Beginner landscape

pep316

pep316

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Hi guys... I am a new student to photography, my first landscape assignment I have chosen this beautiful rock towering over the sea, I have ordered an nd filter, but its not going to arrive in time, should I just go for it with out the filter? How much of a difference would the filter make on a slow shutter seascape kind pic? Uwwww I am so excited about learning some more on this subject :))
 
If you're looking for a long exposure you might be able to do it without the ND filter, go at a time with low light (dawn or dusk), set a small aperture (F16 should do it, f22 if you really must), ISO as low as you can get (depending on what body you're using it might be called L or expansion or something, you can usually get down as low as ISO 50). You might be able to get the shutter speed low enough to give you the effect of an ND filter without it.

Don't forget, tripod, cable release, mirror lockup, to ensure you remove all shake. Also post it up here when you've done so we can have a look
 
Awesomeeee!!! Shall try all of the above... Thanking u muchly... I don't know how to post pics up and this may be a good thing if it turns out not so good haha!!.. may also chicken out in case I get a nasty feedback from anyone lol ...gotta start learning somewhere i suppose tho haven't I ;) lol
Grateful for the advice :)
 
Mark advice is spot on :)
Here's one of mine taken using this technique - a 5 second exposure taken without any filters at ISO 100, f20.
The sea here is how I like my long exposures, lots of texture and doesn't look like fog; getting the right shutter speed takes experimentation as every shot is different.
Shooting after the sunset has the advantage that you get wonderful twilight colours.
20101010-184919-IMG6901-M.jpg
 
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I love this shot!! Beautiful!! One day I will be this good ... I canny wait to get practising!!!

How do I post a photo like u have done in case the picture I take turns out to be ok? ...& in case I get brave haha!!
 
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Hmm - that's not an easy question to answer as it depends on you.
I know some people who are very happy with just JPEGs.

If you are thinking that RAW is the way to go long term, and you have the space, then you could take both. :)
JPEGs for now, and still have the RAWs for when you get your head around using them effectively.
Otherwise take JPEGs and move up to RAW once you are feeling more comfortable with RAW.
Both are good :)

Edited to respond to Nick:
I used my X10 for four months JPEG only because the RAW converter was not available.
I don't feel I lost anything because I only shot JPEG; the results were superb!
However - given the choice I will always shoot RAW.
 
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Mystery57 said:
Am I right in thinking that a JPEG is essentially the camera converted / adjusted raw image to a level it deems correct, whereas RAW you do the adjustments in software yourself the camera has just recorded the data ?
Click to expand...

Yes - spot on.
But there is always the odd exception, such as my old LX3 which edited the RAW data in camera to hide lens defects.

But assuming you have correctly exposed the image at the time of taking, then there is not a lot between a RAW and JPEG. As a rough guide, RAW allows exposure mistakes to be corrected (within reason) and white balance to be changed.
 
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markmullen said:
If you're looking for a long exposure you might be able to do it without the ND filter, go at a time with low light (dawn or dusk), set a small aperture (F16 should do it, f22 if you really must), ISO as low as you can get (depending on what body you're using it might be called L or expansion or something, you can usually get down as low as ISO 50). You might be able to get the shutter speed low enough to give you the effect of an ND filter without it.

Don't forget, tripod, cable release, mirror lockup, to ensure you remove all shake. Also post it up here when you've done so we can have a look
Click to expand...
perfect idea of capturing at the time of sunrise and sunset, it enhances the beauty of landscape and the sun gives amazing effets on clouds at this time.:)
 
Oh Lordy, so here's my first attempt....

I have lots of "should of's"...
Should of used sunset, instead of first light
Should of used nd filter
Should of stayed longer and kept trying as this original was over exposed , coulda been better, looks more pleasing with this old style effect on it , tones the over exposed bits down

For a first attempt tho I am pleased and can only get better right? , lol, shall try send it now, do u see it or did I link it wrong? Haha...



1. pulpit rock by Pep316, on Flickr
 
pep316 said:
Oh Lordy, so here's my first attempt....

I have lots of "should of's"...
Should of used sunset, instead of first light
Should of used nd filter
Should of stayed longer and kept trying as this original was over exposed , coulda been better, looks more pleasing with this old style effect on it , tones the over exposed bits down

For a first attempt tho I am pleased and can only get better right? , lol, shall try send it now, do u see it or did I link it wrong? Haha...



1. pulpit rock by Pep316, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Nice attempt I'm a newbie too so I could be slightly wrong in what im saying

I read that when going sunset/rise photos the trick is to set your camera to underexpose so that the colours will stand out also use a low ISO like 100 and play about with your f/stop value and vary your shutter speeds if using manual mode then you get to see the different results and you learn more about your camera

Well I am anyways I've tried the above method with mixed results but im learning to so will get there
 
Great start, well done.

A couple of observations if I might?

The main thing is the horizon isn't straight, which for me is disconcerting on a seascape. Also the rock has a halo to it, not sure why, did you brighten it in post processing?

The old style / instagram style processing isn't my cup of tea but that is a personal choice.

