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Just a Stream
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Finally got a chance to put some of my reading into practice, any suggestions?
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Cheers
CormacVery nice Cormac, your reading certainly paid off. The first image would my favourite, I really like your composition on this one. Watch the blown sky in your last shot, very difficult to expose everything properly.
Dave.
Hi Cormac – could i ask what Camera, lenses and filters do you have and where do you live?
I’ll then try to come up with some suggestions.
brenCheers Bren
I’ve a Nikon D5000, Sigma 18-250 f3.5 and a Sigam 10-20 f4 both with PL filters, too poor to get anything like Lee filters or a full frame camera at the moment :(
I’m living in south Dublin so fairley close to the mountains.Cormac
Hi Cormac – All are personal opinions and ‘what works’ for me.
Landscape photography is about Light, Location/subject matter, Composition, Camera technique and Equipment – in that order…and probably could be applied to all types of photography.
The gear you have is fine – and a D5000 and Sigma 10-20 would ensure great landscape pictures – if all the other elements are present.
In general – the light, location and composition is this set of images won’t win you any prizes.
I’d recommend finding a better river scene to begin with – and there are many close to you. Powerscourt Waterfall, Cloughlea river, Avondale in Rathdrum. I’m not familiar with the Dodder or Liffey but if you search flickr or 500px you can see what locations are available and previously shot.
I’d suggest finding a single rock or mini waterfall that would provide ‘foreground interest’ and lead your eye into the image. This could be incorporated into the ‘rule of thirds – where tree trunks/tops would fill the top third of the frame.
A PL filter is a highly desirable filter when water and foliage are present. Rotate it using LIVE VIEW to see the white glare on the water vanish revealing whats under the water.
‘Milky water’ effect is a contentious one – some people don’t like it – some love it. I’m in-between in that my desired shutter speed is 0.8 sec. Shoot in Tv mode – set 0.8 as the speed – and if you achieve an aperture of f/8-16 you are more or less guaranteed a good exposure with just a little motion blur on running water. If you still get f/4, add a ND filter..if f/22 – increase ISO to bring it to circa f/11.
Wear wellington boots and get into the river – framing possible shots low down as you walk among the stones – then set up the tripod. Have the camera no more than 18 inches above the water.
When you are happy with the composition – bracket a sequence +1, 0 and -1, use mirror lock up, the 10 seconds countdown timer, and manual focus a third into the scene…then step back. You should then have the complete dynamic range of the scene to photoshop in or out later.
You should shoot at the golden hour – period. A complete waste of time during the daytime….in my opinion. Daylight hours are for doing location hunting.
these are examples by Gary McParland which illustrate much of the above.
http://500px.com/photo/13510451
http://500px.com/photo/8299844Hope this helps,
bren
Fair play Brendan really informative reply, some good tips there for all.
Cheers Bren
Thanks you very much, all I need now is a day off to try put it all into practice and then see what you all think :)
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