Audience (Click for larger view)

The remains of an old jetty at Talybont, North Wales. It was a grey overcast day so

tried a couple of long exposures with my new prime lens. Your thoughts and comments

are always appreciated. Thank You.

Alf,  I especially like the smooth, softness of the sea.  Excellent B&W.  The image is expansive, yet simple and minimalist.  Nice.  Larry

I don't know how you "softened" it (the long exposure on a tripod can make it), but it sure adds to its beauty and perfection, Alf!

Best regards

PDE

Hi Alf

I love this serene looking image, it's calming..... Looks to me like the "Audience" are giving you a standing ovation for this one!  Excellent work Alf :)

Very nicely composed & tonally balanced...does a lot with a little.

I love your composition here Alf and you have certainly created a stunning image in not the finest conditions.

Jed

I opened this photo and see the title too so I connect each other and think to this composition.Huge space that blur makes it more evident,nice grey tone and contrast so good with sharp piles.

Hi Alf,

  Breathtaking b/w scene with beautiful composition & processing.  Take care, Patsy

Good composition and nice toning.

Beautiful. I see that you have a Sigma Art lens. 

Hi Alf,

Great minimalistic landscape image! B&W  is well suited in creating simple and powerful compositions. I myself have gradually changed from zoom lenses to primes... With prime lens one must think beforehand about the composition and that often leads to better images.

admittedly I have been a bit lazy recent months on PN. I'm glad to see again your superb landscape photos.

B&W suits very well here - and I like the composibition opposing the rows of poles - it adds esprit to the classical composition.

Like the the contrast between light & dark. Glad to see the new lens did well. All The Best Gary

Soft and sharp, all at the same time with a perceived sense of melancholy.  Earth, Sea and Sky are timeless with the minute efforts of man found wanting.  Superbly captured... Mike 

There was quite a few of these uprights to the right of this shot, trying to keep it simple was quite a challenge, glad it worked! 

Many Thanks for your comments and positive feedback! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

PIERRE 

Yes, right first time Pierre, it was a 10 stop filter and a tripod that done the trick! 

Sincere Thanks

Alf 

JACQUELINE 

I do like your interpretation on the "Standing Ovation" I might just take a bow : - ) 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! 

Alf 

ROB 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.  I suppose when you have little to play with, it kind of forces you to think that bit harder.

Best Regards 

Alf 

JED

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. 

I was hoping the wind would create more cloud movement, but it just wasn't to be.  I was reasonably satisfied with the end results though.

Cheers Jed.

Alf 

RADU

Many Thanks for your thoughtful feedback.  I am glad you were able to connect with the title, sometimes my titles can cause a bit of controversy : - ) 

Best Regards 

Alf 

PATSY 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.much appreciated.

Best Regards

Alf 

FRANZ

Many Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.

Best Regards 

Alf 

TONY 

Many Thanks 

I couldn't resist it. I read the reviews, saved my pennies and bought it.  I have to say my first impressions are all good, it looks and feels very well put together. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

JUHA 

You have raised a very good point. The composition of the photo has to be achieved by moving about, and as you indicated it takes a little more thought.  It also allows a slightly different perspective.  I am liking prime lenses more and more, no moving parts, great sharpness and much lighter.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughtful feedback, much appreciated! 

Alf 

WOLFGANG 

Yes, I too have been AWOL from PN.  I have researched some other sites, but although there are some good ones out there, I can find none better than PN for the open exchange of information, feedback and critiques.

I appreciate your thoughts on the composition of this one, it was difficult to achieve separation but I eventually managed by moving around.

Many Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

GARY 

Many Thanks for your positive feedback, much appreciated. 

My tests are all proving positive for the lens, but still early days  

Best Regards 

Alf 

MIKE 

I love that very moving and poetic description, your feedback really is appreciated.

Thank You! 

Alf 

A very beautiful image.  I enjoy the juxtaposition of the sharp focused items with the blurred out sea.  To me, the rock in the lower right make the image.  Did you get some new toys? A 24mm prime and a 10 stop?  They seem to be fitting you well.  Have not seen you here for a while.  I have been scarce as well, only breezing through, now and again, posting little.  Hope all is well with you.

Best regards...

-Dave

An excellent ' Auditorium' . Soft music to my ears and the audience are giving a standing ovation to the performance...

Your new lens Alf seems to be good. Good choice.

Very well done my friend.

