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Tag: long exposure

Lake Waktipu – New Zealand

Brendan 1 Comment
Queenstown_New_Zealand_Lake_Waktipu
Lake Wakipu - Queenstown, New Zealand.

The weather over the past few days has been wet and cloudy. So rather that go out to shoot I’ve been playing with Lightroom. I’ve spent some time going back over the past few years to find those shots that are not “keepers”, but very close to see if Lightroom can do some magic to get it over the line.

While in New Zealand last year I took some shots of Lake Waktipu ( Queenstown ). The amount of stars visible is amazing, The above shot would have been perfect with less cloud and maybe an ND Grad over the stars with a slightly longer exposure to bring out the lake and mountains. However Lightroom has done a fairly good job to recover some details.

Taking time to shoot.

Brendan

Recently while away for work I had the pleasure of visiting a few new country’s, and I’d just like to encourage any readers of this Blog to always take the time to incorporate some photography into their trip, not just the tourist shots, but taking time to return to a nice spot or setting aside some time to shoot a particular event or location in detail.

Schedules are always tight when traveling, but I have found some of the better shots I’ve taken while away, like most good shots are the planned ones. Shots where preparation and time has been taken with a clear goal in mind, not just a shot from a moving tour bus.

Take the time, even if your exhausted, looking back you won’t regret it.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Broken :(

Brendan

Sydney Harbour

Recently I flew to Sydney for work and decided to go out and grab some pictures. It was a very warm day and the evening was quite warm resulting in a rather pleasant stroll around the harbour.

I took quite a few long exposure shots, but was very disappointed that critical lights were out on the bridge. (both sides). It seems rather silly that the powers in charge would decide to turn off lights or perform maintenance during a peek tourism time.

Maybe I can send them a few shots and ask for a ticket back in exchange for some promotional pictures. I have loaded quite a few onto flickr, and after printing a few prints, I may add one to the store.

Taking a Risk.

Brendan

Melbourne @ Night, originally uploaded by Brendan Davey.

I think one of the important things that has worked for me in the past in capturing interesting pictures is the location and sometimes risk I’ve had to place my camera in to get them.

For example the above shot was taken while sitting my camera on the curb (in a bicycle Lane) alongside busy traffic in the middle of Melbourne. In the same outing I also lost a lens hood into the river while precariously balancing my Camera on the edge of a bridge to capture a Melbourne Night Scene.

It can probably be said that a good picture involves risk, something new, something different. So why not use the same philosophy when capturing the picture.

Stick your tripod in the water, use the fact that your camera has weatherproof seals. See your camera as a tool, built to do a job. Your camera is most likely depreciating at a huge rate, so you mite as well get some good use out of it.

Sure don’t take unnecessary risks, but don’t be scared to get a scratch on your camera, after all why do you have your camera?

P.S. Don’t worry Paul, I’m taking real good care of your baby 🙂