Night photography long time exposure photo critique

I’m very new to photography. Over the last month or two I’ve been trying to learn about dslr cameras. I researched the Canon D7 and bought one with three kit lenses.

This photo was my very first shot at night shooting while on holiday and I would love your thoughts. It was taken with 18-55mm kit lens, nine second exposure. This photo has not been photo shopped or altered in any way.

I would like to know your thoughts on a lens I’m looking to buy. I want to buy the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens. Would my photos quality improve much by just using this lens?

I’m so happy I came across your, you tube channel, I have watched all your videos and you have given me and many, many people some amazing advice. You put all your videos over so well in away its easy to understand.

I don’t know of anyone that offers what you offer here on your web site. To have someone of your caliber give advice and comments on photos taken by people like me is truly a blessing.

We need more amazing people like you in this world.

Kind Regards

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Dave

thank you for your kind words and your submission. I believe you are on the right track. I definitely recommend the 24-70 mm F2.8 lens and you can check the deals on Amazon for this one on the side. Which country do you live in?

Your image looks exactly like my first image when I started with my camera as well. I have spent 3-4 night walking around and test all the long time exposures. Your photo is as good as you can get for your location, and it is OK to keep it as it is if you want to keep a memory of the moment to reflect the exact light. If you want to make it better using tricks, you can do that as well in post production, to make it a bit more different than a normal long exposure. What I would be inclined to do is to increase the exposure to the dark parts of the image but I would distort the reality for a graphical effect. That can suit your taste or not.

overexposing only parts of the image means that it will be a trick indeed, for a different purpose. You can use a brush as a tool either in Photoshop or Lightroom to do that, or play with the contrast, HDR or other tools. Just remember, it is up to you to judge its personal or graphical value, and nobody else.

If you want to do this again, I would be happy to see when you take a shot of moving water with light reflections. The most interesting night photography effects are generated by light movement one way or another.

Other than that, I love the composition, very subtle relationship between the beach, water and the lights. If you want to make it more interesting, just play with your camera, subject, and if you have also some post editing skills, try that as well.

I would like to see more of you!

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