Coimbra at night, a photo from Coimbra, North

Photographer's Note

Click on the image, on the 'Large Version' link or here to see a bigger image.

Some of you may recognise this view, as my first post of this city was shot from exactly the same place, the yard of the convent of S.Clara. I went to the North of Portugal on work a month later, and on the way back home I decided to leave the highway and try my luck with a night shot.

My intention was making a more wide panorama, but it turned out that to the left there was a ugly candle light and none of the shots to the right combine well colour wise with those on their left, so I ended up using only two duplicate shots. I called it duplicate because I did two shots for each position of the camera, so in PP I could merge them in 'addition' mode to brighten them without increasing noise. I know now that I should have shot much more than just two, as that would enable me to apply another layer technique to increase resolution, much used in astronomy photo, which uses several images of the same exact subject that are merged in normal mode with different opacities equal to 1/N where N is the numeral of the layer, starting with 1 for the bottom one (50% for the 2nd, 33% for the 3rd, 25% for the 4th and so one).

Like on my earlier panorama, I didn't use any software specialized in stitching, I did it all in Gimp. It turned out that I spent much more time adjusting exposure than doing the actual joining of the images. The merging of the duplicate shots in 'addition' mode is pretty straightforward, but inevitably some areas get too oe and others keep too ue, so I used a couple of supplemental duplicate layers with masks to compensate that a bit. I doubt that it was worth the time, as the final result doesn't differ much from what I would get with much less work, but after all, I am learning, so it's a good training.

I have written some notes on the city on my first post of it.

Update 1-May-07: I posted a WS with one of the original shots, so you can see how dark they were.

Link to all my TE posts of Coimbra: http://www.trekearth.com/members/stego/photos/Europe/Portugal/North/Coimbra/

Location of the the tower on the horizon (latitude, longitude): 40.20788,-8.42662

Docarmo, riclopes, Wanda1, feather, saylan-cb, jwmunro, axiotea, salvator, JCG, robertosalguero, adores, xuaxo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pboehringer (770) 2007-05-01 0:16

Jose, flawless technique. It seems to me that you are starting to be a rela expert in this kind of treatment. I learned something from your explanations and guess that I will try it at y next night shots. The composition is beautiful and I certainly recognized your POV right away. However, I think that the image is beautiful as long as it has the golden lights, but the white lights don't match into the shot and I would consider in cropping the 1/3 from the right and the left. Just a silly idea.
TFS, Peter

riclopes (35577) 2007-05-01 3:20

Parece que percebes bu� de tratamento de imagem e colagens o que para mim ainda � um completo mist閞io. Estou a olhar para a large version e a pensar no resultado se fosse tirada na 'hora azul', porque me parece muito escura, o que � estranho - sempre achei que Coimbra seria muito luminosa � noite. Gosto muito do enquadramento do lado direito, com a silhueta do topo da igreja � frente, embora o fio chateie um bocado. Acho que tamb閙 cortaria um pouco do lado esquerdo, como � sugerido pelo Peter.
Um abra鏾,
ricardo

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2007-05-01 3:50

Foi tirada do Convento de Santa ...(?). E, � o campo da Acad閙ica que se v� do lado esquerdo? Para meu gosto, est� um pouco escura. Talvez se te tivesses virado um pouco mais para a esquerda tivesse resultado melhor. Mas, vele pela perfei玢o da colagem e aqui vai o meu sorriso verde!
Ant髇io

fanch (0) 2007-05-01 4:06

Jose ,

Un panoramique g閚ial ( quel travail 鏰 � du 阾re ...) Une vue splendide de cette ville si particuli鑢e dont je garde un souvenir 閙erveill� .
Une photo de nuit tr鑣 riche et tr鑣 bien faite , ou l'oeil n'en finit pas de se promener !

Amiti閟 ,

jackart (6702) 2007-05-01 4:37

Hi Jose!

Very good high detailed panorama, with nice lights and reflections. You choose excellent POV for this shot, sharpness is ok, but I sugest to make another shot earlier when lights are on but sky isn't so black. Night shots looks better with navy-blue or dark red red sky

Regards

Jacek

UnTrained (0) 2007-05-01 7:11

Obrigado Jos�,
great job, excellent result. I know that it is a hard work especially for a night shot on assembling. Manually done in GIMP. You would do the Mount Everest with an iron ball on the leg.
Even the less beautiful area before the bridge is now adding charme to the city. The stairway of houses to the university is visible also in night.
There might be a bit noise in the air but forget, the rest is important and beautiful enough. (3 points)
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

Wanda1 (15142) 2007-05-01 7:26

Hi Jose,
A wonderful night shot, very sharp showing good detail. Nice colour created by the different lights and the panoramic format works well.
Regards
Wanda

Greg1949 (9011) 2007-05-01 9:00

Jose, sounds like a lot of effort went into this shot, and it shows, nice capture, there is so much activity and different types of light.

