Nikon D7000, Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5, 10mm, f/16, ISO 100, 240 Seconds, B+W ND110
There are some benefits to waking up early on the east coast, catching a sunrise once in a while! There is only one downfall to waking up this early on vacation. When the shoot is over, my wife and 2 kids are well rested and ready to drag me along for the rest of the day!
I took this shot using my B+W ND110. It’s a 10 Stop Neutral Density filter and without it, I’d be lost! It’s the second most important filter I own next to my UV protective filter. It’s my go to filter for landscape photography. Even if I decide to bracket, this filter allows for great long exposure HDR. However, I’m more inclined to utilize this filter for one single long exposure. I prefer to exposure for around 4 minutes. This usually gives me the best LE effect and depending on the light, I’ll adjust my camera settings accordingly. At this time of morning, a few minutes after sunrise 10 stops is plenty. Any later in the day and I would have to add a 6 stop filter stacked on top of my 10 stop. This equals 16 stops of light reduction. The benefit of this is a wider aperture, which really does wonders for long exposures. Shooting at f/16 and below is ideal and if possible I try to achieve an aperture of f/13 or even f/11. Do you use and Neutral Density filter? I’d love to hear about your experiences with it!
Mike Criswell - Sweet colors Scott, nice work
Wayne Woodruff - Thanks for the technical details, I appreciate it! The pipe has some killer textures and the colors are awesome.
I tried a similar shot back in July, but it didn’t work as well and I know why. I stacked a 2 + 4 ND, which vignetted at f22 (well, duh). Had I used a 10 stop, I could have a larger aperture, likely avoided the vignette, and gotten more blur out of the water. Regardless, I cropped the color shot and had it printed on metal, which came out really well. It sits on my desk and is very soothing.
http://2zars.com/photoblog/2012/07/at-dawn/
I plan to return to the scene of the crime and try again.
Scott Frederick - Great shot Wayne. I will get vignettes when stacking filters at wide angles. I try to shoot with my 17-55 a lot during 16 stop shots. Or atleast 18-20mm on my 10-24. The f/22 didn’t cause this.
Kris Koeller - Well-played on the title. Great shot, too!
PAUL ST. LOUIS - Morning Wood is an absolutely beautiful photograph. I spend some time every day studying photographs on the internet and rarely do I find one that compares to Morning Wood. Thanks for your explanation of how you use the ND filters.
ABarlow - Funny name, sweet shot man. I agree, well played
Scott Frederick - Great shot Wayne. I will get vignettes when stacking filters at wide angles. I try to shoot with my 17-55 a lot during 16 stop shots. Or atleast 18-20mm on my 10-24. The f/22 didn’t cause this.
good night – wayne woodruff photography - [...] photographer extraordinaire, Scott Fredrick, uses long exposures to make exquisite images, check out his site. Do it, just not right [...]
Laura Hegfield - gorgeous… I’m visiting from Wayne’s post… I grew up outside of Philly but now live on the edge of the woods and bogs in NH… I am such a hack photographer, but it brings me great joy nonetheless… your work is stunning!
Suzanne Theodora White - Great Shot.