Hello All, I am still trying to learn photography. I wanted to capture the mood and lighting of this path, it looked quite spooky. It was taken at Hyde Park, here in Perth.
I would appreciate all and any feedback on how I could improve on this shot, not necessarily using PS but more the camera settings.
Shots like this are tricky because you have to get enough light on the path, without blowing out the street lamps. Usually a smaller aperature with a long exposure work fine, but in this case it looks like the lights are far from where you are at.
The picture looks very dark but here is what I would suggest:
-For a path, shoot vertical and wide with the camera pointed slightly down. This lets the viewers eye "walk down the path"
-Shutter settings, these actually look good, any slower you would blow out the lights or over expose the trees, but the foreground needs some light too. Have you ever tried light painting? (I do this when shooting creepy places)
If you havent, it involves using a flashlight or some other object to "paint" light into the dark areas of the scene. You simply shine a light around while the shutter is open for your long exposure. There are little things involved like "gelling" the flashlight to match the light of the street lamps but its better to focus on getting the exposure right first when beginning light painting.
Thanks for the input, I was a little disappointed with the foreground, but I didn't want to use a flash. Your idea of "painting light" sounds interesting. I might go back and have a go at that. As to the part of matching the color, I might just cover the flashlight with some yellow cellophane, that might work.
As for the angle, that path is actually a small crest so I don't think you suggestion would work. Although I don't know what it would look like from the other side. Something else for me to consider.
