Storm Bay
Last week I made two posts of waves on rocks during a storm – one a series of shots from the same vantage but different exposure and the other details that appear to be miniature landscapes. Today’s blog is two views from the same set up with different exposures, and this view contains most of the miniature landscapes that I already posted (to give you some idea of how much cropping goes into those views). These are looking along the eastern edge of Gonzales Bay, with the Gonzales Observatory in the background and Harling Point to the left. The shots are taken immediately below the small out building that I featured in another post. Another similar building with a blue door and a hanging surf board is visible on the bedrock behind the big drift log at centre right.
As I explained before, I was trying for smooth creamy water surfaces like I had seen in some photos recently, such as Marcin Bera‘s. I am not there yet – I don’t think his seas are nearly as stormy as mine, and he was further away, and a lot of other variables, like years of learning, are probably in play. But still, this first picture is getting closer to what I wanted. These look quite nice in black and white as well, but you can imagine that for yourselves!
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Canon 5D MkII, with Canon 50mm/f1.4 lens, polarizing filter, ISO 100.
- Top Image: f-18 @ 30 seconds.
- Bottom Image: f-4.5 @ 3.2 seconds.
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burnt embers 
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Oh, like it!
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Thank you Simone. I am glad you are finding things to like in my blog 🙂
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Wonderful colors and sharpness!! Beautiful!!
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Thanks so much. The colours were a surprise to me – they are pretty accurate, but at the time I was out there with the low light, colours were not on my mind, and I expect quite muted.
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I don’t know if it’s possible to get the creamy smooth consistency in the water with a lot of turbulence, but the first photo comes close. Have you tried any simplifying plug-ins? That may be the lazy way to do it. Just mask out the details in the background. Still, it’s a really nice photo as it is.
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Hi Ken. Plug-ins? I am using picasa free software to do the simple edits that I and it are up to (no masking for instance). I need to learn how to use the more complex software, but have not ventured into that realm yet. 2012 is here, time to learn how to treat my original images with more respect 🙂 I will need to revisit and retake the photo in calmer conditions. I really need a neutral density filter as well, so I have more options of timing to get long exposures, and to experiment in. Glad you like the photo, even if it could be improved 🙂
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I think the water is awesome…..I always wondered how to do that….make it dreamy, yet fearsome like that. It’s such a wonderful photo!
Imagine being so powerful that you can change Mother Nature’s wrath and make it look totally different!
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Time rules Mother Nature, if you can manipulate time long enough all of nature will have changed – imagine a photograph of mountains exposed for 100,000 years – it would be all blurry and foggy in many places too.
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You would need one crazy ND filter for a 100,000 year exposure. Theoretically a one year exposure is possible, but who has the patience! I get antsy with 20 minute exposures….
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I think maybe a slab of granite would do the trick 🙂 The quarternary geologists are looking through some filter like that, or perhaps at the blurred picture that results trying to resolve what it was like at different times. I think these kinds of pictures with hints at so much detail, detail which I witnessed or can see in other pictures that I have not shown, are a good metaphor for the art and science of discerning patterns in prehistory and on geological time scales.
BTW, do cranky fashionistas bite?
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I love the contrast between the light and strong definition of the buildings on the shore and the soft swirl of the silky water – these are wonderful photos!
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Thank you composer. Most of these houses along here have wild gardens and patios/decks in the front – native plants that can withstand this kind of weather and associated salt levels and summer droughts, but that don’t grow too high to block the view. Gardening has become secondary to the natural beauty offered by the view and the ocean edge for many of these people.
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Just getting back into the swing of things here in 2012, my friend, and what a pleasure it was to come across your blog post today! GREAT shots, I really love the first one very much! Great details here, and the silky water from the long exposure shot is truly top drawer! I hope that your 2012 is wonderful, my friend, thank you so much for all your support and friendship in 2011. We’re truly looking forward to seeing more of your work in 2012! Best wishes from Mr. and Mrs. Toad!
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Hi Toads – welcome back to the swing of things. I trust you are getting a bit of a break in amongst your moving madness. Thanks for your comments – ‘silky’ is the word I have been groping for in my blogging, and what I have been shooting for as well. Nice to see it coming close, though I need to experiment a lot more.
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Beautiful. They certainly do look like miniatures. I had a nice moment imagining all the toys at play. The images are beautiful, rich.
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Thanks Ryan – not great weather for toys, but I know what you mean. And I see you have been visiting the quimper hittys who do visit these beaches from time to time as well 🙂 Though I am not sure they would classify themselves as ‘toys’.
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The lighting fills the frame with clarity and yet melancholy, mystery and even a bit of serenity–lovely image, Sally
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Hi Sally – thanks for your wonderful words, I am so glad you find all that in my photo 🙂
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That long exposure shot is so evocative and beautiful.
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Hi Dawn and thank you!
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Great job Ehpem
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Thanks David 🙂
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Seriously gorgeous. Seriously. It would make a lovely desktop wallpaper. Or a framed printout. 🙂
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Thank you so much – it looks quite tranquil in these shots, can’t really hear the wind howling.
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Awesome shot and nice place.
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Thanks – it is a nice place for sure.
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