Traffic lights

[bugmeister]

OK, a slightly misleading title perhaps

 

Last Monday, some of us from the camera club went out to the village of Lavenham with the aim of trying to get a couple of light trail pictures from the lights on the passing traffic.

 

Most of mine were absolute rubbish with traffic going the wrong way at the wrong time, but these two I'm not too unhappy with. Any suggestions for treatment would be welcomed as these are almost straight from camera (a slight crop, a bit of sharpening, resized)

 

Unusually close to the traffic for this kind of picture

Canon EOS 5D mkII, Canon 70-200 f4/L @ f10 @ 109mm @ iso100 @ 15s

 

and a white light picture that I think worked even better than the normal red tail light shot.

Canon EOS 5D mkII, Canon 40mm f2.8 STM @ f10 @ iso100 @ 10s

 

 

[pdcpic]

did you use any filters ? ND? as I heard its best to use these

[bugmeister]

No filters. I did a bit of experimenting to settle on the settings above, using manual aperture and shutter.

[ChrisLumix]

I do like the white light version. My mental jury is still out on the red one - it does seem a bit 'heavy' where the red is widest, i.e. the bottom horizontal portion.

[Leon]

what's the wavy line on the first? (far right brake trail)

[NannyFerret]

what's the wavy line on the first? (far right brake trail)

He went over a pothole? 

[NannyFerret]

I think you did very well, Bugs.

[bugmeister]

what's the wavy line on the first? (far right brake trail)

Not a clue, I've been trying to work that one out but can't see any reason for it. It's not evident on a couple of others of different vehicles.

[annie]

I love light trail pictures. 

 

I would not have thought Lavenham the easiest of places for this bugs...?

[bugmeister]

I love light trail pictures. 

 

I would not have thought Lavenham the easiest of places for this bugs...?

Well, it has a moderate to low amount of traffic at night, some hilly bits, some bendy bits, and some illuminated buildings to lift the general light level, so not too bad. Also the locals are used to cameras in the area, it is a very well photographed village.

[colinb]

 

Unusually close to the traffic for this kind of picture

 

 

I don't think so and being 'close' for me works better than the usual motorway bridge shot. One thing I would suggest you try is go earlier in the evening, just after sunset as the extra light will give the pictures a little more depth and interest. A curved road (as seen in your top picture) works best - well done and well worth trying.

[annie]

It was the bendy bits I was thinking of bugs...and the fact I expected Lavenham to be dead at night!

 

I still think I like the first picture the most. I like the way the buildings are more lit up.

 

I like Lavenham, I just wish they would ban cars from there in the day time..lol...well other than the classic ones that congregate there at weekends...!

[FUJI]

He went over a pothole?

I reckon that the brake light was hanging out of its housing on a cable?......or.....it was on a small trailer?..........or......it was a moped rider with the hiccoughs?

FUJI

[NannyFerret]

I reckon that the brake light was hanging out of its housing on a cable?......or.....it was on a small trailer?..........or......it was a moped rider with the hiccoughs?

FUJI

There's two lines of wavy light. it remind me of when my daughter had her first driving lesson when she was 17 and the car kangaroo hopped up the road. 

Little did she know that I was watching from behind the net at the bedroom window as I didn't want to put her off.

[Leon]

I reckon Fuji is right about the wavy line..