DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Main and Davis Streets at 4:43
Main and Davis Streets at 4:43
livitup


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: 4:00-5:00 a.m. (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX
Location: Culpeper, VA
Date: Dec 8, 2005
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1 Second
Galleries: Cityscape, Panoramic
Date Uploaded: Dec 12, 2005

 I had this idea very shortly after the contest was announced, I knew that the "Frost Cafe" sign would be good for an after-dark challenge. When I showed up at about 4:30 the diner was still dark, which was a bummer because I really wanted to have it lit up, like it was the only thing alive at that ungodly time. Luckily for me the cooks showed up right as I was considering packing up. I think I captured the total desolation of 4:00am. In my sleepy little agricultural town nobody's doing anything at 4 AM in the winter. :)

The photo required a healthy dose of post processing to make it look decent. All changes were done in RSE:

There was a horrible color cast because of the sodium vapor street lights. I haven't mastered in-camera white balance yet, so I adusted the color temp to 1800 the tint to 19, and the hue all the way to -25. If I could have gone to 1500 and -50 I probably would have. :)

Saturation was bumped up full blast without any negative effects, in my opinion. The yellow building was yellow even before I messed with saturation, and it really made the red sign pop and highlighted the reflection of the neon off the building.

Then in PS7 a slight crop, resize, and save for web.

I hope you like it.

Statistics
Place: 44 out of 115
Avg (all users): 5.6531
Avg (commenters): 6.4167
Avg (participants): 5.6379
Avg (non-participants): 5.6559
Views since voting: 1848
Views during voting: 520
Votes: 369
Comments: 12
Favorites: 1 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Olympus E-510
Olympus 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Digital
 12/20/2005 09:48:17 PM
There's something about the color in this one. Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 12/20/2005 07:13:35 AM
This photo makes me feel dizzy... the building on the left is about to topple over.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM
 12/19/2005 07:13:07 PM
Nice small town photo... it could be a post card:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus E-5
Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko ED Digitial Zoom
 12/18/2005 05:51:11 PM
Very nice, I like it alot! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70
 12/17/2005 08:19:56 PM
it doesnt say much to me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon
 12/17/2005 05:10:36 PM
I like the colours of this photo. A very pleasant looking place in the Christmas season.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III
 12/16/2005 01:00:10 PM
perfect focus, great color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
 12/15/2005 11:04:10 PM
Focus is right on!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70s
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED
 12/14/2005 11:17:39 PM
Nicely done, love the "aloneness" it has. good color. It seems to transition from yellow to red as you go left to right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Kodak EasyShare Z612
 12/14/2005 09:04:29 AM
Pretty lights. Nice shot. Wouldn't it have been cool if there was a clock in sight, too?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 12/14/2005 04:26:12 AM
Sharp image and nice lighting as well.......
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2005 12:48:22 AM
pretty dead at 4am - but where is the subject matter of the image?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Theme: Classic / Light / Dark
Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/15/2026 08:19:51 AM EDT.