I love the nightlife, I like to boogie. Brittany knows this. She signed us up for a local photography shidig involving a nighttime shooting in Ybor via Trolley ride from our neighborhood downtown. Here's a few shots fired. Thanks to guide guy Chip for the tips.
Brittany and I have a D200 and a D3S. The D3S is so gangster at swallowing light, it's like a crutch. I'm rolling with the D200 tonight because it makes you work for the shot. It's not easy going back to that thing after using the D3S for any amount of time. Anyway, first up is the trolley ride from downtown to Ybor City. Our favorite gay dude conductor is bussing us over there talking about men in diapers and kilt flashing during costume party nights in Ybor such as the night parade coming up this weekend.
Proper focus is something I really need to, well, focus on. I'm using the auto too much as a crutch. Look at how crisp that sign is. Too bad the subject on the sax is about as focused as a kid with ADD.
At only 1000 ISO, the D200 already shows heavy signs of grain. I like 1/3 second shutter speed on the congo guy. It nicely shows him ripping away on that thing like a stoner.
Brittany's running things on the D3S. Another thing that's tough to go back to from the D3S: it's not full frame. Boo to that.
Posse up, nerd out - tripod bandits.
Reservoir Bar - I'm so glad I'm not a regular anymore.
Hold your breath and try to stay still and shoot at 1/25. Yep, blurry. We're headed up into the parking garage in Ybor now.
Watch out for the train. SSL used to mean stop, look, and listen. Now it's a secure way to communicate and process transactions on the internet. I love tekmology.
A half second exposure blurs that speeding train nicely.
Someone's getting some TV time in at the church.
Ybor City rooftops.
Thursday in Ybor is the partier's Saturday.
Chip will show you classic nighttime photography tips like the breaklight streaks here. I didn't put too much effort in on getting a good one. I blame my head blowing up from allergies on being nearly over it at this point. The D200 is now on 400 ISO at 4 seconds and I probably got in two sneezes while the shutter was open.
Chip will also give you some good tips on white balance. It seems Ybor city puts an orange haze on everything. The correct white balance will fix that. I'm not sure if this is correct, though. This was shot in raw and then changed to Tungsten white balance in Photoshop. It made the lights a little closer to the white they're supposed to be.
Back up to 1000 ISO on the D200. When in Ybor City with an image capturing device, always point it at cigar activity.
The sketchy dude who gave Brittany that palm leaf rose said, "Love goes a long way" or something like that. The rose was free with an awkward guilt trip sting attached.
Here's an example of the lights without white balance adjustment. I kind of like the orange haze.
The DBG joint (douche bag gear).
Attempting the panning method here on this moving cab. I'd rather shoot a cab driver with a bb gun than a camera, though. 99.999% of them suck. I generally just round up and say 100% of them suck. One time I met a cool one though. I think it may have been a dream.
So now I have the D3S. It's at 2000 ISO here. I like the old style they tried to mimic in parts of Centro Ybor.
Waiting for the trolley back. 16 on the aperture here for some depth of field. If my nose wasn't running like an allergy faucet, I'd try to correct this crooked and poorly framed shot that has some potential. I'll have to come back for that. Next time, maybe start or end this short night trip at a bar. One drink gets people talking and more social, sharing ideas, and maybe even lowering some photography inhibitions such as shooting people more. I know it would help me. Maybe I'll do some shots before the next one. Also, set up a Facebook or Flikr group where everyone can share the photos they took for the night if they want. Pass this information out at the beginning - I'd like to see what other people were doing. Good night Ybor City.
