Exposing for the Mid Tones

 5D Mk IV, EF 16-35 f/4 L IS, 1.6 sec, 19mm at f/13
Lee 6 Stop ND filter
Convict Lake, Eastern Sierra

I am always trying to expose for the mid tones, while holding back the histogram from clipping the highlights. This was a pretty bright scene late morning at Convict lake, also very windy. I used the Lee six stop ND filter here to hold back some of the light and allow for the longer exposure on the waves, giving a little motion effect and allowing for some blur on the wave caps.  I used the mid tones on the mountain to expose the image in live view, then pressed AE lock and refocused on the foreground. At f/13, this gave me enough depth of field to make this image work. 

 

 final histogram

I still needed to pull shadows and highlights in lightroom, but by keeping my histogram in check I was able to pull the needed detail in post and get the most dynamic range out of this scene as I could. Finally I cropped it to a 4:3 aspect ratio, that I like for portrait orientation landscapes.

Ross

Images In Light

Using a ND filter for long exposure

 5D Mk IV, EF24-70 f/2.8 L  II, f11, 53mm, 30 sec

Processed  in Lightroom for monochrome and split toned.

When imaging a scene with lenticular clouds like this one, I like to use a long exposure to exaggerate their circular rotation. Here I used a Lee 6 stop ND filter to extend the exposure time to 30 sec. Instead of the wispy clouds, I got more of the circular motion of the whole storm system.

This was predawn light, so my original exposure would have been a couple of seconds at f/11, not long enough to get the full range of motion. The below image was a similar exposure taken after the sun came up and the exposure time difference with the same setup was 27.5 seconds, for a 2.5 sec exposure.

5D Mk IV, EF24-70 f/2.8 L  II, f11, 70mm, 2.5 sec

Of course its all a matter of personal taste, I happen to like both, I also have a shot at normal exposure speeds without an ND filter and like those as well. This is just one example of the use of an ND filter and why they should be in every landscape photographers bag.

Ross

Images In Light

Nikon D810 and AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Nikon D810 and  AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

170mm, f/5, 1/100 sec, ISO 64

Fall Sierra Nevada Trip

5D Mk IV, EF16-35 f/4 L IS, f/16, 24mm, 1 sec, 6 stop ND filter, ISO 100.

Windy day at Convict Lake 

5D Mk IV, EF16-35 f/4 L IS, 1/40 sec, f/16, 16mm, ISO 100.

Aspen near BishopCreek

Fleet Week San Francisco

Number 5 and 6 - 5D Mk IV, 300 f/2.8 L IS, 1/800, f/5

F-22 Raptor - 5D Mk IV, 300 f/2.8 L IS, 1/800, f/5

Patriots - 5D Mk IV, 300 f/2.8 L IS, 1/800, f/5

Fleet Week in San Francisco, when a million people descend on the water front to see the Navy bring its ships in, in general a big party, the culmination being the Blue Angles. It really is a pretty good air show, with multiple acrobatic teams and flybys, a PR show for the military and other sponsers like United Airlines, they did a low and slow 747-400 flyby over the Bay.

Its been a while since I shot an air show and with a new camera, I was pretty clumsy, when setting up a new custom setting I forgot to set RAW and shot the first third of the show in jpg, I thought wow, that was a big mistake. However the the 5D Mk IV jpg's are quit nice, the F-22 Raptor and Patriot shot above where shot jpg only and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the new camera produces jpg's out of camera. 

                           

Angles Race - 5D Mk IV, 300 f/2.8 L IS, 1/1000, f/5.6

 As usual the Blue Angles put on an incredible show, the sound of their jet engines right over your head is unforgettable. This was my first time shooting the Blue Angles and in the crowd I had to make sure I didn't knock someone out with my big lens as the jets went screaming by and I pivoted to track them.

More Fleet Week images here

More aviation here

Ross

Images In Light

New Gitzo Systematic Tripods

New Systematic tripods from Gitzo.

New design for my favorite light weight tripod, the Mountaineer series 1, 3 section, this is the one I use for backpacking, It is tall enough, light weight and sturdy, I use a medium ball head by Acratech, although the new heads by Gitzo are now Arca Swiss compatible and may be a good solution at last.

The GT1542 offers a good light weight yet sturdy solution for those times you need a little less weight, this system will work for a DSLR or ILC with up to a 70-200 f/2.8 lens. I use it without the center column, by utilizing the ground kit.

I use the Series 3 here for day use and studio with a Kirk BH-1 ball head. The new 3 series now offer the 3/8-16 accessory link system, great for adding a lighting system, video monitor or other accessory. This tripod will hold any lens/camera combination you want.

Mountaineer spec sheet here 

Series 3 here

Buy it here at B and H GT1542

Buy it here at B and H GT3533S

Gitzo site here

Ross

Images In Light