Trying out New techniques

[Johnathan Aulabaugh]

So like everyone I am always looking for different techniques both in camera and post processing. tonight the rain stopped and gave me an opportunity to do both. This is a 7 shot hand blend of long exposure evening shots. Kind of different for me. I love long exposure but Blending/ HDR has never been my specialty. Like to know your thoughts, maybe something different... And please, something more than I dont know why you pressed the shutter.

 

[Peekcha]

I love the colors! How did you do long exposure hand held? I guess the better question is how long was the exposure?

 

[Johnathan Aulabaugh]

Nooo, lol. The shots where off a tripod, I blended several shots ranging from 1 minute to 2 senconds. The blending was done by hand. Almost like HDR software but more acurrate and with more control than most software allows

 

[Peekcha]

Makes better sense, I like the result though

 

[Johnathan Aulabaugh]

I have been messing with this all morning and made some changes. I have mixed feelings on the Hotel image but with my vantage point IDK if i could get any better

 

[FoxRacer2]

^I Reallllly like the first one. The sky looks so cool.

EXIF data on that one?

 

[Johnathan Aulabaugh]

IDK if this is the right way to post this here but:

Mind you this was several images ranging from 1 minute exposure to 2 second exposure

 

[Browncoat]

I like the first one. Blue is always a good theme for photos because of the sense of calm that it creates. I think your blending technique works well, though there does appear to be some slight visible grain. Compositionally, you have a textbook Rule of Thirds photo.

My only real complaint is lack of subject matter. The skyline is nice as a backdrop, but that's all it is...a backdrop. There's nothing here. I keep wanting to see the edge of a dock, a ship, or a seagull on a post with this photo.

 

[Johnathan Aulabaugh]

That makes since, your eyes look for something to rest on... That spot did not have much to offer in the foreground dept, just an open view. My idea was to have the city lights be what drew your eyes but they dont fill enough of the image to do the trick.
Thanks for the insight.