More on the topic of long exposures…
- This topic has 14 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated Oct 28, 2009 at 4:28 am by
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I went up to the Plateau for the first run at some Fall colors on Sun. Had lots of issues like getting the shot while jumping out of the car on a narrow country road with traffic, overexposing skies in the falls area, packing a 30 year old Bogan super megapod through moderate trails, big blob on my sensor (thanks PS!), etc, but I think I got a few keepers. I’d welcome tips (filters, technique, etc) and criticism of any sort. Really…
http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=59&pid=2010&slideshow=5000
Nice job replacing the sky Mike. It shows in a couple spots, but only after knowing its a replacement. ie having seen the original out of the box image.
With regards to filters.
A soft or hard ND would help “hold back” the sky while you expose for the lower portion of the frame. A bit of an excercise you can try is to meter the sky and then meter your foreground. You can do this in any mode but the easiest is M. By taking this step you get a hard “number” with regards to the differential between the two in stops. You then know that the sky is 1,2,3 stops “brighter” than the foreground. So if you can’t or don’t want to compose the image to remove the sky, you can use GRAD NDs to “balance” the two elements.Short of that you go the HDR route, which I personally am not a fan of at all. They tend to look surreal and cartoonish. So while both methods accomplish similiar things, the end product looks very different.
Thanks for the tips John. I guess I’m lazy or just don’t have time to sit at a PC and adjust every image so my PS skilz are limited, but I’m starting to pick it up a little. I really try to get the image right in the camera and prefer to do nothing or only simple changes post.
Have you ever tried the GD filters? I can see where they would be pretty neat if they aren’t a big pain in the butt. Seems like they are cheap enough…
I use grad NDs and am planning to add atleast a few more.
They are a pain to use when your not on a tripod but its doable, with a tripod they are relatively simple to hold if not position.Like glass good filters are what they are. While you don’t have to get the best of the best (Singh Ray and Lee) make sure you get decent ones. Poor filters I expect have the potential to leave you feeling dissapointed with results, and thus unwilling to use them.
If you want to see good use of filters by a fellow angler, follow Adam Barker’s work (he post here occasionally). You’ll learn more about their capabilities and thus useage than I could ever relay at this point in time
I dont know alot about Conkin but have read people say they are pleased. I beleive to get started “using and experimenting” with filters they should be ok. Sort of middle of the road, maybe a bit more…dunno.
Keep it simple to start and use what you get as a basis to form an opinion of whether or not employing filters is what you want to do. That way you don’t have alot invested in them if you decide you
a) love filters and want more/better
b) Dont like filters and decide they aren’t for you, especially when “software” can replicate many filter effects, but not all100% software post filter effect
100% mechanical filters (2 stop soft edge grad ND and Gold/Blue CP)
I would start with either a soft or hard 2 stop grad ND. Im a “retro convert” and cant imagine myself ever going out without atleast a couple filters with me. Due to their expense though (they aren’t cheap) it takes time to acquire but you want a couple Grad NDs (hard and soft) , probably atleast 1 reverse ND and then likely a solid ND.
As mentioned though if you bookmark Adam’s site and Tosh Browns you will learn far more from them with regards to how and what they are capable of.
And pop in here periodically. Even if you dont go Singh Ray you can see whats acheivable through filters, what types are commonly used and how/when to employ them. My filters are probably my most important, prized “accessories” now.
Long exposures are flat out tough to master. I struggle – still haven’t got any keepers.
This image is always on my mind when considering long exposure. A while back it was circulating as one of the best examples of long exposure airplane photography. The photographer planned out the shot and executed flawlessly.
“N306UP (cn 27759/622) Cleared for takeoff with a southbound turnout. Runway number and piano keys visible! [Canon 20D, 50mm f/1.8 MK-II] Taken @ Des Moines – International (DSM / KDSM)”. at http://www.airliners.net
Thanks for the great feedback as usual John!
Neal you’re a good photographer. If you haven’t found a keeper yet perhaps you are being too critical of your work.
Finally got CS4 with the Sony Raw converter. Wow! 😀 GD filter, crop, straighten, spot remover, and so on and so on, all on a RAW file. I had no idea. Very cool!!!
Mike,
Just got a chance to look at your new web gallery. You have some beautiful images there! Is that Fall Creek Falls in a lot of those shots? I really like what you have done.
When you start using the Cokin system, be sure to practice with different zoom settings for each lens in order to make sure you know what will be in the frame or not (you can’t rely on the view finder). They also make a slim filter holder, which only holds one filter, but it is a must for using with a wide angle like the 10-22mm.
I have found that if I only use the slim holder, the hole on the back of it is just right to fit over the lens with my circular polarizer mounted (not using the slim adapter ring) and if I hold it on, or use a little masking tape, I can use it at 10mm and have nothing show up in the frame. If I use the slim holder with the slim ring adapter, I have to go to about 13mm in order for there to not be anything in the finished image if using the CP.
John those were taken in the central region of the Plateau, Stone Door area. The falls are Greeter Falls. It’s middle TN’s little gem and doesn’t get just a whole lot of visitors. There are some awesome trails around the rim.
Mike, congratulations on CS4! It is a very powerful tool indeed. If you haven’t done so already, check out http://www.kelbytraining.com/ 😉
BTW, thanks for the props above.
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