Boom Beach Pier 01

Having just acquired my 1st DSLR camera I was keen to try out a LE shot.

This is my first attempt. I am also learning Lightroom and have done a little

tweaking in there. This was a 30 sec exposure. I also used a Circular PL

filter combined with an ND4 filter. I really did not appreciate just how hard it

is to get this style of photo right. For this photo i prob spent about 20 mins

or so setting it up on the beach! I am reasonably happy with the outcome

tbh but would welcome any advice/comments. Being brand new to DSLR

photography I am immersed in camera magazines but there is just so much

info out there to soak up!

Hi Mark, this is a really good shot for a first go at long exposure shooting, it is a technique that requires a little practice. You have smoothed the water out nicely and captured movement in the clouds. It becomes less of a challenge as you get to know your equipment a little better and developing a knowledge of which weather conditions suit this style of shot best. Viewing other peoples images is a great way of studying this style of shooting.

Jed

Thanks for your comment Jed. Yeah, all trial and error at the moment ; )

Thanks Ernest : )

With longer exposures my first thought is "what am I trying to achieve"?  If your goal was misty water and fast-moving clouds then this subject may not have been ideal.  Rougher water and faster moving clouds tend to work better.  Also, you ought to try faster times as sometimes 2 seconds, for example, can work.  And don't always default to f/22; images will be slightly sharper at larger apertures (I realize you may lose some depth of field, but in a shot like this it may not matter much).  By the way, there is mechanical vignetting in the upper right which is likely from filter stacking.  This can likely be solved by moving back and using perhaps 19-20mm.  Hope these tips help, Jeff  

Thanks very much for your comment Jeff. All makes sense. Well spotted on the mechanical vignetting...I used to experience that on my iPhone when using an Olloclip and used to sort it by zooming in a bit too, so should have spotted it... thanks again, appreciate your feedback : )

Not bad at all for a start. I think you have read a lot and learnt that way a lot too. Also looking at pictures by others helps a lot. I am a professional, but self taught, so it is possible, but if you are in the developped world, it must be tough out there. Greetings from Patagonia and welcome to the club. Daniel.

Thanks Daniel for the welcome and your comment. Yeah I'm finding looking through other pics on here quite useful, picking up tips and ideas. Im purely a 'hobby' photographer and enjoying the learning curve so far : )

All your technique is sound, the exposure is right. For more definition in the clouds you could make composite of 2 different exposures. The wall across the front is interesting but blocks the viewer from travelling into the scene. Maybe find something else for a foreground of interest.

Thanks Mark for your feedback. It makes sense what you say about the foreground blocking the viewer. The tide was right in at this point so what you don't see is all the remaining pier stumps stretching all the way out to what remains standing of the pier, which of course I know are there but the viewer doesn't...probably why to me it seemed fine, but i take on board what you're saying.

Thanks : )