2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
 

2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Off-Topic Discussions Board Photography/Videography The Night Photography Thread
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-26-2012, 01:27 AM   #1035
Seminole
Colonel
Seminole's Avatar
United_States
446
Rep
2,032
Posts

Drives: Red Flyer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: 38.8977° N, 77.0366° W

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2008 E90 328i  [7.00]
Here's the rest:


San Francisco Bay Boats by Seminolez, on Flickr


Golden Gate Sunset by Seminolez, on Flickr
__________________

Last edited by Seminole; 02-27-2012 at 10:26 AM..
Appreciate 0
      02-26-2012, 09:55 AM   #1036
The1
Major General
Canada
76
Rep
5,114
Posts

Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

iTrader: (0)

original in first post and last in second post are my favs. first one seems a touch warm though.

first one in second post is crooked. Might change my opinion of it if it were straight, I'm having a tough time seeing around that. Or perhaps lens correction because it looks like the one building has one line going straight up.
Appreciate 0
      02-26-2012, 09:58 AM   #1037
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
464
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

Quote:
Originally Posted by The1 View Post
original in first post and last in second post are my favs. first one seems a touch warm though.

first one in second post is crooked. Might change my opinion of it if it were straight, I'm having a tough time seeing around that. Or perhaps lens correction because it looks like the one building has one line going straight up.


The first might need some WB adjustment. I like the 3rd the best, but fix the crooked horizon.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      02-26-2012, 10:13 AM   #1038
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
16550
Rep
7,447
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

I like the first one. (Although check the horizon for level. Can't stress enough how important that is.) I've seen other twilight images of the GGB and it seems that orange glow is "the way it is." I like it.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"There is no shame in dropping fruit in your glass."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      02-26-2012, 12:16 PM   #1039
Weebl
Weebl wobbles but eats Pie
95
Rep
1,794
Posts

Drives: 2012 X5 d,2008 335i, 2000 740i
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SF Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Chewy, the sodium lights on the bridge do give out that color and it looks really odd compared to other sodium lights. If anything it would need more black to counteract the brightness of the orange.
I can't find my version...
__________________
Kevin Goto
2000 740i-Annalisa (sold 2018) 2008 335i-Weebl. Weebl may wobble but has DTC 2012 X5d in Sparkling Bronze ( The Ultimate Cat Carrying Machine)-RIP BMW buyback 2019:2017 A3, 2018 Audi SQ5
Appreciate 0
      03-06-2012, 10:16 PM   #1040
Seminole
Colonel
Seminole's Avatar
United_States
446
Rep
2,032
Posts

Drives: Red Flyer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: 38.8977° N, 77.0366° W

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2008 E90 328i  [7.00]
Here's that one pictures you all liked straightened out. There's a tiny bit of distortion on the left tower that I can't get rid of, but I think overall it's much more level than the first one.


Golden Stars by Seminolez, on Flickr
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-06-2012, 10:18 PM   #1041
The1
Major General
Canada
76
Rep
5,114
Posts

Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

iTrader: (0)

I'm pleased by it
Appreciate 0
      03-06-2012, 10:22 PM   #1042
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
464
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

nice shot 'nole.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 02:26 PM   #1043
vachss
Captain
54
Rep
815
Posts

Drives: Z4 Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ventura County, CA

iTrader: (1)

Various times of night

Time to bump this thread to the front page I guess...

Anyway, I was camping near Death Valley this week and took a few nightscapes from campsite. Since I was awake both before and after moonset and almost until dawn I got the chance to take night shots under very different lighting conditions:

11 AM by moonlight (looks almost like twilight, except for the stars):




5 AM with fully dark skies and the best star viewing:




and only about 45 minutes later, with dawn washing out the starscape, but adding color to the sky:

Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 02:46 PM   #1044
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
464
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

nice shots!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 02:56 PM   #1045
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
16550
Rep
7,447
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewy734 View Post
nice shots!
Serious understatement. Awesome shots, vachss. The Milky Way shot is amazing.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"There is no shame in dropping fruit in your glass."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 03:07 PM   #1046
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
464
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Six View Post
Serious understatement. Awesome shots, vachss. The Milky Way shot is amazing.
yeah, that's true... I've just had this headache all day and I'm off my game.

That 2nd shot is my favorite out of the three. I'm surprised you only had an exposure time of 30s. You must have some really clear night skies over there.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 03:29 PM   #1047
dcstep
Major General
United_States
1290
Rep
7,389
Posts

Drives: '09 Cpe Silverstone FR 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 M3  [8.40]
Great astro photography series.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 05:48 PM   #1048
4caroption
New Member
United_States
0
Rep
13
Posts

Drives: S14
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Industry, CA

iTrader: (0)

Wow, those are some EPIC shots vachss!!
Appreciate 0
      03-30-2012, 10:35 PM   #1049
The1
Major General
Canada
76
Rep
5,114
Posts

Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4caroption View Post
Wow, those are some EPIC shots vachss!!


great shooting. Surprised you didn't get mars or jupitor (or which ever planets were really showing this week)
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 07:06 AM   #1050
remmib
General
remmib's Avatar
Norway
1566
Rep
29,202
Posts

Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Norway

iTrader: (0)

Awesome night time shots vachss.

