The spring floods have returned to the Montreal/Ottawa area but its not just an excess of rain that is the cause of problems. Many home owners have built or bought in flood zones. A number homes are really cottages that have been upgraded but approving the building of new homes in a 100-year-flood zone clearly now looks like a bad idea. That said, I grabbed my newly purchased ND filter and had a crack at some long exposure images. I'm still looking for that sh*t kicker.
Hi Dave. You have done a good job with the exposures on these - the water is definitely smooth and the tonal range is good. They also each tell a compelling story of the event.
If your primary goal was to set out and document the flood and smooth the water then you have achieved that goal.
Otherwise, my opinion in all cases though is that composition should should be the primary factor in taking an image, followed by decisions on exposure (including LE), lighting etc made that might strengthen the image.
I think your third image offers a lot of potential in the minimalist genre if you could get to a point where you could isolate a group of gravestones from the other distracting elements like trees and background, but of course this would no longer tell the the story if that is what you wish to convey (in that case use both...).
I think your exposures are solid, if you can now use your technique to add interest to a compelling composition you would have a winner.
Thanks for commenting Alan. Your intuition is spot on regarding documenting the flood. I work for a newspaper but I thought I would do something a little different news-wise.
One of the issues regarding composition when shooting an event like this is that sometimes you get to shoot from where you can instead of from where you want.
With the top photo, I might have maybe picked another shooting spot in the water but that required trespassing which can be awkward if the picture in the paper proves that I trespassed.
The water's current in the middle image gave me concern for an exposure that was 1 minute long so I decided to shoot from a dry spot. Also the owner pointed out the tires floating around the cars. Two years earlier, a fellow photographer was walking through some backyards and he fell into a pool.
It's funny you should comment on something closer on the cemetery photo. I actually did a tighter shot which I posted on my Instagram account (davyboyofsilverbay).
Anyway, I hope to get that one shot I think I'm missing on Sunday. Fingers crossed.
Thanks Dave, it's always helpful to understand the context and intent. From a photojournalism perspective these do tell the story well.
I can understand your issue with trespassing - I have a few images I'm reluctant to post for the same reason :-(
I guess laws are laws, no matter if intentions are honorable.......
Good luck with the shooting
Cheers mate