Blue Light At Night with FA 50 f/1.4 (+9 sml imgs)

[hinman]

I am working on a L letter theme for next Wednesday ABC event that I participate

in a

blogging community and I pick Light and Neon Light for the theme to practice

photography

<br> <br>

I use Pentax FA 50 f/1.4 <br><br>

<a

href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/09/thoughts-on-pentax-fa-50-f14.html">http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/09/thoughts-on-pentax-fa-50-f14.html</a>

<br><br>

Please comment which one you like better than the other. C&C for improvements

are much appreciated.

<br> <br>

#1 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/1491037185_607ea46c60.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

 

#2 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/1491034787_3899769921.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#3 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2350/1491889504_e86585be02.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#4 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/1491888024_a2d50f8641.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#5 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/1491887336_1cd02d66a1.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#6 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/1491031629_08d36d945f.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#7 <br>

<img

src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/1491887170_a6edddd1f2.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#8 <br>

<img

src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/1491891134_1adaace093.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#9 <br>

<img

src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1102/1491556436_6f7b33bc48.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

Thanks, <br>

Hin

[hinman]

Added four more<br><br>

 

Added four more to the series on Light <br><br>

 

#10 (blue light) <br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/1491034209_16ef1635da.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#11 (blue light) <br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/1491034443_4dc6f63654.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#12 (morning light, how I wake up) <br>

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1344/1474478048_747b2a0023.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

#13 (morning light, how I wake up) <br>

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1138/1473624247_e3126304eb.jpg"></img><br><br>

 

Thanks, <br>

Hin

[hinman]

When I shoot the Blue light series, some of the difficulties that I encounter is the lighting and metering . When I use the default multi-segment metering, I always end up in using -Ev compensation from -0.7 to -1.7 Ev. For most shots, I try to go as low ISO as possible at ISO 200 with either P(rogram), Av(perture) priority modes. Few are done in iso 400. And I do run into un-easy framing of the shot with fixed focal length at 50mm.

 

For most shots, I end up using Picasa Shadow to tone it darker then the actual scenes to get better contrast and saturation look. I did not adjust lighting for all those shots with -1.7 Ev compensation. If you were to shoot this series, can you share with me ideas to go about metering, composition, and would zoom lens be attempted to frame the lights closer -- I only have DA 50-200 and DA 18-55 to go with autofocus. I do have m42 lens with 50mm, 135, and 28-70 but I don't think my M42 lens would help, neither do my Takumar 28-80 Macro at 3.5. Any idea for improvements or lens choice of your own to shoot this series. C&C are very welcome.

 

Thanks,

 

Hin

[morgan lee]

Hin, my vote is the less "dead" space the better: Get as much of the blue lights and as little of the black background as possible. The ones that are currently closest to the way I would do it are numbers 1, 3, 4 and 8.

 

Another thing I would like to see is more in focus so I would make the aperture as long as possible. I like the ones with the foreground light in focus but I would want at least the second and third one clearer too.

 

As for metering, this, of course, is very similar to conditions for night photography. I set up on a tripod with the two-second shutter delay (or a remote if you have one) and go completely manual. Let the camera decide the first exposure, then "chimp" it down from there to where it looks best to you on the screen.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Good luck,

 

~Morgan

[hinman]

Morgan, thanks for the valuable feedbacks. I forget to mention that I have the constraint of not having a tripod. That is the reason that I go for about f/2.0; otherwise, the shutter speed would have been way too long for me to do hand holding. I use iso 200 in the series, I would try it on another night with iso 400/800 and use f/2.8 or higher to have another series with dof covering 2 or 3 lights. That is a great suggestion, I was so into getting one light with clear focus and with the 50mm fixed length, I find it a challenge in framing the shot to reduce dead space. The lens is not wide enough, I would think the FA 35 f/2.0 would do a better job. I try to shoot on the side of the blue light where the light has a metal grid on as the other side is pretty plain without the grid. Anyway, I would try it again soon.

 

I really wish I can have a tripod sooner and I have not seriously looking into tripod yet.

 

Thanks for the comment,

Hin

[a few images]

Well, none of the photos are very interesting in my opinion. Not sure what you're after in those shots but I suggest taking a few more of something different.

[hinman]

Tom,

 

Thanks for the comment. I pass by the blue lights in a distance while leaving for home after work and I always find it fascinating to view it from a far distance. I guess I fail to bring that interest into the series of photo above. Yes, I agree and I find it dull looking especially when I post too many similar shots of the same subject. Thanks for the honest comments. I will find a chance to photo the blue light from a different fresh perspective.

 

Thanks again,

Hin