When you spend time under sodium vapor lamps, the eyes (the brain actually) naturally filter out the orange. so what the camera records isn't really what a person might have seen. And your camera/software is trying to retain detail in the concrete rafters at the expense of the detail in the area below it. It's giving it that washed out look rather then a dingier city night scene. Just sayin'.
Yeah, I have a lot of trouble figuring out light Thanks for the tip, but how did you do that? I really like the middle pic that you did, the last was a little unnatural. Here's one I tweaked (WB only, I don't know how you 'pulled' detail from my first shot):
I've whittled down my CityCo Open City entries to three shots. Feedback is welcome as always, and fingers crossed one of them gets chosen for the exhibition!
So I got some help from Darkened over email. Here's what I did to the earlier pic. Thanks also due to JJ for identifying a problem for me.
Large Pentax K-x, Sigma EX DC Macro 18-50 Large Pentax K-x, Sigma APO DG Macro 70-300 Walk about town after work.
@stonesurd Love number 4! It's beautiful, the illumination from the street lamps upon the trees and ground really creates a surreal effect.