Lens internal reflection?

[GlenMH]

Hi all

SWMBO bought me the very nice Nikkor 70-300mm VR II zoom lens for my D90. I have been using it for night photography on a tripod to capture the highlights of the local cityscape.

Recently I took this as a test shot:



Please forget the issues that:
1. I have cut the top of the tower off
2. The horizon is not straight
3. The image is a bit fuzzy: don't put your tripod on wood decking as it moves. Also don't try and take pictures from a 33rd floor balcony when the whole building is swaying in the strong wind

My question is: why have I got an inverted ghost image of the blue lights on the tower? I haven't seen this on any of the other pictures I have taken.

Here is the EXIF data for info:

File Info 1
File: Tokyo Tower 0813.JPG
Date Created: 13/08/2010 13:15:06
Date Modified: 13/08/2010 13:15:06
File Size: 4.38 MB
Image Size: L (4288 x 2848)
File Info 2
Date Shot: 13/08/2010 13:15:06.00
World Time: UTC+9, DST:OFF
Image Quality: Jpeg Fine (8-bit)
Artist:
Copyright:
Image Comment:
Camera Info
Device: Nikon D90
Lens: VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 180mm
Focus Mode: AF-A
AF-Area Mode: Wide Area
VR: ON
AF Fine Tune:
Exposure
Aperture: F/8
Shutter Speed: 2s
Exposure Mode: Manual
Exposure Comp.: +0.7EV
Exposure Tuning:
Metering: Center-Weighted
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
Image Settings
White Balance: Auto, 0, 0
Color Space: sRGB
High ISO NR: OFF
Long Exposure NR: OFF
Active D-Lighting: Auto
Sharpening: 3

Thanks for any help with this!

[GlenMH]

crmcatee said:

do you have a filter on the front ?

Yes - I have got a screw on UV filter on the front. Will this make a difference (apart from costing me .5 to 1 stop of light)?

[GlenMH]

It's a Hoya one so not the cheapest out there...

I will have another go when the tower is lit up like that again without the filter.

[GlenMH]

Thanks all - I will have a go without the filter when it has next got its fancy lights on again.