Night Photography

Challenge #5 in the Prime Subjects of Photography series. Hosted by Mark Scott Abeln.

Challenge has finished

Submit a photograph of an outdoors scene at night. -- There are two basic approaches you can use to photograph this difficult subject. Traditionally, you use a camera mounted on a tripod with long exposure times. Alternatively, you can use a fast lens and high ISO to hand-hold an image. These trade off convenience and equipment cost versus image quality.

Show full rules

Announced:

Thursday, 2nd June, 2011 (GMT)

Submissions:

Thursday, 9th June, 2011 – Wednesday, 15th June, 2011 (GMT)

Voting:

Thursday, 16th June, 2011 – Wednesday, 22nd June, 2011 (GMT)

Processing rules:

Exposure blending or HDR acceptable.

Capture date rules:

No restrictions.

Additional rules:

Follow dpreview's guidelines for image submission.
Focus can be exceptionally difficult at night. You may want to try manual focus; if photographing a landscape, you can attempt to focus on a distant light source; or you can use a flashlight to illuminate your subject during focus.
Exposure is problematic, but at least you can see the results on the screen. You may want to bracket exposures and then blend on the computer.
If you attempt to hand-hold your camera, use a very fast lens and high ISO; you may need to do noise reduction in post-processing.
Digital noise is much less objectionable when an image is converted to black and white.
If you use a tripod, use a lower ISO for better image quality, and stop down your lens for greater depth of field. If you hand-hold your camera, be sure to focus precisely.
You may want to set your camera to incandescent white balance if the scene is artificially lit. If you are using the moon for illumination, set white balance to daylight.

Maximum number of entries per user:

Maximum number of entries in challenge:

Not restricted

submission
phase has

ended

609 entries

voting
phase has

ended

7719 votes

Voting results: 609 entries Slideshow of 17 1 Page: 10 Rows:

1^st

(winner)

2^nd

(runner up)

3^rd

(runner up)

4^th

5^th

6^th

7^th

8^th

9^th

10^th

11^th

12^th

13^th

14^th

15^th

16^th

17^th

18^th

19^th

20^th

21^st

22^nd

23^rd

24^th

25^th

26^th

27^th

(joint)

27^th

(joint)

29^th

30^th

31^st

32^nd

33^rd

34^th

(joint)

34^th

(joint)

36^th

37^th

(joint)

37^th

(joint)

39^th

40^th

1 / 17

Sample entries

These entries were provided by the challenge host(s) as samples and cannot be voted on. Upload sample image.

Saint Louis State Hospital, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view at night

Moonrise Hotel, in the Delmar Loop District, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - exterior at night

Carondelet Park, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - railroad track and bridges, at night, in the snow

Howell Island Conservation Area, in Chesterfield, Missouri, USA - night view from causeway to island

Challenge comments

Shortcut keys:

p previous

n next

Editorial content

Product database

Community

Finishing today
Strength in Weakness	52/100 entries
Kid's Birthday Parties	30/50 entries
-The Roadside Fruit Seller- (Full Colours Only with Border and Title)	27/50 entries
1 day left
Defense	78/ entries
2 days left
Magazine editorial: What we can't see	67/100 entries
3 days left
- Jungle Trekking - (Full Colours Only + Border, Title, Date)	9/45 entries
Australia 2 : Its People (Environmental Portraits only)	8/35 entries
Turtles	54/100 entries
4 days left
Parachutes	21/ entries
JELLY BEANS!	3/200 entries
Economic Inclusion and Illusion	8/100 entries
Buddha	19/100 entries
5 days left
Weird, Bizarre Fungi in Nature	19/100 entries
Ancient Ruins	19/100 entries
Microscopic (color only)	2/100 entries
6 days left
Bluebonnets	0/50 entries
Full challenges
Safe and Sound	50/50 entries
Beaches	70/70 entries
My best picture this week	50/50 entries

Finishing today
-All Dressed Up~Couples in a Photo Shoot- (Full Colours Only with Border)	173 votes, 16 entries
Power of Play	305 votes, 41 entries
Music people	1348 votes, 100 entries
New Life - Spring Flowers	565 votes, 50 entries
1 day left
Men who eat quiches	128 votes, 22 entries
My Camera Bag! (Capture Date Rule)	366 votes, 22 entries
2 days left
Catalog filler: Summer picnic	23 votes, 3 entries
Wndy	850 votes, 70 entries
3 days left
- National Parks I- (Full Colours Only + Border, Title, Date)	613 votes, 72 entries
Australia 1 : Nature	883 votes, 32 entries
Rainbow in the Sky	602 votes, 64 entries
Colorful: Red and Yellow	750 votes, 75 entries
4 days left
View from the top - Forests	91 votes, 18 entries
Hugs, hugs and HUGS	178 votes, 66 entries
National Food	211 votes, 54 entries
Art made from old electronics	71 votes, 8 entries
Wooden Statues of deities	70 votes, 34 entries
Chasing	392 votes, 50 entries
5 days left
Beetles	454 votes, 67 entries
Wind Turbines	174 votes, 77 entries
Everyday Life: MACRO	207 votes, 100 entries
6 days left
Texas	4 votes, 39 entries
Lucky Shot	305 votes, 100 entries


	Voting results 609 entries My entries Login required My votes Login required