Night Light
Uploaded: November 30, 2013
f/16.0, 30 sec, ISO 1250; EF 24-70 f2.8L@24mm
January night under the light of full moon.
Exif: F Number: 16, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 30/1 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1250, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 24.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Stephen Shoff November 30, 2013
While I don't think I can turn this into a portfolio quality picture unless I find a way to deal with the excessive noise particularly in the snow on the ground, I thought I'd share it with the Phellos.This was taken about 9:00 PM on a January night. #1554469
Jeff E Jensen November 30, 2013
I love the moodiness of this, Stephen. there's just something I love about night shots like this. #10911564Dale Hardin November 30, 2013
No fair, Stephen. We don't get to see stars in Southern Calif.I like this and see no evidence of noise in a small rendition such as this. I would think you could minimize the noise using the tools at your disposal. You could certainly apply a more aggressive correction to the snow using a mask. #10911715
Jeff E Jensen November 30, 2013
Dale, you always say that about the stars in California. I was in downtown San Francisco last week, and could see the stars. #10911730Stephen Shoff November 30, 2013
Thank you, Jeff. The moodiness of the moonlight reflecting off the granite walls along with the storm blowing through are the things that I wanted to share in this image.However, to Dale's comment, San Francisco isn't in Southern California. And you were in San Francisco, not downwind from San Francisco.
But Dale, Joshua Tree and Big Bear are closer to you than Yosemite is to me.
Dale, I used more aggressive and creative noise suppression in this image than I've ever used before...including a gaussian blur layer over the snow and in the trees. Even so, there is banding visible in snow at the bottom of the picture that Nik Define couldn't suppress.
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Susan Williams November 30, 2013
What a beautiful capture, Stephen.Based on my own experience, sometimes noise and artifacts are introduced during the editing process (particularly with plug-ins) and that type of noise is impossible to get rid of entirely. I am wondering if your original has less noise than the image posted. It may be that you have other images captured at the same time where you can "borrow" the snow for this one. But at any rate, I don't see anything here that offends the eye. It's truly beautiful and a very strong image. #10911769
Stephen Shoff November 30, 2013
You are right, Susan. I needed some brightness in the picture so I was trying to brighten the snow. I over did it.I've re-worked it. Definitely think the snow looks more like snow now than mush.
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Stephen Shoff November 30, 2013
Jeff, I could get the brighter blue back in the sky, too, if that looks better. #10911803Dale Hardin December 01, 2013
Nice change on the redo. Susan pointed out a very valuable lesson, that it is easy to go too far on "fixes" and actually create problems. Stephen, you handled the change well. Looks great, and yes, I agree with your later statement that getting the blue back in the sky would be beneficial. #10912312Susan Williams December 01, 2013
Nice work on the edit, Stephen. I agree the blue in the sky is an appealing feature and balances nicely with the blue beneath the clouds. I love this image. #10912334Elaine Hessler December 01, 2013
Wow-this is stunning Stephen. I love the reworked image-I don't see the artifacts as much in this one. I have nothing to add, but it is beautiful! #10912510Rita K. Connell December 01, 2013
wow this a great shot Stephen I think put the brighter blue back in the sky would make this even better. I like that you can see through the pine trees. #10912755Michael Kelly December 01, 2013
Nice Stephen – I like the feel of this one a lot. Good job on the correction as I could see the problem on the original which looked like color noise to me. Great lighting and a wonderful mood. #10912781Kalena Randall December 01, 2013
Very beautiful composition and you made great adjustments in the re-work. I like night shots. They are sometime difficult, but this is very nice! #10912798Jeff E Jensen December 01, 2013
Yeah, I'd say bring back the brighter blue.I'm well aware that San Fran is not in So Cal. It is however, a large city with a ton of light pollution and yet the stars are still there to be seen. not sure what you mean by being downwind. . . #10912955
Stephen Shoff December 01, 2013
The reason you can see stars in San Francisco is because the prevailing winds blow all the smog east...to San Jose, Ramon, Sacramento, etc. That's why we don't see stars very well. Same thing happens as you move inland in Orange County.Thanks all. Finish this image an submit it.
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Jeff E Jensen December 01, 2013
Hmm, interesting. #10912978Peter W. Marks December 02, 2013
There is not too much else to say about this intriguing image Stephen, other than I wouldn't have even considered being out with my camera on a cold January night so I am totally impressed.Beth Spencer December 02, 2013
Stephen, I really like the reworked one. I love the light in the sky. #10913639Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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