In Twilight's Glow

Image Critiques Landscape Critiques
1

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Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

This was taken in pretty much the same location as the Blue Lemmon Aide photo from last month. but I scrambled down the cliff to get closer to the water. I intended to photograph the rocks after the sun had gone down and I wanted to capture the streaking stars this time rather than the stars themselves. So I opted for my wide angle lens at 24 mm. It was started about 40 minutes after sunset and was a single 20 minute exposure. I was unsure about running such a long single exposure, as when digital cameras first came out long exposures like this were terribly noisy but I guess the newer sensors have that figured out. The afterglow of sunset comes through on the horizon and I think it also affected the light coming from the moon as that was the main light on the scene and gave a very warm glow. I made another photo later in the night when the afterglow vanished and its a much colder color balance. I’ll post that other photo later.

Moonlight photography has always fascinated me. It gives the subject very sharp vivid details that seem missing in sunlight. I think its perhaps the exposure time is so long that them moon moves during the exposure and that changes the direction of the light falling on the subject.

I placed this photo in the Landscape Critiques, but if you think its better in the Nightscapes category it can be moved right?

Specific Feedback

Does the composition work?

Are the stars bright enough in the sky or are they a distraction?

I was facing northwest in the hopes of capturing some of the curl in the star motion, but its not very prominent. Does the rotating sky motion come through or is it two weak?

Do you like the moonlighting?

Technical Details

Nikon D850, Nikon 24mm f/2 MF lens, set at f11 for 20 minutes via external intervalometer at ISO 100.

Processed in ACR and PS. Once in PS, I duplicated the image, then removed the stars using the Dust & Scratches filter. I set the mode to Difference and copied the RGB channel and used it as a star mask on a curves layer to brighten the stars so that they would stand out better. They were very faint due to the twilight glow when I started the exposure.

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:

2

Youssef,

To me, the moonlit rock structures and smooth sea give a surreal 3D photo that I could not have imagined. Your text shows you wanted to take photos of star streaks, but I am not sure they go well together as the star streaks appear angular and aggressive whilst the rocks and water are calming. I wonder if the photo would look better with approximately half of the sky (and most of the bright star trails) was removed. This change would also make the photo quite wide, emphasizing the expanse of the universe.

I like the moonlit idea very much

3

Gorgeous moonlight here, Youssef. The color and tonality work for me. I think the rocks, water and the afterglow are the stars of the show, so you might consider cropping out some of the dark sky. Also, that bright white spot caused by a breaking wave grabs my eye.

Those are minor nits, for sure. This is a finely crafted image.
-P

4

Youssef, your idea and plan paid off in large dividends on this image. I’ve found for many years now the planning and ideas are a big part of the actual event in the end. The by chance takes are just that. The planned ones are a bonus if you obtain the results you were hoping for.
Your point is well taken about the noise issue too. As I still use film it can be a challenge for sure in low light conditions.
Your 20 minute exposure came out spot on. Longest I ever did with V-50 was 8 minutes. Surprisingly it came out as one of my favs to this day.
Again, glad the planning and hard work provided the results you had in mind… :+1:

5

A wonderful scene!! Excellent planning worked out very well. The afterglow and moonlight are so nice, and that is a very clever idea for the star mask. And the ethereal water is gorgeous.

Maybe another time do a second even-longer exposure after the moon has set (or dimmed a lot) and composite it for the star trails? If noise becomes an issue, I’ve read that with the 1-sec pause between exposures with an intervalometer that the sensor cools quite a bit. The gaps would hardly show with a lens this wide.

6

I’m happy to see that I’m not the only one who misses star trails, Youssef. This is fabulous. I do think the stars are bright enough as-is on the left but they seem to kind of fade out a little toward the right. Aside from that very minor nit, I love this. The band of warm light on the horizon is echoed on the main rock on the right which creates a neat balance, and of course the contrast between the blue water and sky, with that bit of warmth, is really nice. All in all, I’d say this is pretty darn spectacular.

7

Outstanding. Makes me wanna go out and try some star trails which I’ve never done before. I agree with @Bret_Edge about the trails on the right. I really love the effect the moonlight has had on the swirling waters around the rocks. Almost like underwater lighting.

8

Youssef, this is magical with the star trails adding a good sense of time’s passage. I think the star trails are just right, readily visible but faint enough to let the foreground and colors in the sky dominate the view.