In Reggio Emilia where I live, they have just finished the restoration of the Campanile di San Prospero. It has been hidden behind scaffolding for several years. We are in total lockdown and we cannot go outside our Comune, so at least this gave me something new to photograph. The bars and restaurants are closed , so the Piazza is unusually deserted too, which was a photographic plus.
This is a reshoot of a set I tried doing hand held with the Z7 with a 35mmPC attached. ISO4000 does not give the best quality even on my Z7, so I decided to do things properly and reshoot with a tripod at base ISO. This time I used my D810 and my 28mm PC and 35mm PC. I love these two lenses that I picked up cheap on eBay, nice and sharp and nice starbursts.
I rediscovered a great technique for this sort of subject, almost by chance. I wanted a mostly people free result. There were always passers by crossing the square, but by shooting at 30 seconds, the intruders just disappear if they are moving. It took a lot of alternative frames as people stand still and bikes with bright lights pass through, leaving a trace on the shot.
The level in my camera is not very precise on the lens axis and I have found that using a little bubble level placed against the filter ring is a good quick way to level the camera on this axis. Using a geared head also makes life much easier. I should have bought one years ago, getting the camera level is just so easy with this head.
1 just after sunset
2
3 28mm PC
4 The 35mm PC gives a less stretched tower.
5 Not the only photographer.
6 Just the guy sitting on the steps of the church did not disappear.
7 Alternative take
8 Taken on my morning stroll.
This is a reshoot of a set I tried doing hand held with the Z7 with a 35mmPC attached. ISO4000 does not give the best quality even on my Z7, so I decided to do things properly and reshoot with a tripod at base ISO. This time I used my D810 and my 28mm PC and 35mm PC. I love these two lenses that I picked up cheap on eBay, nice and sharp and nice starbursts.
I rediscovered a great technique for this sort of subject, almost by chance. I wanted a mostly people free result. There were always passers by crossing the square, but by shooting at 30 seconds, the intruders just disappear if they are moving. It took a lot of alternative frames as people stand still and bikes with bright lights pass through, leaving a trace on the shot.
The level in my camera is not very precise on the lens axis and I have found that using a little bubble level placed against the filter ring is a good quick way to level the camera on this axis. Using a geared head also makes life much easier. I should have bought one years ago, getting the camera level is just so easy with this head.
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1 just after sunset
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2
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3 28mm PC
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4 The 35mm PC gives a less stretched tower.
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5 Not the only photographer.
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6 Just the guy sitting on the steps of the church did not disappear.
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7 Alternative take
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8 Taken on my morning stroll.