Night sky not black?

Gymrat76 · 30th June 2004

Need some opinions here. The following is a shot taken last night using long exposure during last night's blackout. However, I've noticed that in this shot (and other night shots I've taken), the sky comes out a bit orange, and not a darker black/grey, like it was that night. Am I doing something wrong or what?

Thanks!

kirayamato · 30th June 2004

its the clouds
cloudless nights sometimes end up a bit coloured too, depends on the length of the exposure

but if there is clouds, almost all the time u will end up with orangey skys

SteadyHands · 30th June 2004

It is also a phenomenon called light pollution. Because of the sheer extent of urbanisation, lights are found everywhere, so our urban night skies are never truly black. We live in constant twilight

Gymrat76 · 30th June 2004

Ah, so the orange skies are actually correct? To make them darker I'd need to Photoshop them eh?

UY79 · 30th June 2004

Hi,

Light from street lamps are casted onto the clouds. There's will also be a glow around built up area because of the lamps. Only in a total blackout all over the island then will the sky be dark. Still waiting for that to happen.

Cheers!

Gymrat76 · 30th June 2004

OK thanks, because when I look at the sky, it doesn't look orange... guess it only appears in photos, huh?

UY79 · 30th June 2004

Originally Posted by Gymrat76

OK thanks, because when I look at the sky, it doesn't look orange... guess it only appears in photos, huh?

Actually when you look at the sky on any given day, you see the orange cast, which is more intense near the horizon. When shooting long exposure, this orange cast is captured with greater effect.

Cheers!

Gymrat76 · 30th June 2004

Thanks dude,

Here's another one of Ghim Moh in darkness:

Cheers
Jason

edwinywh · 30th June 2004

Yup,though u see dark skies at night,but when u capture it with long exposures,the skies become orangy and red.

http://members18.clubphoto.com/edwin...25/guest.phtml

The night time pics are shot at sentosa,about 11+ - 12am in the night!
hahaha.....

edwinywh · 30th June 2004

Originally Posted by edwinywh

Yup,though u see dark skies at night,but when u capture it with long exposures,the skies become orangy and red.

http://members18.clubphoto.com/edwin...25/guest.phtml

The night time pics are shot at sentosa,about 11+ - 12am in the night!
hahaha.....

Sorry,forgot to mention that the night time pics are 1sec exposure.Luckily my friend can hold it that long.
hahaha......

mervlam · 1st July 2004

Originally Posted by edwinywh

Yup,though u see dark skies at night,but when u capture it with long exposures,the skies become orangy and red.

http://members18.clubphoto.com/edwin...25/guest.phtml

The night time pics are shot at sentosa,about 11+ - 12am in the night!
hahaha.....

that's because of the oil refineries located offshore.

showtime · 1st July 2004

Originally Posted by Gymrat76

Ah, so the orange skies are actually correct? To make them darker I'd need to Photoshop them eh?

they are not "correct" because according to you, you saw darker skies on that night... but because you needed an appropraite meter value on the darker building in the foreground, there was no choice but but to overexpose the skies... its ok for a picture but if you must have total accuracy (photos many times cannot achieve this), then by all means use photoshop.

rainman · 1st July 2004

believe it or not...when there is no light at all. Even with long exposure the picture will be still total black since there is no light for it to amplify.

showtime · 1st July 2004

that is definitely correct. but its hypothetical.

blurblock · 1st July 2004

Light pollution ....... thus orange in colour ......

headlesschook · 1st July 2004

sky will be a nice dark blue if you shoot on a cloudless nite.

Gymrat76 · 1st July 2004

ok, thanks for the feedback guys

2100 · 3rd July 2004

It will be truly black when it is cloudless + very clear air, or if you are in a location with little light pollution. Eg, rural Malaysia or Indonesia. In my wife's hometown in Indonesia somewhere further from Tg Balai, the night view is breathtaking. Take a 30s ISO 400 f2.8 exposure with a prime lens of the cloudless sky and you will go woah....just don't mind the slight star trails and very slight noise (on a dSLR).

30th June 2004	#1
Gymrat76 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,591	Night sky not black? Need some opinions here. The following is a shot taken last night using long exposure during last night's blackout. However, I've noticed that in this shot (and other night shots I've taken), the sky comes out a bit orange, and not a darker black/grey, like it was that night. Am I doing something wrong or what? Thanks!

30th June 2004	#2
kirayamato Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 77	its the clouds cloudless nights sometimes end up a bit coloured too, depends on the length of the exposure but if there is clouds, almost all the time u will end up with orangey skys

30th June 2004	#3
SteadyHands Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 131	It is also a phenomenon called light pollution. Because of the sheer extent of urbanisation, lights are found everywhere, so our urban night skies are never truly black. We live in constant twilight

30th June 2004	#5
UY79 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bedok Posts: 995	Hi, Light from street lamps are casted onto the clouds. There's will also be a glow around built up area because of the lamps. Only in a total blackout all over the island then will the sky be dark. Still waiting for that to happen. Cheers!

30th June 2004	#9
edwinywh Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 415	Yup,though u see dark skies at night,but when u capture it with long exposures,the skies become orangy and red. http://members18.clubphoto.com/edwin...25/guest.phtml The night time pics are shot at sentosa,about 11+ - 12am in the night! hahaha.....

1st July 2004	#13
rainman Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In my own world Posts: 1,112	believe it or not...when there is no light at all. Even with long exposure the picture will be still total black since there is no light for it to amplify.

1st July 2004	#14
showtime Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 996	that is definitely correct. but its hypothetical.

1st July 2004	#15
blurblock Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,837	Light pollution ....... thus orange in colour ......

1st July 2004	#16
headlesschook Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 134	sky will be a nice dark blue if you shoot on a cloudless nite.

3rd July 2004	#18
2100 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,116	It will be truly black when it is cloudless + very clear air, or if you are in a location with little light pollution. Eg, rural Malaysia or Indonesia. In my wife's hometown in Indonesia somewhere further from Tg Balai, the night view is breathtaking. Take a 30s ISO 400 f2.8 exposure with a prime lens of the cloudless sky and you will go woah....just don't mind the slight star trails and very slight noise (on a dSLR).