Learning Landscapes - Foggy day scenes from Boundary Bay

[TonyW]

This is an interesting exercise and I don't see why the two shot method would not work as long as the boundary between the water and mountains is not too complicated.

However, I am not a fan of the silky water effect. I have had a long fascination with all aspects of water waves (as well as other types of wave such as light and sound) and to my mind they generally enhance the picture. The third image in post #3 is a good example.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to all.

Mark, Isabel and Tony your comments are truly appreciated.

L. Paul, Frank, PhotoNut and Grahame

Thank you for the idea of combining two images and blurring techniques. Honestly I am not certain that I have the skills to switch from such a slow shutter speed to a fast one so quickly.

With respect to blurring the water I would like to try to do this in camera (just like my panned horses) albeit I realize that the water really doesn't look silky (ie I'm manipulating the photo in camera lol) like this it is something I have to try and see if I can do... Later on as I develop my post processing skills I might decide that photoart is something I would like to do.

Photo Nut (I wish I knew your real name so I could call you something normal)... Thank you for the idea of the pillows! I will try that even though I will look pretty silly on the boat!

[Brownbear]

This one is for Trevor...

Following are my edits of the foggy path scene following your advice for a simpler scene.

#1



#2



Even though #2 likely has too much sky I prefer it because I see a path leading to some mysterious world beyond the fog... And I like the sky at the top and the detail in the clouds that I managed to capture.

Which one do you prefer and why? If my huge sky doesn't work please let me know.

Thank you for your help and advice.

PS Those birds are eagles (not ravens)

[Downrigger]

I have to say that I like the big sky. I have a friend who is a seriously successful (and successfully serious, too) nature/landscape photographer and he hits me hard on the size of my skies (too big, too tall), but I've sort of decided it's partially just personal taste (like, say, WB). The thing I was taught by him that I do attend to is that "what's in the sky will tell you where to crop". I think you did fine, here.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

It has to be the one with the 'big' sky, it gives more of a sense of mystery as you say and in addition the feeling that the mist is soon going to clear. I note you have cropped with the bench farther to the left, I assume this was due to incorporating the best sky detail?

It may be worth cloning out what appears to be a signpost.

Grahame

[Brownbear]

Thank you for your feedback. Helpful and truly appreciated, as always.

I'm surprised that you remember the original composition Here is another crop with more space in front of the bench, as photographed. I also cloned out the sign... Difficult for me to do well, so not perfect but good practice.

Hi Christina,

It has to be the one with the 'big' sky, it gives more of a sense of mystery as you say and in addition the feeling that the mist is soon going to clear. I note you have cropped with the bench farther to the left, I assume this was due to incorporating the best sky detail?

It may be worth cloning out what appears to be a signpost.

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

That works for me but lets get back to the silky water from a moving boat shot.

What I have to admire is you keenness to try something out and what is apparent is that whilst some of us have views on how best to attempt this or if it is even possible at all I suspect you are going to give us the definitive answer from actually trying it.

If we assume it's a given that you are going to have to take two shots I very much look forward to seeing the 'silkiness' affect on the water result taking account that it's going to be dependent upon, shutter speed, boat forward speed, boat trim and roll and water surface movement caused by wind and tide.

I'm certain the result will be a first to be viewed within the learning curve for many of us

Grahame

[Otavio]

Aperture priority F22

Any and all suggestions on what I should try the next time around will be truly appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi, Christina.

One thing that shouted from outside my mind was the F22. Unless you are using a top level lens, I would recommend you not going to small an aperture. F13 (or a bit smaller aperture (higher number)) is usually enough to put everything in focus. Reason: The smaller apertures are not the best point of the lens, in term os sharpness. Images tend to become soft at the smaller apertures. I struggled, in the past, with this. I had an idea of a long exposure in the beach, but my image was not sharp at all. I, then, found out the main problem was the aperture. See my test images (click the link below and scroll down to post #28), with the full images and a crop, for both F22 and F9, showing what I am saying. The lens used was a Nikkor 18-55 AF-s VR (kit lens).

Long exposure

My 2 cents...

[jcuknz]

It seems I am with Trevor becuase this is what I see .....

[ShaneS]

I can't add anything to the thread in terms of PP but I will say the like others I like the 3rd shots in the seventh post of the thread. Even though it doesn't meet your criteria of silky water I think that it is a great image!

I like the crop that jcuknz did on you fog image and think it is very nice although I can see why you were inclined to keep the lovely sky in the image.

While I may not be commenting on much on your threads I am following them with interest as improving my landscape shots is on my 2014 to-do list as well. As an aside, your images continue to make me homesick but in a good way, I think...

[ShaneS]

I can't add anything to the thread in terms of PP but I will say the like others I like the 3rd shots in the seventh post of the thread. Even though it doesn't meet your criteria of silky water I think that it is a great image!

I like the crop that jcuknz did on you fog image and think it is very nice although I can see why you were inclined to keep the lovely sky in the image.

While I may not be commenting on much on your threads I am following them with interest as improving my landscape shots is on my 2014 to-do list as well. As an aside, your images continue to make me homesick but in a good way, I think...

