Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/16, 20 sec |
To get this photo, we need to go back a week. So I researched online to find the pictures I liked of the skyline. After digging a little, I found that the best place for skyline shots is 185 W. Trendley Ave., East St. Louis, IL 62201.
I knew I wanted to shoot the photo about 20 minutes after sunset. So I shot this top photo at 8:56 pm. Sunset was at 8:26 pm tonight.
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/13, 1/250 |
This photo I took earlier in the day at 3:58 pm, which for me, was pretty flat and uninteresting. I came to scout the location. I noticed the powerlines and how flat the light was at this time of day.
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/13, 1/320 |
We came back and started to shoot at 8:11 pm. Here I noticed we were getting a very orange skyline shot.
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/10, 1/2 |
Notice that even at 8:11 pm, the light is much better than at 3:58 pm.
Nikon D4, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 1100, ƒ/8, 1/100 |
The sky was gorgeous, but I felt like the atmosphere overpowered the skyline of St. Louis.
Nikon D4, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 125, ƒ/2.8, 1/100 |
I also liked this photo, where I captured more about the Mississippi River than just the St. Louis skyline.
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/10, 2 sec |
We are moving from the ramp to see over the levee. Walking across the rain tracks up to the levee gave us the best view.
I was using a tripod to keep the camera still. With the Nikon D750, I used the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control Infrared to trigger the camera. The best thing is to use the 2-second delay to minimize all the motion.
Tips:
- Go online and research where you are going. You will find a lot of photos that are signatures for a city.
- Find the locations where many of the photographers are shooting these photos.
- Go during the daylight to be sure you can see all the landscape and see if there are some things like the powerlines that you need to work around.
- Find the time for sunrise or sunset
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise or sunset
- Stay at least 20 to 30 minutes after sunrise or sunset.