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There are a number of shipwrecks in Homebush Bay, here in Sydney near the olympic village.

A friend from work and I had been interested for some time in taking some photos there - specifically the wreck of the SS Ayrfield.

We finally got organised enough to go and take the images one evening. Most people appear to photograph the wrecks either during the day or at sunrise (where the sun will rise almost directly behind the SS Ayrfield). Since we didn't fancy getting there at some insane time in the morning we decided to give sunset and twilight a try. There is unfortunately a large multistorey apartment block right on the waters edge which blocks the late and setting sun so we knew the ship would be in shadow before and during the actual sunset.

Anyway - feedback and critique most welcome...

This first image was taken before sunset (7:20PM) - we had fantastic dramatic skies from a storm rolling past and beautiful golden light on the buildings in the distance.

Days Like This:


NIKON D90 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 29 mm, 1/60 sec at f / 11, ISO 200

The next image was actually taken before sunset as well (about 15 minutes before sunset at 7:30PM). This very long exposure was possible because I made use of a 10 stop (1000x reduction in light) neutral density filter which allowed the two minute exposure during daylight.

Lavender Ghost:


NIKON D90 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 31 mm, 123 sec at f / 11, ISO 200

The following two very long exposures were taken well after sunset during and just after twilight (8:16PM and 8:23PM)

Blue Ayrfield:


NIKON D90 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 22 mm, 123 sec at f / 16, ISO 200

Ayrfield Shine:


NIKON D90 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 26 mm, 239 sec at f / 13, ISO 200

Well there you go, you learn something new every day. I had no idea there were such noticeable shipwrecks in Sydney Harbour.

The light in the first image is sublime, but a pity about the background buildings. The clouds do add quite a nice dramatic effect though.

My pick of the four in the third one, but a little bit of selective cloning to remove the crane and the bridge on the periphery of the image would aid the eye to focus on the ship, rather than the background which is where my eyes were drawn to.

Nice work all round.

Killakoala wrote:My pick of the four in the third one, but a little bit of selective cloning to remove the crane and the bridge on the periphery of the image would aid the eye to focus on the ship, rather than the background which is where my eyes were drawn to.

Thanks for the feedback - I tried my hand at a little cloning of the cranes in the third one and updated. I've left it in the others for now

I think it is vastly improved now. I think the crane is just too distracting, at least to my eyes anyway. I am easily distracted.

These are interesting Rodney.
I like the last. nice reflections of the lights

Rodney, these are astounding, especially the 4th. I too had no idea that these things existed. I would like to investigate further. Well done.