Did to bump up the ISO to get enough light since the exposure doesn't seem long.
__________________

F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White | HRE P43SC 20x9+20x11 | Michelin PSS 255/35+295/30 | KW V3 Coilover | M5 Front Sway Bar + M550d Rear Sway Bar | 3DDesign Front Lip | BMW M Performance CF Spoiler | BMW M Performance Diffuser | BMW M Performance Black Grills | BMW M Performance Pedals |
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 11:08 AM   #1051
vachss
Captain
54
Rep
815
Posts

Drives: Z4 Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ventura County, CA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. Yeah I had to bump the ISO up to 1600-3200 for these and limit exposure times to 15-30s to limit star trailing. Makes fast wide angle lenses like the 24/1.4 really helpful.
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 11:12 AM   #1052
The1
Major General
Canada
76
Rep
5,114
Posts

Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

iTrader: (0)

that 1.4 would definitely be a bit help. Ever try longer lenses? Even if they are like an f2.8 they often have a larger aperture opening then something like a 24 1.4 and let in more of the stuff you wouldn't see as a result.

but you wouldn't be able to get as much of the milky way and such, which would be a shame.
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 01:39 PM   #1053
vachss
Captain
54
Rep
815
Posts

Drives: Z4 Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ventura County, CA

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by The1 View Post
that 1.4 would definitely be a bit help. Ever try longer lenses? Even if they are like an f2.8 they often have a larger aperture opening then something like a 24 1.4 and let in more of the stuff you wouldn't see as a result.

but you wouldn't be able to get as much of the milky way and such, which would be a shame.
That point about aperture is very true. If taking pictures of point sources like stars then the bigger the physical aperture of your lens the brighter the star (and the more stars show up in the image). However, if you don't have a tracking mount, longer focal lengths translate into shorter exposure times (to avoid star trailing).

It turns out that to be able to record the brightest and largest number of stars from a fixed platform you want your lens to maximize: (focal length)/(f#)^2. The Canon lenses that win in this are the 85mm f/1.2 and 200mm f/2 (or f/1.8) - unfortunately neither of which I have. I've sometimes used a 135/2 for this with decent results, but honestly if you just want wide pictures of starfields then buying a good tracking mount both cheaper and more effective than spending a ton of money on lenses.

Of course once you start tracking then any fixed landscape in your image is blurred - so it's a trade off between brightness of the sky and sharpness of landscape detail on the ground. I'm just lucky that the ISO performance of current Canon bodies lets us get decent results with a fast lens on a fixed mount, but nothing holds a candle to the gorgeous widefield starscape images some serious astro folks get at lower ISO and long exposures from a tracking mount.

Last edited by vachss; 03-31-2012 at 01:44 PM..
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 01:41 PM   #1054
The1
Major General
Canada
76
Rep
5,114
Posts

Drives: white 135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KW ontario/vancouver temporarily

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by vachss View Post
That point about aperture is very true. If taking pictures of point sources like stars then the bigger the physical aperture of your lens the brighter the star (and the more stars show up in the image). However, if you don't have a tracking mount, longer focal lengths translate into shorter exposure times (to avoid star trailing).

It turns out that to be able to record the brightest and largest number of stars from a fixed platform you want your lens to maximize: (focal length)/(f#)^2. The Canon lenses that win in this are the 85mm f/1.2 and 200mm f/2 (or f/1.8) - unfortunately neither of which I have. I've sometimes used a 135/2 for this with decent results, but honestly if you just want wide pictures of starfields then buying a good tracking mount both cheaper and more effective than spending a ton of money on lenses.

I'm just lucky that the ISO performance of current Canon bodies lets us get decent results with a fast lens on a fixed mount, but nothing holds a candle to the gorgeous widefield starscape images some serious astro folks get at lower ISO and long exposures from a tracking mount.
very good points. So, I have to ask, does this mean there might be a 5DmkIII in your future allowing you to play with the higher ISOs a little better for your star shoots?
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2012, 02:37 PM   #1055
vachss
Captain
54
Rep
815
Posts

Drives: Z4 Coupe
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ventura County, CA

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by The1 View Post
So, I have to ask, does this mean there might be a 5DmkIII in your future allowing you to play with the higher ISOs a little better for your star shoots?
I have to see how big the improvement in RAW ISO noise is. If it's really a couple of stops it might be worth the upgrade. If as some suggest it's closer to 1/2 stop then the 5D2 will do for now. Looks like there's plenty of early adopters around here who'll be able to let me know just how good the III is.
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2012, 11:44 PM   #1056
Icy J
im a car
Icy J's Avatar
Hong Kong
732
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 220i M Sport | 520i M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Hong Kong

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 BMW 220i  [10.00]

Lotus Exige S240 by - Icy J -, on Flickr
__________________

'14 220i M Sport | AW/CR | PUR Wheels RS07 19" | KW V1 | MTC Design F2X Kit [CF] | Stage 1 ECU Tune | Eventuri CF Intake | Manhart Race Exhaust/Resonator Delete | ER HFC Downpipe | F8X LCA + TS | M Style Grilles | Gloss Black Roof | Custom Steering Wheel | Autotecknic Competition Shift Paddles [YMB]
Instagram: @icyj95 | FB
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 PM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST