Fall Photo Challenge: After Dark

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I was thinking it might be fun to have another photo challenge like the one we had this past spring, and also with the Google Street View contest we did awhile back.  With the permission of our host, I am making the following proposal:

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, why not see who can come up with the best nighttime photos, especially since many of the photos that get posted here on a regular basis are taking during the daytime?  Photos could be eligible as early as this Sunday, October 17, and the period of eligibility would run through December 1, photos could be posted December 2-4, and voting would be December 5-7.  This gives people plenty of time once the clocks move back to standard time in the US, plus for those who travel on Thanksgiving, a chance to get photos from somewhere else as well.

I'm proposing the same rules as last time, 3 photo limit per person, only public ROWs as previously defined, DC and non-DC categories, etc.  In terms of what qualifies as "nighttime", my thought was pretty much anything from sunset to sunrise inclusive is fair game.  I think we can trust each other not to stretch the definition of what time sunset is, and it will be very obvious if you took a photo at high noon and tried to submit that. 

Here are the full rules:

Entry Rules
-Can be of any mass transit vehicle(s) in the DC area
-Must be taken between October 17 and December 1 (inclusive)
-Must be taken during or after sunset and before or during sunrise (subject to interpretation within reason and local variations)
-Cannot be taken in Metrorail stations, transit centers, or other areas -- it's a photo challenge, not just a contest :-)
-Maximum of three photos per entry (post); one entry per person per category (DC/non-DC).

Voting Rules
-Don't vote for your own photos.  It's nice to win, but give props if they're due.
-Voters can pick up to THREE photos.  Winner will be declared by simple majority.

If someone wants to donate a prize, please contact me, otherwise the only thing at stake is bragging rights. 

If anyone has any comments, suggestions, etc, feel free.  Otherwise, I'll assume people are on for this.

[DCAreaTransitFan]

can we use flash

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I don't see why not, except it is usually won't improve a photo under the conditions you are likely to be using, can blind a transit operator momentarily, and may be illegal to use as a result.

[SchuminWeb]

Yeah, I was going to say - flashes produce less-than-optimal results, since the only thing that really illuminates is any reflective striping, license plates, etc., and that washes out the rest of the photo.  That notwithstanding the idea of flashing in front of a moving transit vehicle, etc. etc. etc.

This to me sounds more like the domain of a good tripod and some long-exposures.  This is what happens with a good long-exposure:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metrobus_Orion_VI.jpg

So, yeah, let's see how beautiful we can make this...

[Tritransit Area]

Gosh, it's practically as bright as daylight!

I really like this idea for a contest, though! 

[btconet]

Nice challenge.

To me it's made even more challenging by the provision against Metro Station shots.  Unlike day shots, which are easy to capture when a transit vehicle is moving, night shots will be the easiest when a vehicle is at rest.  Since so many of the layovers are inside Metro Stations, it means the best chances to capture a full view shot will only be at more remote layovers and long, unobstructed traffic lights.

Motion shots are possible, but are best when there is an abundance of artificial lighting, almost to the point of being tacky, and staid DC doesn't really jump out as having many of these places - this ain't the strip in Vegas nor Times Square.

Color balance on cameras will be a big key.  Sometimes AWB does a decent job, sometimes a Tungsten setting is best, and sometimes you have to just tweak it manually to get a nice result under sodium vapor lighting.

Good Luck to all!

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Adam,

I suggested same rules as last time, though if there is demand, I'd be willing to suggest layovers qualify.  The only thing is if everyone just hangs out at a bus heaven like Shady Grove or Silver Spring, we aren't going to get many exciting shots.

To everyone else:  Are people in on this?  Should a mod pin this to the top of the boards?

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

I'll try my best with the current rules, but as Adam said, it will be hard (for me) to get out-of-terminal shots since most of the time the buses are moving. But...I'll try getting some at stoplights, etc...

[Tristan]

Any submissions?