venice canals at night
the nearly-full moon made for a bright night in the venice canals, but walter added to it with some steel wool.
the nearly-full moon made for a bright night in the venice canals, but walter added to it with some steel wool.
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Oct, 2016Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Lapse Of Time Photo Contest
Winner in Creative steel wool photography Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Painting with light Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at the Venice canals, one of my favorite places in Los Angeles. I've shot there a handful of times during the day or at sunset, but this is the first time I've brought the camera along at night.Time
This photo was taken a little after 9 pm. I was shooting some friends beneath the illuminated Venice sign nearby, but we decided we needed a break from the crowds and dodging in and out of traffic. The canals were an excellent--and much quieter--alternative.Lighting
I have my friend Walter to thank for the lighting in this image (which is made by spinning burning steel wool overhead, by the way). I really wanted to shoot somewhere where we could get a reflection from the canals, and the bridge was an excellent choice. We also got lucky by having the shower of sparks fit perfectly with the length of the bridge. There was also a full moon overhead to add a little brightness to the overcast skies.Equipment
This was a 6-second exposure, shot on a Canon 7D with a 24-70 f/2.8 lens on a tripod.Inspiration
There's a lot of beauty to be found in Venice. The canals in particular stand out for their unique architecture and sense of community. I wanted to take advantage of the reflective surface for a long exposure, and this seemed like the ideal location.Editing
I try to do as little post-processing as possible for images, but this one benefited from increasing the exposure a bit on the water and clouds. I also brightened the bushes on the left side to add a little more dimension.In my camera bag
Lately, I've been carrying most of my gear along when I shoot. The extra weight pays off in versatility! I have a 10-22 for the wide angles and landscapes, 24-70 for the middle range, and 70-200 for everything else. I also have a 50 1.8 for portraits and an 8mm fisheye just to play around with.Feedback
First off, I got lucky with this one. The moonlit clouds provided an excellent backdrop, and the canal's walkways were empty, so there weren't any distractions. Also, the water was still and unobstructed. Finally, we didn't upset any neighbors or start any bush fires! It takes a lot of skill on the spinner's part to make the steel wool come out right. He needs to have very steady hands, and consistent movements, while standing perfectly still. Also, depending on how bright you want the steel wool to look, use a shutter speed of 4-8 seconds. And definitely use a tripod for stability!
