[Rob Barron]

I'll reserve comments on the waterfall as that will most likely be removed for another day.

The light trails are ok but yes, definitely too early. The problem is, it may seem quite dark but remember you are actually overexposing the shot by a fair margine in order to get the trails so the sky will get lighter and lighter.

The only problem I have with light trail shots is they are becoming rather de rigeur now. We wll know how to do them and we have all done them at some time or another. That doesn't mean don't do them, far from it. It means we have to look for something to make our light trails that little bit different.

Here are a few ideas worth trying:

~ Get more of the cars going away from you as the rear lights differ in shade on different cars as well as being at different heights and thus give a little more interest. White lights coming toweards you are very bright so will naturally dominate the picture. You need balance with the other, coloured lights.

~ Don't feel you have to get the whole lot in one go. Set the camera to bulb and have the lens cap handy. Now when you see a decent subject driving along, start your shot but don't release the shutter. Just cover it with the lens cap (or your hands if you prefer) and wait for another car, perhaps going the other way, so that you are in control of how many cars and light trails you end up with.

~ Using the same method as above, quickly move the cap in and out of position as the car moves towards or away from you: this will give you dotted lines of light which you can adjust to suit.

~ Using the last idea, wait for an ambulance. Now, this one takes practice but if you get it right it works a treat (I have one I did somewhere but can't find it or I'd show it). It can be a fire engine if that comes along first. ...
Open the shutter as soon as the emergency vehicle comes into shot. Now you need to time carefully to get this right: move your hand in front of and away from the lens allowing three separated lines, then three quick ones to make three dots of light, then three longer lines again.
What you end up with is the blue flashing light making a trail that is obviously a vehicle going to someone's aid, but a line that is like - - - . . . - - - which ties the emergency distress code (SOS) into the picture. See what I mean?

I promise you that last idea will take a few goes to get it right but if you get one that works, it is a cracker. I won a competition with that shot about 4 years ago so it is very effective.

Now you have an idea of what else you can try, use your imagination and I am sure you'll come up with a whole lot more of your own.

Cheers,
Rob