Light trails over the motorway

kman

kman

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Need some advice here - I'm considering having a go at some night time light trails over a motorway (the M1). From my local junction (junction 10) its a slip round that goes up and then is kind of a roundabout that bridges above the motorway. The slip road/bridge itself has a hard shoulder where I could park and set up to give me a perfect vantage point.

However my concern is whether theres any issues (from legality perspective) if I stopped in this place and set up and took shots. I mean I don't want to be on the wrong side of the law nor create any safety problems for anyone. I'm not really sure :thinking:
 
Well if you are taking the picture (I'm assuming) in the dark with a long exposure to get the light trails, you won't actually be able to see inside the cars, or be able to see the number plates. So should be no problem there.
But I'm not sure about stopping in a hard shoulder, I'm not even old enough to drive yet so I have no idea if you can just stop for the sake of taking pictures
 
You're parking up on the hard shoulder?! That sounds a little brave! I honestly don't know about the laws, but I'd have thought you're not really supposed to be on the hard shoulder unless you're having an emergency?

Are there any foodbridges nearby? They're great for these type of shots, and you can avoid and potential legal or 'getting-squished-by-a-car' type risks!
 
chris321 said:
You're parking up on the hard shoulder?! That sounds a little brave! I honestly don't know about the laws, but I'd have thought you're not really supposed to be on the hard shoulder unless you're having an emergency?

Are there any foodbridges nearby? They're great for these type of shots, and you can avoid and potential legal or 'getting-squished-by-a-car' type risks!
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well im not on the hard shoulder of the actual motorway (im pretty sure its illegal to stop on them anyway except in the case of breakdown/emergency etc) and sure its not safe! however this is on the bridge over the motorway thats connected to the slip roads and technically its considered part of teh m1 i think but again not sure.
 
Definitely do not stop on the hard shoulder whether it be on the motorway, or on the slip road.

I say this as a recovery driver with 18 years experience. It`s one of the most dangerous things you can do. I`ve encountered many RTC`s on hardshoulders. Serious ones included, with consequences I wouldn`t like to see anyone experience.

Re: the bridge. Unless you pass an "end of motorway" sign at the top of the slip, I would`ve thought it still forms part of the motorway network therefore stopping unless in an emergency is illegal. Without seeing it, I definitely wouldn`t say for sure.

I`d still be wary of parking in the dark-ish, without proper safety kit for both you and your vehicle.
 
Did nobody read the Highway Code before passing their driving test?

You are not allowed to stop or park on a motorway, except in an emergency, including the hard shoulder. Slip road is part of the motorway, as soon as you pass the sign that says no pedestrians allowed etc.

If a passing traffic patrol sees you with a tripod, you will get a clipped ear for sure, probably a ticket and fine of some sort, maybe even points for good measure.

Don't do it. It's foolish, as well as illegal.

Edit: must type faster ;)
 
Big no no for parking on the hard shoulder, only for emergencies I'm afraid, and as keen as you are for a stunning photo, the rozzers won't see it as an emergency. You can get a hefty fine for unnecessarily sitting on the hard shoulder.
 
minky_monkey said:
Definitely do not stop on the hard shoulder whether it be on the motorway, or on the slip road.

I say this as a recovery driver with 18 years experience. It`s one of the most dangerous things you can do. I`ve encountered many RTC`s on hardshoulders. Serious ones included, with consequences I wouldn`t like to see anyone experience.

Re: the bridge. Unless you pass an "end of motorway" sign at the top of the slip, I would`ve thought it still forms part of the motorway network therefore stopping unless in an emergency is illegal. Without seeing it, I definitely wouldn`t say for sure.

I`d still be wary of parking in the dark-ish, without proper safety kit for both you and your vehicle.
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:eek:

Ok i'm gonna take your advice and chalk that one off for now. Yeh the end of motorway signs aren't til much further down passed the bridge so it would still be motorway.

If i find a suitable footbridge nearby I'l reconsider but I don't think there is one.
 
To be honest I would go find one of those random bridges that crosses the motorway that never seems to have junction nearby. Less light pollution...

Or for a really funky idea - try near a service station...

Use googlemaps to find a location.

Image014.jpg
 
willbaroo said:
To be honest I would go find one of those random bridges that crosses the motorway that never seems to have junction nearby. Less light pollution...

Or for a really funky idea - try near a service station...

Use googlemaps to find a location.

Image014.jpg
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good idea. theres an indoor type footbridge at the newport pagnell service station but being indoor i might have to go clean the glass windows and hope for no reflection problems.
 
I wouldnt shoot through the windows/glass, just find a bridge that goes over a motorway or duel carriage way, preferable where the road has a long sweeping bend or series of twists, and forgot to say dont stop on motorways or slip roads

1870169646_0efc131108.jpg

Dave
 
'Ello 'Ello 'Ello...

If you're caught stopped on the hard shoulder of a motorway, you're looking at a £30 fine if you get a ticket. If you're setting up a camera in the hard shoulder - showing an obvious intent to remain in the area and disregarding the potential need for use of the hard shoulder in an emergency - many officers may not be so lenient, and instead decide to report you for summons to court. The potential maximum fine at a Magistrates' Court is £2,500.

