Some recent night shots

I've not posted anything here for while, so thought I'd post a few recent night shots.

Kuala Lumpur
The second one is HDR














Doha. They seem to be competing for worlds tackiest skyline. The first one is a handheld pano from 5 shots taken from a boat. The RAW files were converted to Tiff in DXO Optics Pro 9, which is proving to be an exceptionally good bit of software. Both shots at ISO 1600.










Dubai

I've found from experimentation that I can get better results underexposing this type of shot by two stops and processing using a combination of smart lighting and exposure in Optics Pro 9, then using the prime noise engine, than I can get by shooting at the correct exposure. I could still do with an improvement in high ISO from the camera though. This was shot at ISO 1600 and f2, whereas I'd normally shoot it at ISO 3200 and f1.4.

Stunning effects here! Lucky you to have been able to capture this amazing place at night, and well done with getting the shots, which are all captured very well technically.

No 1 is my favourite, as it is a good blend of reality and enhancement. The processing in some of the others has given a slightly cartoonish appearance, which is a great effect and very attractive for sure.

Thanks for showing these!

Three for me, takes the biscuit. Not so convinced by four and five

Great set, particularly like No 1 and No 3.

karlo

Wow some great shots there - especially like 1 and 3 from Kuala Lumpur, they really pop!. I agree with you about DXO Optics - I used version 8 and now 9 and think it is a really top piece of software. Only drawback I have found is that it does not yet recognise the K3 so I can't process K3 pics using it. Hopefully an update will be along soon…, am hoping for great things from it applied to high ISO K3 shots

An excellent set Jon, #3 in particular.

Regards
David

Great set but number 3 ..... WOW !!

Going with the crowd here Jon. #3 is superb

Wow - great shots

They certainly make the little Welsh village I live in look a tad dull

Hi
Love shots 1 and 4
Neil

Thanks for the comments! #'s 1 and 3 are taken with the Sigma 8-16mm, which is a truly outstanding lens. It outperforms my 15mm Ltd quite significantly, especially at the edges. I also love what it does to skies, it's like it has a built-in polariser. In fact, I haven't used the 15mm Ltd. since buying the Sigma, so will probably be selling it.

Also, DXO Optics Pro 9 (I know I keep on about this software, but it's been a revelation) recognises the Sigma at 8mm, which Adobe products don't, so distortion is corrected automatically.

#'s 4 and 5 are taken with my M/F Sigma 24mm f2.8 Mini-wide II, wide open.

I like them all, super images. I'm pleased you mentioned DxO Optics Pro 9 as I've been almost tempted to buy it but hadn't heard of anyone using it.

Dubai aerial is my favourite but for nostalfia reasons and just spent a while lookign at it and recognising most places, even at though it's only an 800px image.


All pics are great though. only critique is they look a tad oversharp. Is that down to the pic reduction?

You should link to larger versions of the images, say 1600px wide. They'd still show as 800px wide in the thread, but we can click on them and appreciate them better at a larger size

If you are buying it, the $70 off option ends on the 20th.

Smeggy, all the images are on my flickr stream at full size, I find that the resizing the forum does on the full size images messes them up.

Yup had a look! Much better than the 800px only allowed here. This 800 px limit is silly. Most screens are 1600 to 1920 px wide these days. The days of dial up are over, and copper is now being replaced by fibre so the excuse of bandwidth doesn't apply anymore