ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

A few weeks ago I posted a photo from a part of the beach I had not photographed. It was during the afternoon and not the "ideal" time to be on the beach with a camera. Still, I liked the result and decided I would go back at my usual pre-dawn hour and see what I could come up with. Here is a link to the first photo I posted. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-529016-1.html.

I'm posting two photos and they are very different although I like them both. The first is a similar composition to the one linked above. Of course the light, being a sunrise and lots of color, is different. I used a four stop ND filter, 2 stop grad filter and an orange grad filter to come up with this shot. The four stop filter allowed me to extend the exposure time so that the water is smoothed out quite a bit. The 2 stop grad evened out the exposure between the lighter sky and the darker water. The orange grad enhances the colors of the sunrise. Sure, these things can be done in post; but I'm trying to do them in camera and use as little post processing as possible.

The second shot was an experiment. I used a 70-200 zoom to get just the surf where it was breaking. I did not apply filters because it was possible to stop down the lens and get a long enough exposure time to blur the waves and give the impression of movement; but not blend everything together and smooth it all out. I wanted the viewer to be able to see that this is surf. I chose black and white because I believe this photo is all about contrasts and tonalities. The color of the reflected orange in the sky seemed to get in the way. Also I'm a freak for black and white.

Let me know what you think of these. Feel free to comment on how you would have done it differently. Anyone who wishes to post one of their photos or edit mine is free to do so in this thread.

Long Beach Island Sunrise

(Download)

Surf in Black and White

(Download)

wayne barnett Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon

Both great results. Even better when considered that it is done in camera.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Thank you. I do process my images; but the bulk of the "effects" were done in camera. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Erich

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

And motion. I like the close framing, the shutter speed used, the whole idea! Very engaging, Erich. I could see in a grouping of close-up studies of waves and water.

#1 - the horizon line seems to be off by about 1/2 degree, though it could be more a function of the width of the dark and lighter lines being parallel to each other. I would like to see a bit more detail in the rocks; right now they are feeling a bit heavy for the mood of the colors and soft water.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

The motion was what I really wanted to emphasize and I think I got just the right shutter speed. Look at it too long and it is a bit tough on the eyes; but I like it just the same. Thanks for commenting.
Erich

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Both of them are very successful in doing what you wanted, which were good ideas themselves. Besides that, the other worldly look of the jetty shot seems more harmonious than your first attempt, whose competing elements jarred my sense of place. Good stuff!

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Glad you liked them, Bob. Now that school's out, I've been doing a lot of shooting and fussing about what I want to shoot and how I want it to look. Good fun. Visualization, as Mr. Adams would say.
Erich

Dave Chinn

Experimenting is fun, isn't Erich? Especially when you have excellent results. The first one, knowing the filters used makes it that much more appreciative. I absolutely love the first one and the one you provided the link for. Your second image doesn't do anything for me .... until I see the download. Then I have a different opinion. Excellent !!!
Dave

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Erich,

#2 does little for me...
but #1...I am transported. The softly moving, slightly chill moist air of dawn warded off by the blanket drawn about hunched shoulders...the sun’s rays clawing their way to the rim of real day, and the fresh smell of a near high tide...yep, transported to a Sunday dawn on L.B.I. in mid-July of 1959....can’t really be 59 years ago...can it?

I’d say your planning paid-off in Spades!

Dave

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

That second shot really does not look good as a thumbnail. I'm thinking of printing it large. That might be nice. Thanks for taking a look. Always appreciated.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Glad that it brought back memories. I asked my wife what she thought about the second photo. "Ah, well......it is very.....YOU." Translation, she hated it. So it goes. It does appeal to me; but then again, I take long exposure photos of bumper cars. (coming in a future post. Probably tomorrow). lol
erich

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I like your dedicated approach Erich, and I reckon you achieved all your aims. For me, the first one is a bit too ‘muddy’ - the overall thing is a tad too dark perhaps. Second one is very effective but I would like a little more height to it. The black triangular foreground makes it an almost abstract shot, which I like very much - and the movement is just spot-on. As an aside, and it is a personal thing I know, it doesn’t bother me at all how an image is achieved, in camera, pp, composite, oil/watercolour/sketch - what does matter is the result, and you achieve some great stuff your way. I’m sure your enthusiasm and effort will be rubbing-off on the rest of us!

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

The palette in 1 is very compelling. 2 seems to be the Yin without enough Yang.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

I hope you will straighten the horizon.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

You make a really good point here. In an of itself, technique is irrelevant. If I like and image, it makes no difference at all how that image was achieved. I am using different techniques like film, filters, old cameras, long exposures etc. not because they are important; but because they are a means to achieving the image that I visualize when I see a scene or plan a certain shot. Any discussion of gear or technique is merely an explanation of how an effect was achieved and how I arrived at the version I did. I've been reading a lot lately about some of the masters like Stieglitz and Adams. To these people the end result is what really mattered. Adams wrote three books: The Camera, The Negative and The Print that demonstrate this point. The image you end up with is why you pay attention to camera, and negative. We can translate approach into the modern era and see how the camera, the processing, and the software we chose are how we achieve our images. How we get there is not the important aspect of a photo. Getting the results we envision is what is the essential point.

If my enthusiasm is infectious, then this forum is working. Thanks for taking a look at the photos.
Erich