Site APAD 2009

22nd November 2006	#5
mchew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Simei, Singapore Posts: 87	Re: Newbie here... critique pls Hi Stoned & zac08, thanks for your comments. The colours might looked weird as there was a huge spotlight shone on the trees (those located outside the Asian Civilization Museum, opposite Fullerton Hotel)... We used a tripod and adjust the camera to point almost vertically towards the sky to shoot the tree as it is, no photoshopping done on the image except for adding borders and text.

22nd November 2006	#6
goldbird New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 15	Re: Newbie here... critique pls I believe what Stoned is trying to say is the nightsky doesnt look like night at all. I like the sharpness but the composition needs to be tweaked considerably.

22nd November 2006	#7
JaPhotos Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 197	Re: Newbie here... critique pls nice attempt. but i think you take the shoot abit too late in the evening. or maybe is just that day not so good (too cloudy)? A good time will be somewhere ard 715-730pm if you are in town (singapore). that will give you a more bluish sky while the greens of the tree will be nicely lighted by the spot lights. just my pov.

18th November 2006	#1
mchew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Simei, Singapore Posts: 87	Newbie here... critique pls Hi there, Newbie here... Although I've been browsing ClubSnap for sometime now, I haven't post nor comment on anything as my experience in photography is quite limited and I was really impressed with the quality of works here! I've been using PNS digital camera for a few years but mainly to take snapshots of interesting subjects as reference image for my art (I'm a part-time watercolourist ) Anyway, my friend bought a Canon 400D dslr a couple of weeks ago and we tried out some night shots around Singapore River. Below are two of the shots we took with tripod. Your critiques and comments are very much appreciated. Tree #1 F-Stop 5.6 Shutter Speed 8 sec ISO 400 Tree #2 F-Stop 5.6 Shutter Speed 4 sec ISO 400 Last edited by mchew; 18th November 2006 at 02:58 PM.

22nd November 2006	#2
mchew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Simei, Singapore Posts: 87	Re: Newbie here... critique pls No comments at all???

22nd November 2006	#8
zac08 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Posts: 10,953	Re: Newbie here... critique pls Try using a lower ISO, smaller aperture like f11 or so.. and drop the EV.. it'll darken the edges of the trees and it may produce a better effect. __________________ Michael Lim My Flickr Site APAD 2009