Sharing a basic street setup that keeps files clean and repeatable. Keep frames simple and edges clean. I watch the histogram and blinkies. Protect highlights on skin. If neon signs, check the red channel. Focus: single point AF-C with back button, or zone focus at f/8 around 2 m. Keep shutter at 1/250 for static, slower if I want motion. Filters: CPL for glass and cars. 3-stop ND for crowd blur. Steps: ISO 100, f/8, add ND, set 1/15, check histogram, adjust, shoot a 3‑shot burst. Minor snag: I sometimes leave the CPL on indoors and lose a stop. Anyone using a 6‑stop hand‑held?
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Shot Chinatown last night. neon reds clipped fast and zebras lit up noses.
- Filters: CPL only for glass glare. skip ND for street.
- Histogram: RGB, zebras 95, bias -0.3 EV, slide-film highlights on skin.
- RAW: import preset = lens+CA. set WB, pull highs, lift shadows a touch, crop/straighten, export sRGB, modest sharpen.
You run zebras at 95 or 100?
I keep filters minimal: clear protector off at night, CPL only for glass, and a 1/8 Black Pro-Mist if I want bloom, otherwise it just kills contrast. Histogram: RGB, highlight-weighted metering, zebras at 98, and I bias exposure until the red channel sits just under clipping, usually -0.3 to -0.7. Manual Kelvin ~4200 under mixed neon to keep channels predictable. If I add off‑camera flash, 1/64–1/32 with 1/8 CTO, flagged and angled off faces. no bare tube at eye level, stand sandbagged. Metadata: keyword filter/gel used, flash power, WB, and zebra setting. color‑label by light source. grade with a red hue shift preset for skin.
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