How to take a picture like this?

cymatty · 8 Oct 2006 at 14:20

www.waikikiview.com/images/1410-view-nt.jpg

Well kind of like that, basically near my house there is a road which overlooks a massive area of Gtr Manchester and I think it would make a good panoramic.
There are lights above on the road then miles and miles of lights in the valley, what are the best setting to use on my camera to achieve a decent result?

HeartburnHarry · 8 Oct 2006 at 14:25

Tripod. Aperture priority, small aperture (larger number), and a remote release.

Set mirror lockup to enable too (on canons its a custom function), and away you go.

King_Boru · 8 Oct 2006 at 14:28

If your shooting on a tripod and have all the time in the world then shoot on manual. Dont forget to enable long exsposure noise reduction too.

cymatty · 8 Oct 2006 at 14:33

HeartburnHarry said:
Tripod. Aperture priority, small aperture (larger number), and a remote release.

Set mirror lockup to enable too (on canons its a custom function), and away you go.

Ok I have a tripod, but no remote release is this a big problem?

Do you think that a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro DG will be ok for the job?

rpstewart · 8 Oct 2006 at 14:59

cymatty said:
Ok I have a tripod, but no remote release is this a big problem?

Do you think that a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro DG will be ok for the job?

No remote release? Just use the self timer, go for the 10s option to let the camera settle down after the button's been pressed.

That lens should be OK if it gives you a wide enough view.

As for the posted photos, it looks like you've been shooting into the sun hence everything is a bit washed out. Ideally you want the sun at your back wherever possible.

cymatty · 8 Oct 2006 at 15:10

rpstewart said:
No remote release? Just use the self timer, go for the 10s option to let the camera settle down after the button's been pressed.

Yeah ok found that.

rpstewart said:
As for the posted photos, it looks like you've been shooting into the sun hence everything is a bit washed out. Ideally you want the sun at your back wherever possible.

Yeah I see what you mean about the washed out look.

Ok so my camera settings for tonight should be (350d)

AV mode set at 8,11
10 sec timer yes
Tripod yes
ISO speed 100 then work up
AEB ?

Also how do I enable long exsposure noise reduction?

Thanks for all the help and not souting n00b at me.

rpstewart · 8 Oct 2006 at 15:24

There's no need to go anywhere near as small an aperture as f/25 all you'll do is end up with an excessively long exposure. F/8 or f/11 will be fine as long as you don't focus too close - the hyperfocal distance for f/8@70mm on a 350D is about 100 feet. If you focus on something at this distance everything from about 60ft to infinity will be in focus.

Start with ISO100 and see what the camera wants for a shutter speed, if it's too long (>15s) the go to ISO200 and try there. The longer the shutter is open the more chance there is of something affecting the shot - wind, traffic etc.

Not sure if the 350D supports long exposure NR, if it does it'll be on one of the custom functions.

cymatty · 8 Oct 2006 at 15:41

rpstewart said:
help

Cheers you have been more than helpful.

cymatty · 8 Oct 2006 at 23:45

Took these with the kit lens didn,t have to much time to mess as it started to rain.

Not altered at all just shrunk to fit the forum, is there any comments and/or way to improve them, I personally think they are ok for a first attempt.

1/

2/

3/

Also would a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 do things like this any better?

Thanks again

HeartburnHarry · 9 Oct 2006 at 01:55

I'm sure I recognise that, where did you take it from?

wez130 · 9 Oct 2006 at 09:04

looks good, i did one similar a couple of years ago from the top floor of the jarvis picadilly hotel, hope you don't mind me showing you....

rpstewart · 9 Oct 2006 at 11:16

cymatty said:
Not altered at all just shrunk to fit the forum, is there any comments and/or way to improve them, I personally think they are ok for a first attempt.

Exposure looks good, I would try again on a clear night to see if you can get a darker sky, the street lights are being reflected off the cloud cover which gives the orange cast to the sky.

cymatty · 9 Oct 2006 at 11:51

HeartburnHarry said:
I'm sure I recognise that, where did you take it from?

Buckstones Road overlooking Shaw, Royton, Rochdale and High Crompton etc.

wez130 said:
looks good, i did one similar a couple of years ago from the top floor of the jarvis picadilly hotel, hope you don't mind me showing you....

No looks good, I like that a lot.

rpstewart said:
Exposure looks good, I would try again on a clear night to see if you can get a darker sky, the street lights are being reflected off the cloud cover which gives the orange cast to the sky.

Yeah as I said it started to rain which is a bummer, although I quite like the orange cast but it would be better with a darker sky.

Cheers for all the comments etc, does anyone have any ideas if a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 do things like this any better?