Shooting At Dusk In Big City With Tall Buildings

Maybe don't shoot tall buildings on a sunny day. I prefer to go into the city when it's overcast, unless you are shooting a sunrise or sunset. Do you have a light travel tripod? I don't use a tripod in the city. I will also use a different sky if it's overcast. ;)

Jess, thanks, I love to go into Times Square at dusk, because the lights really pop! So this time of day in Times Square still remains a question for me.

Terrific shots, Diana! Love them both!

Jessica... you are an amazing photographer... I LOVE your style and all you photos! Thank you!!!

Diana,

You need a tripod and in Times Square, shouldn't be an issue. If there is light in the sky and the sun is down, for 30 minutes, you can use your camera meter and expose for the sky. But what is easier, is to try HDR, and take 3 exposures, 1- 2 stops dark, 1 right on, and one 2 stops over and then just merge or blend them in Photoshop.

Use a tripod, cable release and make sure where you're standing, doesn't vibrate if a truck, bus or subway goes by,

Rich

Great photos Diana!

Okay you have to try the HDR technique, or a steeper tone curve.

The first is the more likely to give less noise, but the second is easier.

But the way you've replaced the blown out sky in the first shows that you know what you're doing, and means you can have any sky you like anyway, and ther's nothing wrong with that - be a sunset/sunrise, stormy, clear, sunny, or cloudy - hey it can even be purple with green polka dots if that grabs you (not suggesting it would, just saying)

As the photographer-artist it's entirely up to you

You can do HDR without a tripod, if you can get the camera reasonably stable by bracing it against something - maybe a light post or a mailbox. In fact if you set your camera to auto-bracket and its 'burst' mode is fast enough, you can do it hand-held. The images won't line up perfectly but if they're close, you can load them as layers inPhotoshop and auto-align them, then combine them for an HDR image using layer masks. You might be amazed how easy this is once you have the steps down.

Thanks! I have brought my tripod into the City on several occasions, only to be told to take it down.....

I almost always have a tripod on me for HDR shots but when I don't the in-camera HDR on my Sony RX100 II does a surprisingly good job handheld and has saved me many, many high contrast photos. It automatically takes three consecutive photos skipping up to 6 f stops and combines them in camera.

Who tells you to take your tripod down? I have used mine many times in high traffic areas and have never been asked to remove it (tbh I would never take it down, I might move it a little more out of the way though). Of course I haven't tried it in Times Square yet :).

You may also want to try a Gorillapod- MUCH lighter and less obvious than a full tripod and a medium strength one can usually support a DSLR (depending on lens). Only thing is that you need to find something to place it on.

Diana,

Depends on what you're shooting. If your shooting a private building, then yes, they may come out and ask you to stop shooting it. If you're in the middle of Times Square, then no, they can't ask you to stop. With that said, when I'm in a "place" where I think I might be asked to stop shooting or using a tripod, I ALWAYS have the camera already set on the tripod head, ready to go and then place it and start shooting, by the time you get your three exposures and anybody comes out, you're done. So set your camera for 3 exposures, f16, ISO 100 and Aperture priority and shoot away.

Really depends on where and what you're shooting, but if you're fast, then you should have no problems.

Here's an "official" paper from the NY Police Dept. to their officers about filming and tripods: http://i.imgur.com/qXQWcQw.jpg

Good Luck,

Rich

I'm pretty sure when I was in Times Square 2 years ago I used a Tripod, if only because I'd just gotten it from BH that morning.

Been there and was asked to not use it by police. Way too crowded. It was more of a safety thing. Also, could not use it at Rockefeller Center either. I was also asked to take it down when photographing the outside of Grand Central. Couldn't use one "inside" GC either.

I tried bracing it against something. It sometimes works... but still, if a sky is too bright or white... and the buildings cast darkness on the streets.... no amount of HDR will help. I do use the "curves" control in photoshop which helps. It all can be done, but it is just difficult.... difficult light in the City.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

LOL Diana you're reminding me why I never go to Times Square or Rockefeller Center any more when I visit NYC. I remember being in Rockefeller Center one year the week before Christmas... Wall to wall doesn't begin to describe how many people were there. I can't resist a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge though :).

Depending on the exposure time you are able to take without a tripod, you might experiment with ND filters. Align the darker half with the sky and voila!