Well done on a great composition, and for me the perfect shutter speed to keep some detail in the water.
 
pep316 said:
Oh Lordy, so here's my first attempt....

I have lots of "should of's"...
Should of used sunset, instead of first light
Should of used nd filter
Should of stayed longer and kept trying as this original was over exposed , coulda been better, looks more pleasing with this old style effect on it , tones the over exposed bits down

For a first attempt tho I am pleased and can only get better right? , lol, shall try send it now, do u see it or did I link it wrong? Haha...
Click to expand...

LOL :D
I see it.

It's certainly got a 'look' to it that is going to polarise a few people.
At this point it's a good time to remind you who the images is being taken for. If you are happy then that's all that matters.

You have done a lot right - and yes, you should have stuck at it :D:D:D
The texture in the water looks great and if you had exposed this better then you would be able to extract a bit more detail out of the bright bit near the rocks. But that's getting picky as IMHO the shutter speed looks perfect.

Here's the 'should of's :)
You only used f11 and it was still too light for that aperture.
When it is dark the screen brightness can be really deceiving (though admittedly it tends to make me under expose, not over expose), if you had checked the histogram then your exposure mistake would have been obvious.
Checking composition in the dark is a real challenge, I use a hot shoe bubble when I want the horizon level.
The loss of contrast on pulpit rock is caused by water on your lens - need to keep the glass clean.

I think you needed to be about 15-30mins later and the light level would have been perfect.
Get back there ASAP and give it another go :D
 
I think you've done well there, you know its not perfect but you also know where you went wrong. The composition (other than the horizon not being staright) is great and that is something that can be difficault to learn as you need an 'eye' for it.
 
Guys, I thought I would be intimidated by lots of professionals looking at my newbie photo and showing me where I went wrong, but its fantastic, ALL of the views make so much sense and I no will help me to get better....I am really grateful to all for the suggestions and feed back ... Exciting timez for me ahead !! I need to learn some patience and instead of rushing to get the shot, just chill and wait for the right light, with the right settings and right equipment lol! ... Thanking u kindly !! Xx
 
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Oh my, that FREAKIN horizon is gonna bug the hell outta me now... Y did I not see something so BASIC!!...that'll b the patience thing again haha!! Grrrr!!
 
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pep316 said:
Guys, I thought I would be intimidated by lots of professionals looking at my newbie photo and showing me where I went wrong, but its fantastic, ALL of the views make so much sense and I no will help me to get better....I am really grateful to all for the suggestions and feed back ... Exciting timez for me ahead !! I need to learn some patience and instead of rushing to get the shot, just chill and wait for the right light, with the right settings and right equipment lol! ... Thanking u kindly !! Xx
Click to expand...

LOL - it's the start of a lifelong journey.
Your train has now departed :D
 
markmullen said:
I hope you don't mind, I tried straightening the horizon, adding a bit of contrast and burning back in the bits where there was water on the lens, let me know if you'd rather I take it down.
Click to expand...

Edited to add:
Oops :bang:
Wasn't paying attention and assumed the OP had done the edit.
Sorry Mark :coat:


Please imagine the OP did the edit - my comments make WAY more sense.


Nice editing to get rid of the water drops :)
Do you prefer it ? That's the real question.

If it were mine I'd crop off a bit of the sky as it isn't adding much and you want more attention on the gorgeous texture in the water.
Problem is that what's left really draws attention down to the bleached out water near the rocks, that's not so good.
So probably best just the way it is :)

Time to stop faffing around with the post processing (there is only so much you can do).
Use your new knowledge to get back there and have another go!
 
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markmullen said:
I hope you don't mind, I tried straightening the horizon, adding a bit of contrast and burning back in the bits where there was water on the lens, let me know if you'd rather I take it down.
Click to expand...

Cool!! Thanks I can see you have made it better already :) ... Awesome, nope don't mind at all :)
 
That is a nice shot and I really like the old style look, it is something a bit different. The detail in the rocks really stands out and the movement of the waves is spot on, you'll love the nd grad, I have just brought a set to use for landscapes and used them on holiday in the new forest and it was worth the money. I used the square cokin ones and did find when I used two together to slow water in a stream that there is a magenta cast, if you shoot in raw for this it is easy to compensate in photoshop and get natural looking image. Enjoy them and hope you post some pictures with them soon!
 
jessica1 said:
That is a nice shot and I really like the old style look, it is something a bit different. The detail in the rocks really stands out and the movement of the waves is spot on, you'll love the nd grad, I have just brought a set to use for landscapes and used them on holiday in the new forest and it was worth the money. I used the square cokin ones and did find when I used two together to slow water in a stream that there is a magenta cast, if you shoot in raw for this it is easy to compensate in photoshop and get natural looking image. Enjoy them and hope you post some pictures with them soon!
Click to expand...

Thank u :) ...
I have twin toddlers and a 6 yr old so gettin to climb down cliffs and take some pics can't be done as often as I would like, but I defo will soon as i get a chance, I think u all will make me a much better photographer :))
 
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