dallasnock_photography
Follow1-4 sec exposure while slowly panning with a video head.
1-4 sec exposure while slowly panning with a video head.
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epicphotosbyjohn
April 18, 2017
This is just an amazing image. I've neve seen anything quite like it.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot at my local beach, it was a bit big for me to go out in the surf so I sat on the rock wall with the camera trying out long exposure on waves. I had been experimenting with handheld 1/4 sec shots for a few weeks. This was probably the first one that worked. Great conditions, strong offshore breeze and a tidy swell.Time
It had been blowing offshore all day, finally got down to the beach late in the afternoon. The light just kept getting better as the afternoon went on.Lighting
With long exposure you would usually want less light than at late afternoon on the beach...I had to stop it down to f32 on the long lens 70-200 to get a 1/4 sec, so it wouldn't over-expose in the bright areas.Equipment
The first camera I owned was a Canon. I think just got stuck in that ecosystem and became so familiar with Canon that I never really thought of using anything else. For this shot I used the Canon 5d Mk4 with a 70-200 f2.8 lens ( my favourite lens ) It can be a little heavy after a while but for the quality it is totally worth lugging it around.Inspiration
Waves... I have surfed since I was a kid, always loved the shots you'd see in surf magazines, they are still very inspiring. Secondly, Art... I have been working as an artist and photographer all of my life and continue to be drawn back to the ocean as a theme. This was one of a big series of long exposure handheld shots of waves and surf. I did take a while to get the hang of panning while the shutter is open, following the wave as it breaks. I've seen the same thing with motor racing, follow pan shots blurring out the background to leave the subject as a still object. Hard to master but after a couple of weeks it becomes easier.....Editing
This shot did not need much post work...it was exposed well and looked like a painting in the camera. I use Lightroom for most of my editing. for this shot a bit of highlight reduction, increase contrast about 10-15% and left the lens vignetting alone - It sort of went with the photo anyway.In my camera bag
I am a big bag camera guy, I love having 2 Bodies and a selection of lenses. Sometimes it looks like I'm moving in with all of my luggage. I do tend to leave the lenses on when I'm near the ocean, lost a couple to stupid decisions and being too close to the action, especially when you have to change a lens in a salty, moist environment.....one camera will have the long lens glued to the camera, and the other body, with a wide.Feedback
If you like the look of long exposures hand held, it pays to practice. For waves, get in to a comfortable position and turn your body to the start of your pre-planned panning move and return to your comfortable original position. This is so you end the pan comfortably. Also, breathe... to take the shake out of your, say 1/4 - 1/2 sec exposure, take a deep breath, turn to the beginning of your shot, slowly release your breath and just as your breath is finished, shoot. It is the only way keep things as steady as possible. The older you are the more important it is.