[bnnrcn]

Hi Chiristina,I'm late again I would just like to tell you that your 3rd image in the 7th post is very very nice..I wouldn't worry about the silky water matter if I were you,because I'm sure you will shoot so many photographs with silky water in differernt places anyway,so don't get stuck with the boat:-)

[Brownbear]

Thank you to all.

Grahame... I will give it my best shot, or two. The weather has changed and it is rainy and overcast but the first opportunity on a dry sunny morning I will give it a try. Note: Try does not mean a great image but perhaps I will get lucky.

Otavio... Thank you for sharing. I think my lens a Nikor 18-200 mm lens, while not a prime lens is than a kit lens. I am just learning landscapes and it could also be that my focus points are not always chosen, and/or my sharpening. I have read the differing opinions on the effects of diffraction and choices of apertures so I'm just going to have to experiment and see what happens. Your thread is very informative. Thank you for sharing.

PhotoNut... thank you for sharing your edit.... I still prefer the big sky but as I learn I may come to change my mind.. I see the large spot from my poor cloning of the sign.

Shane and Binnur.. thank you for your feedback and sharing your thoughts... I could've used a ND filter for that shot as I struggled with the exposure... one day!

Thank you to all.

[bnnrcn]

Although I'm very new in photography I have got a 10 stop ND filter and I have tried it only once and I love it:-) You shoul get one if you don't have yet.This is my first trial shot with a ND:-)

Thank you to all.

Grahame... I will give it my best shot, or two. The weather has changed and it is rainy and overcast but the first opportunity on a dry sunny morning I will give it a try. Note: Try does not mean a great image but perhaps I will get lucky.

Otavio... Thank you for sharing. I think my lens a Nikor 18-200 mm lens, while not a prime lens is than a kit lens. I am just learning landscapes and it could also be that my focus points are not always chosen, and/or my sharpening. I have read the differing opinions on the effects of diffraction and choices of apertures so I'm just going to have to experiment and see what happens. Your thread is very informative. Thank you for sharing.

PhotoNut... thank you for sharing your edit.... I still prefer the big sky but as I learn I may come to change my mind.. I see the large spot from my poor cloning of the sign.

Shane and Binnur.. thank you for your feedback and sharing your thoughts... I could've used a ND filter for that shot as I struggled with the exposure... one day!

Thank you to all.

[Brownbear]

Thank you for sharing Binnur... Yes, I hope to purchase one this spring.

By the way, I think that is a beautiful scene. Gorgeous colours.

[bnnrcn]

Thank you for your encouraging comment Chiristina:-)

Thank you for sharing Binnur... Yes, I hope to purchase one this spring.

By the way, I think that is a beautiful scene. Gorgeous colours.

[Otavio]

Thank you to all.

Grahame... I will give it my best shot, or two. The weather has changed and it is rainy and overcast but the first opportunity on a dry sunny morning I will give it a try. Note: Try does not mean a great image but perhaps I will get lucky.

Otavio... Thank you for sharing. I think my lens a Nikor 18-200 mm lens, while not a prime lens is than a kit lens. I am just learning landscapes and it could also be that my focus points are not always chosen, and/or my sharpening. I have read the differing opinions on the effects of diffraction and choices of apertures so I'm just going to have to experiment and see what happens. Your thread is very informative. Thank you for sharing.

PhotoNut... thank you for sharing your edit.... I still prefer the big sky but as I learn I may come to change my mind.. I see the large spot from my poor cloning of the sign.

Shane and Binnur.. thank you for your feedback and sharing your thoughts... I could've used a ND filter for that shot as I struggled with the exposure... one day!

Thank you to all.

Christina,

Just adding that, although I was suspecting of diffraction at the time I was working on that thread I provided you the link, I have learned, later, that the differences in the images, regarding sharpness on F22 vs F9, might be due not necessarily to diffraction (which many people consider an existing factor, but practically not noticed, unless when viewing image at 100%). It is rather the construction/design of the zoom lens, that provide you the best, in terms of sharpness, in the "middle area" of its range. The widest and closest apertures will tend to give you soft images.

Rgds,

[Brownbear]

I had a hard time finding this thread, and no doubt because it is all over the place... My apologies for that.

I really liked Photo Nut's idea of using pillows to minimize the vibration and shaking of the boat while using a tripod combined with long exposures for the silky water effect and sharp mountains... But I didn't fancy carrying pillows around on public transport and carrying them around the city... So I purchased 3 large thick soft car wash sponges, and 3 smaller harder sponges (sturdy base) which I put together to form a spongy base for each leg of my tripod... Then I placed one thermal padded socks, on each leg, securing the bases with elastics. Albeit my tripod looked funny but better than carrying pillows.

This one is for Donald...



Seriously, the above shot is for Grahame... a merge of two exposures, a first for me.

In summary, the tripod set up helped but it didn't allow me to use a slow enough shutter speed to make silky water, so I've given up on that idea for images taken from a ferry. It was fun while it lasted.

But if anyone wants to build my tripod bases and make them rock solid, and better looking, I would like some.