Dubai Skyline

[dubaiphil]

Back to my roots - a long exposure cityscape.

Here with a 3 Stop soft Grad and 10 Stop ND - 24mm, f22, 30 seconds, ISO100

[Donald]

Back to my roots ....

Well, at least we can see that you haven't lost any skill whilst you've been wandering the streets and markets ... and looking after new babies!!

Super.

[kaneohebud]

Phil:
Really nice work. I have had a Lee 10 stop ND filter on order for some time now. Can't wait to get it and start using it. Great capture!

[Mike Buckley]

I love the composition and that you retained some of the detail in the water. Exceptionally well done!

[Downrigger]

I agree with Mike. But edify me Phil, (or anyone): what did the major amount of neutral density and the very long exposure do here that would have occurred with much less neutral density and a much shorter exposure?

[Donald]

... what did the major amount of neutral density and the very long exposure do here that would have occurred with much less neutral density and a much shorter exposure?

Phil was the person there so is best placed to tell us. But, and on basis that we accept if that level of grad had not been on we would have been looking at a fast shutter speed, ...........

• Look at the clouds. There's a softness to the edges. They moved, albeit only a very little bit, during the 30-second exposure and that softened them up.
• Look at the reflection of the buildings in the water. With a fast shutter speed I don't think we'd have seen that. There would likely have been a ripple in the water. The long exposure has smoothed that out and allowed the reflection to come through. Also, the smooth water ensures the attention is where is needs to be and a rippled surface is not competing for attention.

[dubaiphil]

I agree with Mike. But edify me Phil, (or anyone): what did the major amount of neutral density and the very long exposure do here that would have occurred with much less neutral density and a much shorter exposure?

Well I can demonstrate with these shots straight out of the camera:

Shot 1:

ISO200, f22, 1/60th



Shot 2, with 3 stop soft ND, ISO200, f22, 1/60th



Shot 3, with 3 stop soft ND + 10 stop ND, ISO100, 30secs

[Downrigger]

Phil - thanks so much for the clear demonstration - your teaching shots clearly illustrate the point.

[dubaiphil]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I've been looking for the time to take this shot for a while now, so it's great to finally have it in the bag.