This challenge made me realize that for specific types of photography, geographical location can be everything and I'm in the wrong bloody place. The waterfall was "off" again and the bar at the Mill was kinda dead (which is very unusual for a Thurs night)... so I went with doing my slow shutter speed on the water coming over the dam. Aaaaand.... it sucks.
@copperheadglass I do like the motion blur of some car's lights that drove by in the background, but the river/dam don't look like anything special.... I look at slow shutter speed water shots of people like Paul Jones, Brian Baptie, Peter de Graaff (I hope I spelled that right) and Jerry and Gark and Paul (@wardie) and it just makes me really disappointed in what I have.
I agree with Meridith, you have balanced the clarity of the stillness with the motion of the water. I think it is a great shot and fits well with the challenge.
I don't think it sucks - I like the effect of the moving water. It's easy to be jealous of the shots some people here take - but it just so happens that they're lucky enough to live in very photogenic places or places that lend themselves well to a particular subject. Sometimes all you can do is work with what you've got, and I think you did that nicely here!
@scooter I tried different settings, even going up to 30 seconds, but too long and the lights from the windows bled out all over and make the windows look like they were out of focus. 10 seconds seemed like the best balance.
Oh no! This is super cool! In fact, you've combined low light and slow shutter speed all in one. Love the lights of the bar, color of the sky and the motion of the water. Great perspective and composition! And ... people can inspire you, but that doesn't mean you have to be just like them. Seriously - the material you have to work with is just as unique in a different way ... Heck, many of my shots are taken in alleys next to people's compost piles and trash cans ... Some by the water, but what I'd give for an open field! You have a great eye and you are able to frame and compose a shot really well. Go easy ... :)
@beachradish "And ... people can inspire you, but that doesn't mean you have to be just like them." --thank you... I needed to be reminded of that! I DID learn something from this shot....slow shutter speeds don't have to be about motion at all.... look at the lights in the windows of the house across the street.... and the starburst effect of some of the lights....no special filter to get that and it wasn't done in post processing.... so now I'm thinking I'd like to find a good building to take after the sun has set. Oh, and the timestamp on this is off by an hour... it was taken at 9:15pm, not 8:15.
@jillmstruss thank you Jill.... btw... you should head to the Summit or Mt Baldy saturday to take a picture of the moon as it is rising... you could end up with a top20 shot easy
Disagree. I don't think it sucks at all. It's a different kind of water shot. I don't have water really close by either, but there's fountains around town I've practiced with. Waiting to get out of town to find a good stream or something to practice. It'll come eventually.
@webfoot thanks... I'm surprised that its been hot and what fountains we do have and what I call manmade waterfalls, don't have water really running through them. its crazy.
This rocks, Jeff! I really dig the tail lights of the car in the back! Great focus on the building and the water looks fantastic! Awesome! Thanks for the shout out, Jeff! :)
You spelled my name right which for me is a great compliment. I think with these shots it is worth experimenting to find what works for you. There is lots of silky movement and reflection which I like. I play with timings to see what gives the best result, and different focal lengths. My best investment was a ND filter. They are so much cheaper in USA than here. I think you are right to want to be selective in what you shoot. I live in an urban area near coast and country, and in some of my shots there is evidence of heavy industry with smokestacks in distance, but largely I avoid these things. I think it is great that you are getting some cool shots of your localities.
@swilde to be honest, I don't know how hard it is. I just set the camera up on the tripod, selected the timer since I don't have a remote shutter release, and took the pictures. I heard one person fishing nearby saying to someone else "what is that crazy guy doing taking pictures in the dark?" LOL I did take multiple shots with multiple settings. This was the one I liked the best
@peterdegraaff Thank you Peter. I'll just keep checking the subject I wanted and when the water is flowing like it should, I'll do a slow shutter speed shot of it. I'll also be on the lookout for other waterfalls/fountains, etc
Can see why you weren't overjoyed with this Jeff, though it isn't as bad as you probably think. Excatly why when my planned shot is a late in the day shot, I always try and get a backstop shot earlier in the day. I actually quite like it when viewed large.
@melissapike thank you Melissa, I appreciate that
@scooter I tried different settings, even going up to 30 seconds, but too long and the lights from the windows bled out all over and make the windows look like they were out of focus. 10 seconds seemed like the best balance.
@northy thank you... I DO like those flares (and you're right... they ARE yummy)
@cmc1200 thanks Caryn!
@swilde to be honest, I don't know how hard it is. I just set the camera up on the tripod, selected the timer since I don't have a remote shutter release, and took the pictures. I heard one person fishing nearby saying to someone else "what is that crazy guy doing taking pictures in the dark?" LOL I did take multiple shots with multiple settings. This was the one I liked the best
@rah2012 thanks Lara!
@peterdegraaff Thank you Peter. I'll just keep checking the subject I wanted and when the water is flowing like it should, I'll do a slow shutter speed shot of it. I'll also be on the lookout for other waterfalls/fountains, etc