Page 21 - Amateur Photographer - August 5, 2017

The skyline from the
Esplanade showing Marina
Bay and the Central
Business District, Singapore
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm,
4secs at f/4, ISO 100

‘Many a time I’ve waited and waited as the
sky turns from pink to blue to inky black’

shoot earlier with a brighter in black & white can be
sky retaining the last mauves achingly evocative.
of sunset, and with the So far I’ve only mentioned
unobtrusively discernible city shooting at dusk. Of course
lights below. there’s nothing to say that the
Adjusting white balance for same balance between ambient
night shoots is again a matter and artifi cial light can’t be
of taste. The blue residual achieved at dawn. In practice
ambient light will have a though it doesn’t often work;
sky-high colour temperature, fl oodlights are usually turned
whilst the street lighting and off in the early hours. That
illuminations could be business of not knowing when
anything – fl uorescent, and if the lights are going to
tungsten or a gelled garish come on has often caught me
pink. Trying to achieve a out. Many a time I’ve waited
neutral white balance in such and waited as the sky turns The Sydney skyline at night Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, TS-E 24mm, 30secs at f/10, ISO 100
situations is virtually from pink to blue to inky black,
impossible and pretty before abandoning the shoot as holds true if there’s a great deal nocturnal photographic
pointless. The whole attraction it’s then too late. Inevitably as of sky in the frame, but for opportunities on the streets of
of city nightscapes is usually I trudge away exasperatedly bustling streets shooting Paris, Saigon or London.
based around showing the the lights then come on, just to through the night is certainly Technological advances also
multitude of colours painting taunt me. It’s all part of the an option. There is all sorts of present any number of
the scene. I leave the camera on game, so often frustrating, potential: from night markets possibilities, which stimulate
daylight, as usual, and that’s occasionally rewarding. to nightlife. And, for more inspiration. Misty landscapes
that. I rarely tweak the colour A belief that city-light options, think about shooting at dawn take some beating, but
balance in Lightroom. But photography must be done in the city at night without a occasionally the bright city
then again we shouldn’t ignore when there’s still some tone left tripod, or fl ash. The high-ISO lights beckon. I’ll see you there
the power of black & white. in the twilight sky is a rule just capabilities of recent cameras – dodging the tripod
A nightscape of Paris rendered waiting to be broken. I think it open up a whole new world of gendarmes together.

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