Another Singapore CBD cityscape =p


thoongeng

Senior Member
Jan 26, 2010
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1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Still quite new so any critique is welcome... exposure/composition/post-processing


2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
This is like a 'hello world' for landscape photography in Singapore, the cityscape of CBD. Hopefully my attempt can pass the eyes of the seniors here ;) (sorry if this is the xxx time you have seen similar stuff, hopefully this perspective from the East side is not that over-shot hehe)


3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
Taken from the Gardens by the Bay East. Slightly after the blue hour and colourful lights are on. Personally would like to get the correct exposure in 1 shot (tried one underexposing to hold the highlights and then increasing the exposure in PP, but not as good to me). But as usual the ArtScience museum and building lights are too bright as compared to the night sky, so took 3 exposures and blended them in post-processing. The Singapore Flyer was moving so unable to blend a lower exposure, thus some of the lights are still blown.

Had CPL on to slow down shutter speed (haven't invested in NDs yet). Kept Aperture at F8 and ISO100, shutter speeds were 15/8/2.5 seconds.


4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I like the lights and the reflections of the CBD at night, hopefully have done it justice.


Singapore CBD skyline by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
 

Sky is boring. Try shooting at just after the sunset when the sky is blue :)
 

i willl choose a better timing with better nice sky colors.

here's mine; wider version.

Hi sinned, thanks for the advice and sharing your photo!

without a ND filter, I would rather trade the smooth water for a dark blue sky

Thanks catchlights for dropping by! Pity didn't have the chance to shoot at this location and get advice from you due to the previous outing cancelled. can I clarify you mean don't use CPL, meter (+adjust exposure if needed) the blue sky and shoot?

Sky is boring. Try shooting at just after the sunset when the sky is blue :)

Thanks mds80! I also shot earlier however the sky however wasn't too impressed with the sky so did not post that up.

Allow me to show 2 pics at a smaller resolution taken a bit earlier:
#2

Singapore CDB skyline by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#3

Singapore CBD skyline by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

Just comparing the sky colour, I thought my initial post with the 'glow' from lights from the buildings were more interesting heh... though looks like popular opinion is otherwise.

Which of the sky colour would you like best?

Thanks in advance for further comments!
 

Which of the sky colour would you like best?

Thanks in advance for further comments!

none. i will say come back another day when the sky colors are better (cos the weather looks like its going to rain, hence there is dark clouds thus affecting sky color).

landscape photography is like that, when weather is not in your favor, u had to come back another time.

alternatively, try convert to b/w to see if it works for you.
 

none. i will say come back another day when the sky colors are better (cos the weather looks like its going to rain, hence there is dark clouds thus affecting sky color).

landscape photography is like that, when weather is not in your favor, u had to come back another time.

alternatively, try convert to b/w to see if it works for you.

even converting to bnw, i feel you need dramatic skies. if not the image will still look damn flat. this leaves with the only conclusion that if the sky and weather is not to your favour, come back another day.

then sometimes when u see the sky damn good, you are busy with work or something else. :bsmilie:
 

the window of "magic hour" is about 20mins after sunset, even it is a cloudy sky you still able to get a very nice dark blue.
you can take a series of shots at different timing, so can learn how to balance the sky and the city lights.


here is a shot taken during the "magic hour". no filters used.

stock-photo-17166844-marina-bay-singapore.jpg


btw, the site you are shooting, the sun set behind the CBD, the lighting is be a little different, so you need to shoot a few times to know deal with that.

hope this help.
 

none. i will say come back another day when the sky colors are better (cos the weather looks like its going to rain, hence there is dark clouds thus affecting sky color).

landscape photography is like that, when weather is not in your favor, u had to come back another time.

alternatively, try convert to b/w to see if it works for you.

