October's challenge opens the door to experimentation and creativity. I am hoping that members seize the opportunity to stray outside their comfort zones and experiment with longer exposure shots.
For me long exposure images are synonymous with movement, whether that be to capture the flow of a waterfall, the movement of grasses in the breeze or even the more abstract hand-held images capturing the flow of humanity or animals.
These shots can be taken either on tripod OR hand-held, along with length of exposure that is totally up to the individual.
Some possible ideas;
- dusk/evening shots (star trails?)
- tripod shots capturing both static objects and movement (water/people/clouds etc)
- abstract images created by camera movement
- panning moving subjects (cars etc)
NOTE: we are NOT looking for works of art here. The goal is to push our creative side and show results (even failures....) that we can share with the group. Understanding and discussing challenges will help develop skillsets, and ideally inspire others.
So whether at home or beyond, using mobile phone, full-frame, or ANY KIND OF CAMERA YOU'D LIKE get out there, have some fun and let your creative spirit run free.
What??? Are you serious? You mean that actually have to pull out my tripod and USE it???? lol
Alan will vouch for the fact that my camera is epoxied to my tripod, Charles.
Yeah, I can attest to that. Chris's perception of hand-held is what you do when walking on the beach with the missus.
I really don't want you pulling out anything Charles...... :-) - .but the tripod is certainly an option.
Whew 😬
"...mobile phone or full-frame camera...."
Since a cell phone is a mirrorless it appears the only restriction are that you cannot use APS-C, micro 4/3, film, medium format, bridge, point and shoot, instant, digital cine, GoPro, or 360°cameras.
Sheesh...and Alan thought my suggestion was restrictive!
...and clearly he's banned pinhole cameras, presumably because they're ideal for long-exposure images. Alan's idea of challenge seems to be most people's idea of draconian. Power's gone to his head! No more Mr Nice Guy. This Group could be re-titled Alan's Gulag.
;-)
Geez guys, you can be a rough bunch at times :-)
I have modified the requirements to better suit the blatant pedants out there.
Good news Chris, you are now free to use that tripod-mounted pinhole you've been yearning to pull out.
I'm a closet blatant pedant myself! lol
[This falls under totalfailure.]
Nice blue sky with a few wispy clouds and the afternoon shadow creeping. perfect for a very long exposure.
Within 10 minutes of the pressing the shutter the sun disappeared. 10 minutes after that 18% grey skies (100% cloud cover and no definition)...almost an hour of exposure left.
f/8 ~ ISO-100 ~ 1H,20M ~ 70mm ~ 19 Stop ND
Thanks for posting Dean, it's great to see one so eager to jump into October ;-)
I'm left curious - what were you hoping to achieve with such a long exposure? Did you have a specific goal in mind?
It reminds me of my first night shot as a teen, taken through my bedroom window. I was in awe that the night sky turned blue, looking like a daytime shot punctuated by burnt out spots where lights were on.
At the beginning the light, scene left was intense and 90% of the sky was clear.
I was hoping to retain at least part intense blue in the sky with more shadow gradient on the structure.
Alan, you'll be pleased to hear that I've found that methylene chloride dissolves epoxy (and a few things I didn't want it to) so I managed to free the pinhole camera from what's now left of the tripod, and I went for a one-hour walk with the camera in the countryside, and then, in a flash of creative genius, made a half-hour double exposre on a merry-go-round.
I was inspired by Hiroshi Sugimoto's images of cinema screens, which appear to be a white blank under the proscenium arch, but actually show a whole movie. My favouirite is War & Peace (he must be able to afford a really tiny pimhole).
Since, as Alan points out, hand-holding is a bridge too far, I mounted the camera on my head (the epoxy began hardening again). I call it the SloPro. It certainly took me out of my comfort zone, especially when I had to shampoo in methylene chloride before I could process the image.
Unlike poor struggling Dean, I must say the resulting image is a resounding success. Comments agreeing with me are welcome.
Awesome...I am so envious of you.
At first I thought a possible sky replacement would work but it didn't take long to realize you achieved perfection in-camera.
I can see why everybody wants to emulate you. Ansel Adams would be proud.
Now THAT's what I call constructive criticism! Thanks, Dean. Yes, I thought of the ever-useful sky replacement myself of course, but realised it would be gilding the lily.
Thinking of a segue - walking backwards through the same field, and adding the second exposure from a roller-coaster. When the creative muse strikes, or whatever it is that muses do... Definite theme for an exhibition.
Sorry I misattributed your comment to Alan. Corrected now, Dean. :-)
After a leaf fell from a tree and hit me on the head I started thinking...There has to be a safer way to photograph Fall.
So, I brought Fall safely indoors for a photo shoot.
f/9 ~ 1/6 sec ~ ISO 125 ~ 147mm
PLEASE NOTE: No leaves or individuals were harmed in this photoshoot.
Nice abstract. Dean! How'd you do it?
Great idea, Dean. Going to give it a try. Love to know how you did it.
Dropping leaf...no, not a type of table
These shots on a busy pedestrian walkway, experimenting with the keeping the camera at my waist and using the LCD viewfinder so as not to attract attention.
Exposures were taken in the 0.5 - 0.8 range, panning with the subject where appropriate.
Ok, maybe not that long but much longer than I normally do. 😂
Thanks for posting Julian - what a wonderful shot. I love the way the subject is not totally sharp, further enhancing that feeling of motion.
I find the capture of the girl's gestures in the image captivating - is that really a mobile phone in her hands (and if so, who the heck would use whilst riding on the back of a speeding bike)?
Great image!
I've spent so much of my working life being dogged by editors for things to be SHARP so playing with your assignment was.... let's just say I was out of my comfort zone. 🤣
Seeing riders on their phones is quite common in this part of the world.
Thanks again for pushing us to play more with different concepts.
My camera can shoot at 1/8000th of a second, so I consider anything longer than 1/1000th to be long exposure.
Fun photo you took Julian.
As a motorcycle rider I see so many things wrong in the photograph...(the people, per se).
Dean I think your head wold spin seeing what is "normal" here. This is form of taksi and is extremely popular and, yes, extremely dangerous. I've had one or two fun times on one oner the years.
Thanks for your kind words Dean.
I hear you Julian. I worked in Iran in a past life and it was not uncommon to see an entire family (father, mother + 2 kids) on a bike.
The classic was husband and wife, complete with sheep straddled across the handlebars!