Lake Tahoe Twilight

[dmichaud]

I got my new Singh-Ray filters a few weeks ago before a vacation to Lake Tahoe, so decided to try some long exposures. Here's the shot I got:


Lake Tahoe Twilight by Dave Michaud

I used the circular Variable-ND filter, set at about 8 stops, to smooth out the water and give it that silky look. And I hand-held a 3 stop reverse ND grad to hold back the sky and reveal more of the granite boulders.

Canon 50D, EF-S 17-55 mm @ 17 mm, I ended up with a very small crop due to some vignetting from the Vari-ND (it's a pretty thick filter).
ISO 200, f8, 25 seconds. I wanted to keep the exposure at less than 30 seconds, so changed the ISO from 100 to 200 as it got darker. After the shoot I realized I could have just turned down the Variable-ND from 8 stops to 7 stops (that's what it's for!) and kept ISO 100, but I didn't think of that in the field, first time using this filter.

I would appreciate any feedback on PP. Perhaps it could use a bit of a vignette?

By the way, my tripod and I were in 2 feet of water to get this comp. This is at Sand Harbor on the east shore of Lake Tahoe (Nevada side).

Thanks,
Dave

[Wirefox]

By the way, my tripod and I were in 2 feet of water to get this comp

Dave

I can see some cud chewing with Colin taking place here. Colin likes to get physically intimate with his images

Well you threaten a HDR dosed cityscape and then offer a spliff full of fluffy water. Any way putting my petty prejudices aside. I do like this shot. It is very subtle. The necessity for cropping has put the thirds rule out but to be honest I do not think it matters here. Excellent work

Steve

[carregwen]

By the way, my tripod and I were in 2 feet of water to get this comp.

Well, we only let landscape photographers stay members here if they can produce their school swimming certificate...

Lush shot. I really like the composition and colours. I think perhaps a little off the bottom to put the horizon lower, but not much. It needs those lights on the far shore taking out I think. Or are they 'lost pixels'?

With shots like that, and your swimming certificate you can stay a member...

[arith]

Cor, real photography. I like it.

[ScoutR]

You've got my vote, very nice. Thanks for including your settings, I don't know if the Cokin filters I have orderd are of the same type or quality, but I'd love to be able to do something like this.

Wendy

[arith]

Cokin filters are are a lot cheaper Wendy; but I haven't heard any complaints.

[dmichaud]

Thanks for the feedback folks, much appreciated! I do like this shot.

@Rob, I think you may be right about a small crop on the bottom, I'll give it a try. The lights in the distant hills are from houses on the opposite shore which I think add to the image.

I'm really enjoying these filters so far.

[Shadowman]

It's like a pastel sketch mixed with a charcoal one.

[dmichaud]

For some reason my original flickr reference doesn't work anymore, here's the image again:

Lake Tahoe Twilight by Dave Michaud

[Klickit]

This is simply beautiful, Dave. The softness of the water against the hard forms of the rocks is just magic along with the overall colour tones. I admire people who can use those filters to such beautiful effect, as I have them but haven't yet managed to produce a decent shot with them.
Can I have a slight niggle? The waterline slopes just a little. It's not much, but I'm picky about level horizons and getting it dead level would top it off beautifully.

[dmichaud]

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't quite notice, but I think you're right, it slopes down a bit going right. Funny how you don't notice these things until someone points it out, much appreciated!

Dave