Yup looks like my returning few times is definitely not enough ;) Initially thought this can pass heh

even converting to bnw, i feel you need dramatic skies. if not the image will still look damn flat. this leaves with the only conclusion that if the sky and weather is not to your favour, come back another day.

then sometimes when u see the sky damn good, you are busy with work or something else. :bsmilie:

Thanks and I agree... I also tried B&W conversion (can follow the link to my flickr to see but won't post up here liao, a bad sky is a bad sky no matter in colour or B&W heh)


the window of "magic hour" is about 20mins after sunset, even it is a cloudy sky you still able to get a very nice dark blue.
you can take a series of shots at different timing, so can learn how to balance the sky and the city lights.

here is a shot taken during the "magic hour". no filters used.

btw, the site you are shooting, the sun set behind the CBD, the lighting is be a little different, so you need to shoot a few times to know deal with that.

hope this help.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and shot! Though I've read many times about 'magic hour' but see it much better with your example.
Sinned's sunset sky also nice lei... :think: have to miss another dinner time to try try! (and yes end work on time haha)

Amazing how the seniors here can wait for the correct conditions but still be so productive of shots!
 

if anyone is still reading this, can I ask for a 'rough' guide / gut-feel-estimate how many 'good sky colour' days a year does Singapore have from your experience?

When looking around other people's (non-pros) travel photos, seems like higher proportion of blue skys even not around magic hour. But our local sky seems to be too bright in the day, and many days there are dark clouds :(

thanks!
 

if anyone is still reading this, can I ask for a 'rough' guide / gut-feel-estimate how many 'good sky colour' days a year does Singapore have from your experience?

When looking around other people's (non-pros) travel photos, seems like higher proportion of blue skys even not around magic hour. But our local sky seems to be too bright in the day, and many days there are dark clouds :(

thanks!

Singapore sky is boring, u rarely get deep blue sky except the usual recommended hours.

U can try the day after a rainy day provided it is still not raining on that day. Then look out for any clouds that might spoil your sky scene. These few days weather is quite bad, so I advise you to shoot something else.
 

Singapore sky is boring, u rarely get deep blue sky except the usual recommended hours.

U can try the day after a rainy day provided it is still not raining on that day. Then look out for any clouds that might spoil your sky scene. These few days weather is quite bad, so I advise you to shoot something else.

yup yup thanks! verified that point and saved me much time experimenting. though late afternoon sky looks blue, still too bright and get easily blown, tried using CPL and 90 deg to sun but can't really get effect of nice blue sky that's shown on examples people show =p
Still learning how to see light with the naked eye...
 

At times, you just can't take ambient light wholesale. Some adjustments to the exposure is essential and don't forget the potential of enhancing your photos when you edit them after. Blue skies do not guarantee good photos and vice versa.
 

At times, you just can't take ambient light wholesale. Some adjustments to the exposure is essential and don't forget the potential of enhancing your photos when you edit them after. Blue skies do not guarantee good photos and vice versa.

thanks kit! wa quite cheem, agree with you, though I still need to work on my basics before going on to more creative (which I lack =p) / high-level stuff hehe
 

is it a panorama shot ? like stitched some pics together ?
 

well instead of catching it in evening, u can try to catch the sunrise at this spot..
for pano at this spot, u will have to work the files a bit..cos the horizon is curved.. also like what others have mentioned, editing is key to touch up your photos

i attached the photo i shot at this spot for reference..if you need me to take it down, let me know


6618711957_361dffd64a_b.jpg
 

you could also try a longer shutter speed to blur the reflections in the water, and boost the colours a bit in post.
7010098251_dd094e7fed_o.jpg
 

Nice.. Very nicely taken and at the perfect timing and exposure.

this is the pp'ed version of TS's original photo.
 

This shot is cool. I love to see the MBS curve line.
well instead of catching it in evening, u can try to catch the sunrise at this spot..
for pano at this spot, u will have to work the files a bit..cos the horizon is curved.. also like what others have mentioned, editing is key to touch up your photos

i attached the photo i shot at this spot for reference..if you need me to take it down, let me know


6618711957_361dffd64a_b.jpg