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Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> Challenge 109: Trees (hosted by Mexiwolf) >> Challenge 109: Eligible > edit image
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03-JAN-2006

Midnight Trees*
by Tessa

Sony DSC-F828
13s f/2.0 at 7.1mm iso200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time03-Jan-2006 21:52:30
MakeSony
ModelDSC-F828
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length7.1 mm
Exposure Time13.00 sec
Aperturef/2
ISO Equivalent200
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programshutter priority (4)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Katherine Stanback's Photos17-Jan-2006 01:20
Cool shot - nice lighting on the tree, and I love the dark blue sky and the stars!
Guest 07-Jan-2006 17:09
I like it! Reshoot if you want, but leave this one in here unchanged, IMHO
Guest 06-Jan-2006 23:45
Tessa, as you're looking for perfection I'd say a reshoot would be well worth doing if you have the opportunity. I think the skylight is OK -- though a bit more would do no harm provided it didn't add too much to what's on the tree, which is just right IMO -- but this seems to be at infinity focus and the tree detail is losing out a bit on account of that. Perhaps take a powerful torch with you to help the camera focus on the upper-most branches, and lock it there.

Also, you were at maximum aperture of f/2.0 here, too, which wouldn't have been helping with DOF and it's not the camera's sharpest aperture either. I'd suggest that you give it a try at f/2.8 as well next time, even though it will result in a considerably longer exposure (I'd have said f/4 but with this light the required exposure time would exceed the F828's 30" maximum).

Noise can of course become a problem, but this could be a good opportunity to try stacking multiple exposures for noise cancellation. I'd also try a few frames at 30"/f/2.0/ISO 100 which would also help reduce the slight sky noise. This subject -- not to mention your treatment of it -- is definitely worth pursuing further.
Tessa 06-Jan-2006 16:13
Thank you all for your comments! I plan to go back to these trees when the conditions are even better and retake it until it's perfect. When I shot this it was pitch black, I couldn't even see what I was doing, and I used a really long exposure. Maybe catching this scene with a 'little' more light in the sky and shorter exposure would improve the overall effect.
mexiwolf 06-Jan-2006 05:46
like that long exposure, isnt this the poltergeist tree?
Guest 06-Jan-2006 01:46
Fascinating mood for sure, Tessa. JK Rowling would love it! :-) - Mike
roberta06-Jan-2006 01:32
Tessa,
You've captured great mood and dramatic lighting for this night shot.
Ann Chaikin06-Jan-2006 00:31
Very moody image. Love the colors and the stars. Ann C
Guest 05-Jan-2006 11:03
it's a good angle, the stars add alot.
Adrian_K
Denise04-Jan-2006 05:07
Tessa, this is really an interesting image. Very dramatic but kind of spooky too. The sky is beautiful. The lighting on the trees is very cool. I like it a lot.
ted.sz 04-Jan-2006 05:01
Tessa, this is a very dramatic image