[brendancullen]

December 28, 2014 at 11:51 pm

Beautiful shot Rob – I’d be very happy with this in my collection.
POTM contender for sure.

[brendancullen]

October 13, 2014 at 5:06 pm

Thks for your comment Isabella.

here it is in orininal 3:2 format – pine tree cloned out & increased in brightness.

Happily it found its way to the back page of the Examiner paper today.

[brendancullen]

September 1, 2014 at 1:41 pm

Thanks all for kind comments and votes and to Seaview for nomination- always a privilege to win POTM (2nd time)
A tie would have been perfect.
I have this one entered in the Clean Coasts Wildlife section – hope it gets placed .

[brendancullen]

August 23, 2014 at 10:50 am

Hi – Can you delete Jennys kind nomination of Causeway pic – it was on last months POTM

I don’t want it to loose two months in a row!! :lol:

Thks

bren

[brendancullen]

August 8, 2014 at 10:35 pm

BallistiX – This was my first attempt at trying to blend a time lapse sequence. I have used it successfully with Fireworks – but i need to spend a little more time on it with landscapes. It can produce excellent results if the delay between shots – and the wind speed are correct. I was waiting unsuccessfully for the sun to appear so i just rolled off 30 minutes of a time lapse.

More into here.

http://500px.com/blog/1051/tutorial-time-stack

Ras

I came across luminosity Masks around March this year. Basically what they are used for is to create HDR images from multiple exposures – without using HDR software. Its obviously more time consuming – but i can definitely state – it is the correct way….for many reasons.
In most cases i would use 2 exposures – but occasionally 3 if there are extremely bright or dark areas.

Most people would be familiar with gradient masks in Photoshop – but masks can have many areas of varying brights, darks, and all shades in-between to ‘mask’ out or mask in areas of an image…in other words – masks based on the ‘luminosity’ values of an image.
This makes blending multiple exposures much more natural and seamless.

While i do still have and often use 3, 6 and 10 stop NDs – i have sold my grad filters when i discovered this technique. More often than not they never worked on scenes with mountains or uneven horizons. For example, you can then blend the very very bright areas of one image with a darker image below it….seamlessly.

The one stop shop for learning and buying tutorials is http://www.photocascadia.com/
There are others I’m sure – but just look at the photographic evidence from all the togs on here.

I bought the Developing Workflow + Extending Dynamic Range dual set – and can say they are truly superb.

Sean Bagshaw is the instructor and he has his own YouTube channel for many other free tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/mo4nta1n

I also got the “Complete guide to Luminosity Masks and Tony Kuyper Actions”. The actions are pretty cheap – and indispensable – as you get all the masks (and lots lots more) in an instant. They form an important part of the above tutorials – as you don’t have to create all the masks before you start.

This is Tony Kypers site.
http://www.goodlight.us/writing/videos/videos-1.html

Here is Sean introducing the actions & videos.

[youtube:2sbljze1]vud5bUbzrf4[/youtube:2sbljze1]

The complete guide may not be necessary – as it gets unnecessarily heavy in parts explaining how to create masks – when you can just use the actions….but he explains it start to finish – in detail.

Hope this is informative.
Bren

[brendancullen]

July 20, 2014 at 12:32 am

Top Notch image Jenny. I’d be very very happy with this one.
Did you clone out the tags – or was he ‘free’ of them?

[brendancullen]

July 10, 2014 at 2:49 pm

Thks everyone for kind comments – needless to say I’m pretty happy with it too.
I happened to know the Dunleer/ Louth Camera club were going out at 3:30-9pm – and i convinced them to stay ’till 9:30 – I should have said 10pm as the light was only getting good when i was packing up.

Colin. There is a boat – more or less everyday from Kilmore Quay – €25 return – and approx 4-5 hrs on the Island.
departs 10-12 – depending on day and numbers that book or turn up. he will often run 2 boats – especially Saturday or Sundays and do many runs in and out. he will bring a gang of 6 €150 out anytime and collect anytime.

Declan Bates is the ferryman – 087 353 9736.

Best to ring or txt and book as this is the ‘premium’ time of the year.

[brendancullen]

June 2, 2014 at 9:40 pm

Thanks for your kind words and opinions.

I was here for a sunrise last Oct – but quickly realised (through lack of proper research) that it really is a summer sunset location only (for back lighting).
I was in Belfast for a family event on Sunday morning – so it was always on my mind to spin out either Sat or Sun night. The forecasts said Saturday would be best of the two. I’m not very happy with the light – but i had this composition in mind as the best one possible at this location – so i’ll try a third time before Mid-August.

Puffins all the way now for 6 weeks. Saltees, Wales & Kerry. Whoop :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[brendancullen]

May 2, 2014 at 8:43 pm

Its a download – and I’m able to log in using my .uk log in.

[brendancullen]

February 23, 2014 at 10:51 pm

Super news Alan – well done.
I see John Coveney won the overall Nature section and a kool €750 voucher.

[brendancullen]

February 19, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Hi Sheena – and welcome to Photography Ireland.

I was also there last evening – about a mile to the left looking across the lake. The light was ok for about 10 seconds – which you seem to have captured.

If you don’t have an ultra-wide angle lens – there is a better point of view a mile to your right – at the S bend – where you could have included the whole lake…but it really is more conducive to a winter sunrise. Doing location research is an important part of landscape photography. You don’t want to be arriving just at sunrise or sunset and trying to find a ‘good spot’ to set up your tripod.

Here is an article which may interest you – and i’d recommend buying this magazine for 12 months.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2010/09/09/10-quick-landscape-photography-tips/

Hope this helps a little.
bren

[brendancullen]

February 17, 2014 at 6:26 pm

I have the better beamer too. The gel prevents ‘white light’ – making it easier to correct the white balance – especially if it morning or evening light. Worth a try as its very cheap.

[brendancullen]

February 17, 2014 at 6:00 pm

Thanks Ras for comments – thankfully i always do take a portrait aspect just in case i get a call from a magazine :lol:

[brendancullen]

February 17, 2014 at 1:52 pm

Fab image Jen – can’t beat a little flash to give a twinkle in the eye.

Maybe try a very very light orange gel next time? (much lighter than this one)

[brendancullen]

December 13, 2013 at 11:29 pm

Hi Niall,

The composition is fine and the still water makes for the perfect reflection.

In my opinion – Glendalough is best shot in and around 2 short time windows – Sunrise in late October or late February – when the sun is coming from behind your view point….and obviously on a calm day.

Here is the next ideal time.

http://www.suncalc.net/#/53.0054,-6.3444,14/2014.02.23/23:18

bren