the beach Painted Water Sunrise

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated!

Beautiful composition and colors. Beautiful!

Tyler,

 

I love this shot as well as a lot of your stuff. You had suggested to me to pick up some filters. You mentioned ND, I was wondering if you used any filters in here? This doesn't look like ND but maybe you used some color??? I ask because I trying to learn. I just bought a ND2 and a circular PL. Regards, Bob

nice job

Thanks for the comments...glad some people like this shot. To be honest, I was kind of on the fence about even posting it.

 

Bob--This most definitely has ND filters. As a matter of fact, I think it has 3 stops worth of ND grads! I still shoot every composition without any filters but the more I shoot the more I find Vincent Tylor is right (as always), EVERY sunrise or sunset shot is better without an ND grad filter. If you want, I can try to posted the unfiltered shot I took of this composition so you can see the difference. I used the filter well here so you can't see any lines but if you think about how many stops are separating the sky and beach, given the fact that I have a well exposed sky and the sand has at least some detail, you can figure out that I had to use some sort of filter or blending. Let me know if you have more questions or if there is anything I can do to help you!

I tell you...I just can't recognize good shots. I got some of my lowest ratings in months of my last few posts which I thought were great and then I post this, which I thought was a weak, borderline even postable shot and my ratings are way up...I just stink at recognizing what people will like. While that is bad, it probably means that my best shots are tucked away on DVDs waiting to be posted. :)

It might be helpful to see what the unfiltered version looks like, if it's not too much trouble. Also, I don't know what the virtues of ND v. PL, they both kind of lead to the same place, balancing out the exposure. Right?

Bob--Neutral density filters and polarizers are unrelated. Polarizers act to "polarize" light, meaning they filter some out to make things more clear. They will remove some "haze" that you see in shots--they make the sky a deeper blue, clouds more distinct, and remove glares. Neutral density graduated filters are "neutral" meaning they do not change anything in the picture. All they do is hold back light in certain parts of the shot. So, let's say the sky is 2 stops brighter than the foreground in a shot. You will put on a ND grad filter which is completely clear at the bottom (so all the light gets through coming from the foreground), in the middle of the filter it is "graduated" meaning it gradually increases density. Then, finally, at the top of the filter, it is "denser" allowing less light through. So, if you shoot the shot with a 2 stop ND grad filter, you have subtracted 2 stops from the sky while not taking anything away from the foreground. Therefore, the exposure is equal and you get a good shot. If you have no filter, if you expose the sky correctly the foreground is too dark and if you expose the foreground correctly the sky will be burnt out from too much exposure. Do you follow me there? If you google "neutral density graduated filters" you can probably find some more in depth explanation and also some example pictures. Let me know where you are in understanding things.

Bob--Also, it is worth noting that polarizers have no effect when they are pointed directly at the sun. So, for sunrise and sunset they do not help you. They also take away 2 stops worth of light. Sometimes I'll put them on for sunrise and sunset and use it to my advantage because they allow me to prolong my exposure, which can be useful to blur certain objects to smooth out the water in a shot, which would be choppy if I used a faster shutter speed.

Ok, I understand a little more about the ND filters. Unfortunately, I didn't get a garduated one, mine is all tinted. So, I guess it would be more for slowing down the shutter for other effects. Maybe not much help in balancing out the exposure top to bottom? Anyways, I'm sorry I hijacked your posting, you've really been helpful and this is a beautiful shot. Maybe I'm picking on you so I can just squeeze out some tips and help me to produce this way. I really appreciate all your help. Bob

Bob--I'm flattered that you think my shots are good enough that you would like to get advice from me. You are not bothering me at all--I'm always glad to help. Vincent Tylor and David Clapp (among others) did the same thing for me (and continue to do so, since I'm no where near there class still!) and I'm excited to be able to pass along what I've learned. Do you have a link to the filter you got? If you do, send it to me so I can look and see what you have and then I can better advise you on how to best use it. Please feel free to ask whatever else you may want to know--I'm happy to help!

WOW, cool work Tyler.

Hey, Doc Tyler, how are you? Great sunrise! This one has a ton of color, and you and that tree. It has become one of your favorite subjects of late. You nailed it here. I read, with interest, some of the commentary on the ND grads, you pretty much do need them in situations like this. I find, living on the 'left' coast that they are pretty easy to use with flat/level horizons, it is when you get topography (i.e., hills, mountains, trees, etc,) that it gets a lot more dicey. I have both screw-on and a 'Cokin' type (actually Hi-Tech) filter system that I use, and I'm finally starting to get comfortable and confident with it. Anyhow, fine work here, and with all of your recent stuff; as I've said before, I have noticed a definite improvement, my friend. Have a great summer! I'm heading up to Glacier National Park in a couple of days... Yee haw! Cheers! Chris

Wow the colors the colors the colors. Can not say it enough. Great job. Darren