Have you seen those skyline photos with a golden sunlit glow on the buildings, yet there are lights in the windows and traffic trails? Here's how it is done...
Have you noticed those photos where you see all these buildings...usually lit by an ethereal looking golden light created by sunset? Plus,
they have all the interior lights on and as a bonus, you can see the white and red light trails of cars on the street?
They are stunning photos to say the least - contest winners! So we try to duplicate them.
Here's what we get... before dark.
If we shoot just before the sun goes down, we get a nice shot of the city skyline - with that nice golden glow. But since it is still light out, there are few if any interior lights. And in areas where there ARE lights… we can barely see them.
As far as the traffic light trails, there just aren't any. It's not dark and the cars don't have their headlights on!
Here's what we get... after dark.
If we shoot after it gets dark, we get nice photos of the building's lights, and the light trails from the cars, but it is dark. We don't get the golden glow on the buildings (or any clear view of the buildings at all).
What to do?
The way I've written this so far may have already given you the answer. Sometimes the obvious solution is the right one! Do both!
You do a double exposure!
An hour or so before sunset, pick the vantage point you want to shoot from - and set up your gear, using a tripod.
Then when the light is the way you want it to be (the golden glow on the buildings) shoot your photo.
Then wait...don't move a thing.
Later, when it is full dark and all the lights are on in the buildings and the traffic, shoot a second exposure.
That's how it is done folks. If you've never tried this... do it as this weekend's project. You may never do another cityscape without using this method.
To really do it right, in addition to using a tripod, trip the shutter with a timed exposure and lock up the mirror. This will eliminate camera shake and give you a photo that can be blown up for the wall.
Most of the better SLR's and DSLR's will have these functions available to you. If you aren't sure, check your owner's manual. There shouldn't be any functions on your camera that you aren't familiar with - and using!
With this method, you will end up with one exposure showing the buildings and one exposure showing the lights! If you didn't move anything, the lights will be in the windows where they belong, the buildings will glow and you have an award winning photo! For more information, check the resource box!
