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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> The Best of CTF Challenges >> Best of 2009 > 6th Place - The Dark Tower - by Brent
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13-MAR-2009 Brent

6th Place - The Dark Tower - by Brent


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ctfchallenge21-Mar-2009 05:00
Thanks Doug, Tommy and Steve :-) I just went back and double checked Tommy and no crop at all. It does have a longer lens look to it though and I remember being a little surprised at the focal length when I first processed it.
~Brent
Steve Liebenauer 21-Mar-2009 01:40
Great night shot Brent. Lot's going on in the picture, but the darker tower definitely draws you in to the center. The exposure is perfect.
ctfchallenge20-Mar-2009 03:00
Is this a crop Brent? It has a pleasing compressed look of longer than 47mm. Anyway, lately you are the master of this kind. The long exposure allows the light trails to extend an S curve from near center to the corner. Very well done. -tv
COAmature 16-Mar-2009 14:05
This one is right on topic. Nice recovery Brent. -Doug
ctfchallenge16-Mar-2009 03:21
Thanks you guys, glad you are liking it better since I changed it. I used a (3-stop) B+W 103 ND 0.9 8X filter Carole. It's pretty dark as I originally thought I would use it in the daylight for waterfalls.
~Brent
ctfchallenge16-Mar-2009 02:19
Brent, what ND filter do you use for these long exposures? CJ
Rod 16-Mar-2009 02:09
This looks nicer to me now Brent, well done. I read you used a ND filter, I was wondering why the car trails look so good for such a long exposure. Good thinking.
ctfchallenge15-Mar-2009 18:35
Dark tower in the Emerald City.....great cityscape Brent, I think the smack in the middle needs explanation (dark tower) but hey I get it! Yvonne
ctfchallenge15-Mar-2009 16:04
I went to workshop a few years ago where they talked about the "magical" time about 30 min. to an hour (In my experience, it's generally closer to 30 min.) after sunset when the amount of light in the sky is equal to the amount of light from window lights, etc., and that's when you'll get the best exposure for photos like this. It's esp. nice if there are some clouds still catching the last of the sun. This darkened version looks much nicer, by the way.
--Mary Anne
ctfchallenge15-Mar-2009 14:04
Okay okay. It's great!!! This now brings more attention right to the dark tower. It really is quite spectacular - worth all the effort. Now you've done it, so you don't need to go back to that dangerous spot. Please.
Penny Street
ctfchallenge15-Mar-2009 04:42
Hey I just re-worked this with less exposure thanks to your input Rod and I think it looks better- though I still wish I had gotten there 10 minutes earlier. Thanks Mate :-)
~Brent
ctfchallenge15-Mar-2009 04:18
Thanks Rod Mate :-) I like the other image (topic aside) a little better than this one I shot further up the hill too. This could have been a better shot with a little more light in the sky (did all I could to brighten it). I'll have to visit this spot again just a little sooner after sunset.
I think next time I shoot here I'll either bring a body guard or a machine gun though ;-) See how the tree in the upper right is lit red? That is from a flashing police car sitting next to me collecting information about a knife robbery. I live the other side of downtown where it is considered a little safer and I'm a little more aware of my surroundings. I guess down in the heavy trees near the freeway here is an area they call the jungle. Some desperate people live in tents and what not there and some of them are taken to committing crimes. I would just put my mean face on while visiting there, except it is too dark for them to see how mean I look ;-)
~Brent
Rod 15-Mar-2009 02:21
This gets us closer to the topic mate as the light trails aren't so dominant & the whole of the city is centred. I like the other one a bit better as a picy but this is more on topic a. The colour in the sky helps with both picys as we normally see black there on night shots. Is there any way you can lower the exposure except for the sky? I think the city lights & streets would look nicer if they were darker as the city scene looks overly bright for a night feel. Two excellent picys Brent & well worth the effort.
ctfchallenge14-Mar-2009 18:31
Excellent - never understand how to get such details without blowing out the lights - Debi
ctfchallenge14-Mar-2009 18:05
Great capture of all the lights, Brent.
--Mary Anne
ctfchallenge14-Mar-2009 17:40
Wonderful cityscape Brent! I like how the ribbon of lights lead right in to the city. Stay safe out there when you're shooting at night! CJ
Guest 14-Mar-2009 16:24
I knew it was yours from the thumbnail Brent. Absolutely amazing! Love the lights and PP.