Greg

Charo (51290) 2007-05-01 9:34

Hola Jose,
Estupendo nocturno, vi la versi髇 ampliada y est� muy bien porque se aprecian mejor los detalles.
Buen trabajo.
Saludos cordiales
Charo

Bluejeans (64251) 2007-05-01 10:28

Ola amigo Jose bonita panoramica da cidade de Coimbra , gostei muito das luzes , fizeste um bom trabalho ,parabens!!!
Foi uma colagem com quantas fotos?
Um abra鏾 amigo

feather (51130) 2007-05-01 11:49

I haven't tried it but I imagine a night shot is much more difficult to do a stitched pano than a day shot. The PP sounds like a lot of work. There is such a lot of detail in the image I enjoyed looking at the large version. Very good work.
Kath

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Docarmo (9767) 2007-05-01 15:01

Oi Jos�,
N鉶 sou capaz de ver quais e quantas manobras foram feitas nesta beleza de foto, pois estou longe de atingir estas maravilhosas habilidades. Mas meus olhos s鉶 capazes de ver o lindo resultado obtido e creio que o objetivo � este mesmo, n鉶? Agradar � vista. E, como disse Fran鏾is Martin (fanch), "l'oeil n'en finit pas de se promener !" et de se plaire.
Parab閚s,
Maria do Carmo

jwmunro (286) 2007-05-01 16:09

Hello Jose -

I read your notes with interest but I am not really sure I follow your layer logic to opacity. Were all of your images shot with the same exposure and then combined with different layer opacities? If this was the case, I am sure you are building up too much light and dark but, with this image all I can see are very smooth dark areas. The only way I can see this working is if your start image is underexposed and the building of opacity layers is a way of sneaking up on the proper balance. I guess that is my segue to the critique - I like the panorama format and the lights of the city but I find that the dark area are too large and too dark. I really believe that a good night image should be taken when you can have some detail in the areas that naturally go dark when the sun is down. I would like to see that blue or pink sky and have details in the buildings etc. with the lights accenting the scene. That is just my opinion but, twilight lighting is difficult to get right but when it happens it really works. Now, I am not saying this image does not work it is just too black for my tastes. Anyway, the technique was interesting but I am still not sure I follow it - well done, Jose.

Thank you for sharing.

John

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2007-05-01 17:07

Ol� Jos�!
Bonita iamgem e impressioante a nitidez, a quantidade de luz e as cores diferentes delas tornam a foto muito bonita e chamativa!
Parab閚s e Abra鏾!

paura (25802) 2007-05-01 18:02

Beleza de foto, Jos�, sem nada negativo a comentar. Luzes e ponto de tomada muito bons.

Paulo

axiotea (21651) 2007-05-01 23:48

Ol� jos�,
The results of PP and stitch are working well and you were able to show us nicely Coimbra at night under good exposure. Thanks for the explanations in your note and the large version.
Amicalement
Marilyn

Graal (103040) 2007-05-02 2:38

Hi Jose,
interesting night view from big town. Fine panoramic composition.I like the warm colours and points of light. Good note also. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

salvator (19110) 2007-05-02 3:46

Hi Jose,
Very nice nightshot. The colors, the use of light, the sharpness is very nice. Best regards. Salvator.

saylan-cb (12738) 2007-05-02 4:17

Hi Jose
Superb night shot!A very sharpness ,lights and reflections.I like this photo...

ohe (2334) 2007-05-02 5:14

Dear Jose,
Very nice panoramic shot !
Colors and ligthings are very well captured.
Sharpness is excellent.
Thanks for sharing,
- Olivier -

deblink (2548) 2007-05-02 6:17

Hi Jose,
What an impressive night scene. I especially like the bigger version. The sharpness of the image is great and the colours are really nice. Well done and congratulations.
Cheers,
Debbie

jmcl (14535) 2007-05-02 10:36

Hi Jos�,

Looks like it was worth the work to me .. the variety of glowing tones emerging out of the blackness is what first strikes me beautiful .. in large view you really get more of a flow of structure and form with the large distant castle ?? creating a wonderful meditative arch. Great work

John

emilbo (22616) 2007-05-02 13:06

All� Jose!
Magnifique panoramique de soir, un vrai travail de Pro.. Je suis all� voir la version agrandie et c'est super. Les couleurs sont superbes et ta note excellente.
F閘icitations!...
Emilius

JCG (35153) 2007-05-02 13:22

Hi Jos�,

A night stitch of any beauty and it is not an easy operation I think. I like much all these lights and the multitudes of details in the photograph. And in large version it is very interesting. Very beautiful management of the lights. Superb work, cheer and thank you for the explanations on the method.

With all my friendships,

Jean-Charles

robertosalguero (292) 2007-05-05 4:09

Jose this is a nice night view of this city. Your process to get to this image is very good. It does show very good details and colours under low light. The panoramic format work well to show an expanded view of the city. Nice picture Jose.

Roberto

adores (46979) 2007-05-17 20:00

Al� Jos�!
Parece que j� colocaste mais fotos de Coimbra que eu que c� estou, � quase sempre assim. Gosto desta panoramica nocturna, nem as luzes brancas me chocam. Olhando para o original, acho que fizeste um bom trabalho.
Anabela

mikeo (12129) 2007-08-31 12:57

O la la!
Jose, thats a great photo! Really nice POV and very good technic of it. You will be an expert soon in this kind of pics:) The golden looking lights are superb.

Greetings
Aga

xuaxo (6854) 2007-12-11 14:55

Ol� Jos�,
O panorama � bonito e acho que est� bem feito, mas na realidade acho que a parte mais interessante � o centro; eventualmente poderiamos cortar nos lados.
Um abra鏾,
F

Photo Information

Copyright: Jose Pires (stego) (24132)
Genre: 风景
Medium: 彩色
Date Taken: 2007-04-13
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Olympus E-300, 14-45 mm Zuiko Digital
Exposure: f/9.0, 5 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: view
Map: view
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Night & the City, Night Pictures, !My panoramas, !Your favorites, !Top rated ex, Night shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-30 20:53
Favorites: 1 [view]