Despite rain, hail, and snow, the Chicago Light Festival went on as planned. By evening the city was vibrant with lights from quite an array of sources. It was great to be able to photograph this while staying warm and dry!
Definitely better on black.
P.S. Could you please share any tips on how you achieved such a sharp image? I posted a photo of Pittsburgh this evening; and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get things to be sharp and crisp. Any help would be much appreciated!
Fabulous! If I had your view, I'd put my camera on a tripod, pointing out one of those fab windows and just leave it there! Probably just until someone tripped over it or the dogs tail knocked it over!
Just fabulous!! So much to look at with all that detail - even inside the offices!! I love your view Taffy and I know I would be spending my time just looking out and capturing the view from all directions!! Fav!!
Wow, the tree lit up already? Goodness me! Fabulous perspective from on high though. Love the way the colours are all so clear and I am enjoying the reflections in the windows as well as the silhouetted people below. Nice one, Taffy!
what a great and fascinating scene. I really like the way you can see into all of the offices. From up where you are, you must spend a lot of time looking down and wondering what is going on in all the lives that you fleetingly see evidence of. Spectacular with that tree.
Taffy, what incredible views you have, and how skilled you are at taking photos of those views. This is a real stunner, works so well you're almost there looking at the place. What settings did you use? Tripod?
@golftragic Thanks Marnie! I used a tripod and very low ISO (64 on my Nikon). I had my zoom on set at 600, shutter speed at half second and aperture at f10. I think this one may have been an HDR combining 3 shots but am not sure as I took several and processed a few, some HDR and some not - lost track of which was which. Processed in LR.
What a super pov and composition! Love this Taffy. And I appreciate that you continue to stop by and comment periodically, in spite of how I've really withdrawn from commenting for the most part. I'm just too scattered - holding down five jobs and involved in other service projects, etc. I don't know how you keep up your momentum!!!
@taffy Thanks for all that info Taffy, especially about the low ISO. I always thought that high ISO settings were the go at night, so I've learned something useful. I've done very little night photography anywhere, let alone in big cities. But would like to be able to get some decent city-scapes while we're away. Certainly don't want to lug a tripod, maybe look into a Gorillapod instead.
@golftragic Check into this -- @ukandie1 has one and it looks like a good solution to not carrying a tripod: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1261878-REG/platypod_pro_1009_pro_max_camera_support.html
And for ISO, use the lowest possible that gets you the shutter speed you want as it reduces the likelihood of noise. If you have a tripod (or facsimile) you don't need to worry about high ISO as you aren't hand holding and needing a fast shutter speed to avoid shake.
@taffy Thanks Taffy, the ISO bit now makes sense to me, bit slow on the uptake today, just about melted in 30+ heat. After a prolonged cold snap, summer has arrived with a vengeance. I'll check out the link now.
I'm a big fan of the pixi https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/collections/supports/pixi-series though I had to add a monopod head to be able to shoot portrait with my camera. Still it is small enough for my small bag and camera and not too heavy. Gorilla pod I have is surprisingly heavy.
WOW!!!! I take it this shot is from your condo! Your lens might have struggled in the ape house but it is perfect for this shot. I love how crisp it is, you can read at ease that one lane is only for CTA! But I also have to acknowledge that it was you who set up the camera and pressed the shutter. Beautifully done!
instant fav
And for ISO, use the lowest possible that gets you the shutter speed you want as it reduces the likelihood of noise. If you have a tripod (or facsimile) you don't need to worry about high ISO as you aren't hand holding and needing a fast shutter speed to avoid shake.
I'm a big fan of the pixi https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/collections/supports/pixi-series though I had to add a monopod head to be able to shoot portrait with my camera. Still it is small enough for my small bag and camera and not too heavy. Gorilla pod I have is surprisingly heavy.
Congrats on TT!