Far better to do it from a bridge. I did this many years ago over the A2 in Kent and was, in an ironic twist of fate, briefly spoken to by Kent Police. They were perfectly friendly - just making sure that I wasn't about to throw a brick or something off the bridge onto the cars below :D
 
you can find bridges over motorways where hardly anybody drives over, this one is over the m6 buy j11 dead busy but the bridge hardly sees any traffic

Macro_Long_Exposures_4457.jpg
 
thanks dave :)
 
The shot below was taken just to the south of Milton Keynes, again its a fairly quiet road that goes over the A5 dual carriageway. The key for me is getting the right time of night when there is just enough light left to add something to the sky but dark enough to give good light trails.

3353920491_7bd0421767_b.jpg
 
lovely pic paul, its all about the road shape with these its not good enough to just find a bridge the shape the road makes is everything
 
Paul Holtom said:
The shot below was taken just to the south of Milton Keynes, again its a fairly quiet road that goes over the A5 dual carriageway. The key for me is getting the right time of night when there is just enough light left to add something to the sky but dark enough to give good light trails.

3353920491_7bd0421767_b.jpg
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Fab shot - am off to England this weekend coming so you've promted me to pack the tripod and have a go myself!
 
hello
love all the photo of the motorway and would love to have a go. i have found a brige on an unclass road with parking near by.
however have no idea what setting i should use for these type of shot. what length lens should i use etc. is there a basic guide anywhere?

any help would be greatfully received. i m use dto shooting faster moving cars in day light!
 
I didn't have my ND filter when I shot mine...I might be tempted to try again with an ND.

I suppose if you want to capture more light trails and more landscape detail it wouldn't do any harm trying one....
 
Hi Ross2

I used these settings and I upped from F8 up to F/22 for other shots so anywhere in between

Mode: Manual BULB
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 100, higher the ISO's the more grain, so best to keep it down to 100

I didnt used a filter because I dont have one
 
I'd probably steer clear of filters, especially cheap ones, as it's the prime situation for filter-related flare to occur! If you look in post #9, the smudge right in the middle is probably due to a filter being used!

Try to get out while it's still light, that way you can take loads of exposures as it gets darker and darker, and try to preserve as much detail as you can. The totally black ones are still nice, but there are some truly awesome ones where the sky is visible too!
 
kman said:
Need some advice here - I'm considering having a go at some night time light trails over a motorway (the M1). From my local junction (junction 10) its a slip round that goes up and then is kind of a roundabout that bridges above the motorway. The slip road/bridge itself has a hard shoulder where I could park and set up to give me a perfect vantage point.

However my concern is whether theres any issues (from legality perspective) if I stopped in this place and set up and took shots. I mean I don't want to be on the wrong side of the law nor create any safety problems for anyone. I'm not really sure :thinking:
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:thinking: Junction 10 is Leagrave or Luton, isn't it? Frankly, I'd be more worried about getting stabbed and having all my kit stolen, than about where I parked my car :D (I lived there for 35 years, BTW ;)).

Seriously though, I think that the nearest legal parking to there would be by the golf course, although it would be a good 15 minute walk up the slip road to get to where you want to take the pics :shrug:. Have you thought about going a little further south and trying light trails at the double roundabouts at Hemel Hempstead :naughty:? They're at the bottom of a steep hill, so you could get a pretty decent view down onto them from the pavement, or from the road bridge that crosses the dual carriageways (if it's still there :thinking:)!?

Just a thought ;).
 
Kman. I would have thought the roads the other side of the motorway signs where just graded as A or B roads, whether they be roundabouts or not ... I've stopped a few times for photography at such places, seems to me perfectly fine as long as I'm thoughtful of other vehicles.

---
As we're showing off shots for people to learn stuff, obviously. :D

This ones a combination of cars and a docklands overhead train.
I needed about 25 seconds to collect the whole train. With the whole scene in focus including the foreground rail.
So, metered on the ambient light and had to wait for it to get darker. Then I used f22 and a Circular polarizer to get me down to 22secs. Oh well close enough, pushed a few up to 25 secs anyway, not much in it in the end, long exposures are a bit flexible overall I find. All at iso 200, which is my minimum.


Streaminghome.jpg
 
thats pretty damn cool, have you thought about cloning that splodge of lights out bottom right?
 
Thanks, can't say I have though CW, not thought of them that way before.
Hmmm, they obviously do distract you though.
...I think I'm used to a larger version which has much more detail showing, and there easily seen as just reflections of the car headlights on the transparent sides of the train rather than an odd splodge of lights.

If I say I think it works fine when large would that make sense.
 
yes i understand totally
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Thanks, can't say I have though CW, not thought of them that way before.
Hmmm, they obviously do distract you though.
...I think I'm used to a larger version which has much more detail showing, and there easily seen as just reflections of the car headlights on the transparent sides of the train rather than an odd splodge of lights.

If I say I think it works fine when large would that make sense.
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Now you've said that it is rather obvious they're the headlights and lamp posts (seeing as they do mirror those to the left perfectly lol), can't believe I didn't see that at first.
 
grey.squirrel said:
Now you've said that it is rather obvious they're the headlights and lamp posts (seeing as they do mirror those to the left perfectly lol), can't believe I didn't see that at first.
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:D Me too ...I'm going to have to write as such if I show it again now!

Such a shame I'm too paranoid to put up a full size linky. :gag:
 
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