Manly dawn

[Victor03]

Last week from the Shelley Beach park, north side

F16 at iso 100 and 1/2 sec shutter speed. Polariser used. Minimal PS applied. Sunrise at 6.57am.



Makes you feel quite virtuous being up at that hour!

[zafra52]

Nice colours and framing. This is a case where
a bit more light in the foreground would have
been a definite advantage.

[Victor03]

Thanks Zafra.

In response I made a better version using a layer mask and winding up the brightness level of the foreground (and masking out this effect on the ocean and sky) but I am always reluctant to push the camera setting too far.

But in your experience, what is the best method of getting the best result in-camera? Exposure bracketing? graduated ND filter?

I am waiting on delivery of a 3-stop ND filter to try out that option but it is taking a long time to get here!

Appreciate you taking the time to offer your comment.

[Remorhaz]

But in your experience, what is the best method of getting the best result in-camera? Exposure bracketing? graduated ND filter?

Victor - I prefer using ND Grads and if you're talking in camera you don't have many other options (other than perhaps the build in HDR modes on some cameras - but you get a JPEG output and not RAW) - however it does require having a relatively straight horizon (which you definitely don't have in this image). Other options include shooting before the sun actually comes up (or after it goes down) - I actually prefer twilight to after sunrise (or before sunset) most of the time - I still use grads with many twilight shots tho. Also not including the sun actually in the frame helps (try it off to the side out of the frame). Exposure bracketing won't give you a final result in camera but you do have the option of blending the images in post (either manually using layers and masks - which I personally almost never do; or via automated tools like HDR, tonemapping, exposure fusion, etc - personally for landscapes I don't do this very much myself both because of the PP effort required to do a decent job and because it's very hard to end up with a realistic result - skies are notoriously bad)

I am waiting on delivery of a 3-stop ND filter to try out that option but it is taking a long time to get here!

Do you mean Grad ND or straight ND?

[Victor03]

Rodney,

Thanks for your input. Just to be clear, I am not trying to completely avoid post production adjustment, I just want to get the best shot I can in the camera. I know high dynamic range is a challenge in this regard so I am not surprised you recommend Grad ND filters. I was able to get a good price for a Hoya circular 0.9 ND filter on Amazon, from a US supplier. Hope to see it this week. I Just want to see what it can do before committing to a Grad ND. I note from some professional photographers' websites (US-based) that many have given ND filters away, presumedly because they prefer post production adjustment.

I have found blending bracketed exposures is no easy matter despite tripod-based shots but I will continue to experiment. I am new to PS (in fact using PSE until I have sufficient experience and find that it lacks the tools I then want). I have been able to use layer masks quite successfully to deal with HDR but as you say, the PP effort is considerable.

I note your comments about twilight shooting and not putting the sun in frame. I want to do more twilight stuff because of the quality of the light. Your shots have inspired me and make me appreciate the quality of full-frame shots and for the Nikon D600 in particular. I am struggling a bit with judging the EV in twilight so that I know what shutter speed to start using, particularly when shooting at 100 ISO. Any tips?

Thanks again for your help. I am conscious of making a bit of a profile on this site while I seek help but I don't want to over step the line.

[Matt. K]

Don't disregard a little fill flash or a reflector to throw a little light on the foreground. Works a treat if you get the balance right Minus 1.3 stops usually works well. Also, the shot has some lovely elements but still...it needs a point of interest in the foreground. Anything! Unbrella, pushbike, dog, glassware, machine, flowers....just something to lift it above the usual sunrise/sunset seascape.

[Victor03]

Matt,

Thanks for your suggestion too. I will certainly give the flash a go with exposure adjustment as you suggest. I also take your point about creating some interest in the composition.

[Mr Darcy]

I just see a "no Entry" sign. no picture.

[Murray Foote]

I don't think he got very close to the beach. He probably had to turn back.

[Victor03]

Sorry everyone. I changed the image in the gallery and forgot to update the link to this thread.

The new image used a bit of fill light (PP) to improve the foreground light but I will try out Matt's suggestion to use a flash in that situation in future.

[zafra52]

I like it. I like the little flair also.