On returning to our hotel after dinner on a recent trip, I looked out over the balcony to see the blue hour over the lake. I thought the conditions particularly interesting as the blue extended to the lake itself, giving the entire scene the rich blue/purple color, illustrative of the blue hour. Conventional wisdom suggests that when taking photographs during the blue hour, there be a central object such as a building or other single structure with some illumination (preferably incandescent color) as the center of attention to provide contrast and to offset the surrounding blue of the sky. Here, there was no central illuminated feature but a series of illuminated buildings in the distance on the other side of the lake, with the street lamps providing the illumination in the near portion, so the ‘conventional wisdom’ was somewhat violated. The image was slightly underexposed at EV -.3 to further enhance the colors. The image wasn’t cropped in any way because I couldn’t decide how it might look better, so all your comments on composition are most welcome. And the image was hand-held at 1/13 sec. Apparently, the SONY’s image stabilization is that good!
Gear: Sony a-7 IV; FE 24-240mm opened to 59mm
Data: ISO 12,800, f 5, 1/13 sec.
Metering: Pattern
WB: manual (one of the vacant presets set to the available light using an EXO DISC)
EV = -.3
Date image created: May 6, 2023
5 comments posted
Tom Tauber
I would suggest the crop as shown. The bright lights at the left and right distract from the image. Posted: 05/03/2025 13:07:27
Alan Lichtenstein
Most people Showed the image to had those same suggestions, I left the streetlight in at the lower right that you cropped out, because I just couldn't wrap my head around the lack of some kind of a central incandescent image even if it was offset. Posted: 05/03/2025 14:55:48
Tom Tauber
This composition does not have a focal point and it does not need one in my opinion. The composition consists of three horizontal regions which are divided in the middle by the lights on the opposite shore. The near shore is accentuated by the lit palm trees. The mountains in the back are still visible because there is light in the sky. The lights on the left and right that you included distract from the composition because they draw the eye to pictorial elements that are not of any significance. It might be different if there was a beautiful lit building instead of the streetlight and the illuminated slope which are not interesting. The light on the left edge is also distracting. I think it's important to lead the eye to the important elements of an image and not draw them away from those. Posted: 05/03/2025 15:50:59
Dr. Isaac Vaisman
Alan, you know that it is Lake Maggiore because you were there. It is a very wide image with no central point of interest. I agree with Tom's comments. Besides the mountains in the background, I do not see any feature to help us. I would say that you were attracted by the blue hour more than the actual characteristics of the site. Posted: 05/03/2025 18:02:23
Alan Lichtenstein
Isaac, you're right. I pretty much said so in my description. I just wanted opinions as to the composition and technicals. Additionally, although I didn't state so in my description (maybe I should have), under the present guidelines, this image would not be eligible for competition in PTD, because it doesn't denote a specific travel location with identifying characteristics. But now with the new PTDW star path it will. Posted: 05/03/2025 18:37:03
