A few seascapes from Wales from yesterday.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 03:41

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 13:49

dbmzk1 said:
Nice but I'd rather see the actual sea over the arty filtered ones there, not to keen on the effect imo.

Cheer bud, I realise you don't like the 'effect' of the slower shutter speed, but also just to clarify, no filters were used and they are all single exposures.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 14:10

Just got time to post couple more before I have to go out to dinner...

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 14:33

^^^
I think you hit the nail on the head. For me, I'v only just starting getting into landscapes and this was only my third attempt. I don't very often look at other peoples landscape work on the web etc. so I haven't got tired of the effect. In fact I'm simply exploring different effects and looks for the time being.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 14:45

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 14:50

Check the exif
Also CPL doesn't work on UWA

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 14:56

No need imo, and besides multiple exposures instead of ND would give better control.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 15:02

ND filters don't work so well if the horizon isn't strait. Hence why D800's DR can be useful, as you can do it all in one exposure.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 19:48

Raymond Lin said:
LOL, did I read that right?! How is that relevant to these photos?

It's relevant to the suggestion of using ND grads. As I plan on upgrading to a D800, investing in very expensive ND grads won't be required.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 20:05

How much is a filter system for the 14-24?

Secondly with the first set, nd filters wouldn'y have changed the sky, it was a very cloudy day with no breaks in the sky.
Any thing in the foreground that is above the horizon would then also be underexposed, and look unnatural.

Lastly regarding the practical use of the D800, what you would do is expose roughly for the sky and use the gradient tool in lightroom or similar to increase exposure under the sky by a couple of stops. This gives the same practical effect as using an ND filter with no 'HDR look', and the D800 isn't going to struggle with a couple of stops exposure boost under the horizon. Sunset light is more balanced, and the DR within the scene wouldn't be an issue.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 20:18

An Exception said:

An Exception said:
Check the exif
Also CPL doesn't work on UWA

CPL's change the sky, not ND's

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 20:21

Raymond Lin said:
No, it's totally irrelevant.

I can substitute the D800 and put any future camera in an answer whenever someone poses a question on any camera capabilities.

We are critics these photos, on how to improve these photos with your gear.

The solution is not spend £2,500 to solve a £50 problem.

Seriously your just looking to nit pick and bicker aren't you?
Am I not allowed to point out the usefulness of being able to capture a scene in a single frame and not have to fiddle with filters etc?

Oh, and more like a £300 problem.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 20:26

Thank you for your comments Raymond.

An Exception · 12 Aug 2012 at 20:31

Raymond, unfortunately I think you missed my actual point, and are jumping all over a casual yet correct comment I made and trying to turn it into something it isn't.

No worries though man!

An Exception · 13 Aug 2012 at 20:46

oldbag said:
For me they would have been more interesting if you had found a subject, jammed a UWA lens to it and produced some distorted angles, but thats just me.

^^^
Me to, that was my intention but I didn't have much time actually by the sea due to standing in water with a metal tripod + lightning.

An Exception · 13 Aug 2012 at 20:59

olv said:
That's not strictly true. They cut out reflections such as those that cone off the sea. You can get some cool see-through water effects with CPLs. They do work on UWAs too so I don't know where you got that impression.

NDs can add interest to bland skies by giving interesting gradients to blues and clouds.

I don't think NDs and CPLs are always about maximising DR and turning skies bluer, they are extra tools you can use to create something a bit different.

For someone new to landscapes you certainy seem to have all the answers

The effects of the CPL will only cover a portion of the frame on an UWA, so it won't give a uniform look, but if you like a non-uniform look, then I guess it works.
ND's as far as I'm aware only block light (and sometimes cause colour casts). The same gradient effects can be accomplished in LR using the gradient tool.

An Exception · 13 Aug 2012 at 21:01

James J said:
Lightning? Was the weather actually that bad? Doesn't reflect it in the shots lol.

Yes but you think the long exposures were taken in the middle of the day.

James J said:
I've already addressed the other point, which you obviously didn't read. Due to that, I'm out of this thread.

An Exception · 13 Aug 2012 at 21:20

@ Oldbag
I have some free time in September, I thought next time I might try some long exposures mixed with some flash.

An Exception · 13 Aug 2012 at 21:29

ElDude said:
These sort of shots are easily criticised, but are actually quite hard to do, especially if you're in water. Slight movement can wreck the whole thing for you. It's annoying on long exposures with wind or water!

I know I'd knock my tripod in the sea with the camera attached, so I won't be doing it any time soon.

Venturing into the Sea was actually fun (gear is fully insured), I ended up almost fully dressed and waist deep by the end.
Trouble I have now is taking my tripod apart to clean out all the sand.