Underpass at night

September 12, 2015 by Mike Powell

As I was walking back home last night from the metro station, I was struck by the light that was bouncing all around a highway underpass as cars passed by, creating an abstract world of beautiful shapes and lines.

I really had no idea what kind of settings to use on my camera, but after a few quick tests I settled on ISO 2500 and f/9, which gave me exposures between one and two seconds. I rested my camera on a railing to steady it and pointed my camera in the general direction of the underpass.

Those who follow this blog regularly know that I have recently been experimenting with different approachs and subjects for my photography, which normally focuses primarily on wildlife and nature. Oh, I still enjoy that photography immensely, but it’s been fun and challenging to try some new things too.

I am quite pleased with some the nighttime images that I was able to capture, which are a pretty good reflection of what I was seeing and feeling.

9 Responses

on September 12, 2015 at 1:05 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Not what expect to see Mike but a pleasant surprise.
- on September 14, 2015 at 3:43 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It’s good to break out of the box at times, though I must say that I am pretty comfortable inside the confines of my normal world of photography.
on September 12, 2015 at 10:05 pm | Reply mvschulze

Nice, Mike. It reminds me (except for the nighttime,) of a walk I did some yrs ago on the Potomac walkway just south of then National Airport. M 🙂
on September 13, 2015 at 7:20 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

Love the wonderful light and shadows in your photos, very engaging.
- on September 14, 2015 at 3:35 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Charlie. In its essence, photography is all about light and it’s a joy when I can capture some of the beauty that the different kinds of light can produce.
on September 13, 2015 at 8:44 pm | Reply krikitarts

Keep up the experimentation and the expansion of your horizons, by all means. I remember very well the night perspectives available to the late commuter, which I was for way too long. Still, there are positive memories, and thanks for helping to revive a few of them!
- on September 14, 2015 at 3:34 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary, for all of your encouragement. The night perspective is not quite as exciting when stuck in traffic–I was happy to take these shots while on foot, which let me take me time to experiment a bit with exposures and composition.
on September 14, 2015 at 8:15 am | Reply svtakeiteasy

Interesting play of light and shadow.
- on September 14, 2015 at 7:27 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. As I play around with different approaches, I notice that I am becoming much more aware of light, in all its different forms, even when I don’t have a camera in my hands.