With so many excellent thoughts shared already, I'm arriving late, yet I have a few thoughts to add. This is the kind of image that I could stare at for hours. There is a sublime luminosity that seems to emanate from the water. It is that crucial conjecture within the composition, that the 'audience' is so moved - they dare not utter a sound. They have been captured by the 'Conductor' who has already swept them away......speechless, enamoured by the 'notes' that have gone before - the audience dares not take a breath. No desire exists for the ending that must surely come. It is that moment of sheer perfection that we all long for - to be suspended forever in this quiet solitude - alone - but not lonely - pleasantly satisfied.

B&W works well here.  It's the shapes, tones, and textures that are important.  Your foreground elements nicely break up the otherwise flat & uninteresting mass of the sea.  Great compositional decision there.  I see you've timed the exposure with the use of a cable release.  Would you care to expand on your reasons for doing so?  I would have trusted the camera meter with the exposure and used the shutter delay timer to get things started. (to allow time for any vibration the set up had after pressing the shutter release to dissipate)  But your landscapes trump mine so my senses are poised for a learning lesson.  Always a treat to see your new offerings.  Best, Len.

Good to hear from you! i hope you are keeping well.  Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback.  The prime lens is new, but I have had the filter a couple of years.  I haven't really experimented with the 10 stop until recently, but it's easier to manage with a lens that has no external moving parts.  I haven't been as active for the last few months, there always seems to be so much going on, and of course you can't beat getting out there and actually taking the shots! 

Best Regards 

Alf 

DIMITRIS 

Thank you so much my friend! 

The Eurovision Song Contest all over again : - ) 

The new lens is impressive, and I really like it's simplicity and solid build. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

GAIL 

I really like your analogy and I'm very flattered by your thoughtful feedback. 

These long exposures can be very effective, but finding a good subject can be a challenge. It has to be a combination of a solid unmoving object for sharpness and fluid or moving elements  like water or clouds that will look soft. Once the combination is found, it is then a matter of finding them in a pleasing position in relation to each other and in relation to the proportions of the frame, not to mention the light of course : - ) 

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards 

Alf 

LEN 

Many Thanks for your invaluable feedback and very good question. 

You are quite right the in- camera light meter does an excellent job under normal lighting conditions and even some low lighting conditions, and yes the "mirror up" and timer delay modes whilst the camera is mounted on a tripod would certainly help with any vibration issues. The problem is that the camera light meter is limited to allow a maximum of 30 seconds for low light. (30 seconds is the max on my camera, it does vary from model to model, some are only 15 sec's and I have known camera's with a max exposure / shutter speed of only 6 secs) OKay, so when the conditions are so dark (or a filter is fitted to the lens) that the exposure required is more than 30 seconds then you must select  "M" manual  and "bulb mode" you must also select "M" manual on the body of the lens. Before fitting any filter it is also worth noting that you should compose the image and focus as you won't be able to see anything through the viewfinder if using a 10 stop filter, or if it's night time. At this point you should also make a note of the normal exposure time on the camera  Then fit the filter and cable release to the camera.  The cable release is normally fitted with a slide-lock mechanism which allows you to open the shutter and lock it open for as many seconds as required. There are plenty of exposure calculators available on-line and you can even get them for your smart phone.  These are ok for long exposures during the day when the light can be measured first and then the filter effect calculated but I am unsure of how useful they would be at night. I have limited experience of night photography but the same principles can be applied, however the shutter speed I think becomes more of a trial and error exercise. 

Hope this explains things Len, but if any clarification is required I will do my best to elucidate further. 

Best Regards 

Alf 

You have done a good job with prolonged exposure, achieving an excellent result. As always, the composition is perfect.  

An image of serene beauty!

Kind Regards,

Rosario

Hi Alf, I enjoy the composition and still water as all the others have noted. It's the simplicity and minimalism that I like as well. It says so much with so little. Very well done. I enjoyed the explanation for Len also, very enlightning.

BR,  Holger

Ironically it seems very a complicated process to achieve a simple photo.

Sincere Thanks 

Alf 

ROSARIO 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words, much appreciated! 

The combination of prime lens and long exposure drives me to pay attention to the composition.

Kind Regards 

Alf 

HOLGER 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback. 

The group  of uprights were numerous and it was quite a challenge trying to isolate these few whilst retaining separation, but worth it in the end. I did get one or two others worth shooting but too similar to this one to post.

Best Regards 

Alf 

The selective sharpening of the pebbles in the bottom right caught my attention immediately.  This reminded me of my experiences walking on rocky beaches.  Thereafter, I felt free to allow my gaze to wander and to soak in the calm and peace the rest of the frame offers.

Love your b&w work - no exception in this case.

Best,

michael