Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: robdickinson on April 06, 2015, 05:58:30 am

Title: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 06, 2015, 05:58:30 am
Between night and day. Pre dawn light at Nugget point Lighthouse this morning.

3rd attempt to shoot the location over Easter delivered a great range of moods.

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8779/16864806240_3d524bdc6a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rGhxko)New Day at Nugget Point (https://flic.kr/p/rGhxko) by robjdickinson (https://www.flickr.com/people/45056616@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: petermfiore on April 06, 2015, 06:57:56 am
Beautiful light...Love the sky.

Peter
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: luxborealis on April 06, 2015, 09:51:06 am
Beautiful, Rob. Great timing with stars, colour on the horizon and, what appears to be moon shadow to the right of the peninsula.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: NancyP on April 06, 2015, 10:46:52 am
Wow. Just, Wow.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 06, 2015, 11:24:55 am
Where is that daylight-like light on the lighthouse and the hill underneath coming from? As if the sun is rising from two opposite directions?
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 06, 2015, 12:41:45 pm
Presumably...

Yes.

However, the balance (moonlight/sunlight) is highly unbelievable. One can not have a sunrise, even a pre-sunrise dawn, and such a bright moonlight at the same time.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 06, 2015, 02:52:28 pm
Yes.

However, the balance (moonlight/sunlight) is highly unbelievable. One can not have a sunrise, even a pre-sunrise dawn, and such a bright moonlight at the same time.

Not my fault you find it hard to believe!

The sun was far from the horizon at this point, the full moon and the sun very balanced in light levels.

Here is the raw next to the finished photoshop document. No blending, no exposure changes, I did bring the colour out a little. Techncial info this is a 25second exposure at f4 and ISO1000.

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/robdickinson/Capture_zpslwqn1r4m.jpg)
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 06, 2015, 03:13:44 pm
Not my fault you find it hard to believe! ...

Indeed... I stand corrected then.

I would still say that a slightly less overall exposure in post would result in a more believable image, without changing the overall balance between the foreground and background. It is well known that, given long enough exposure, any moonlit scene will appear as shot in a broad daylight. And it does have a certain attraction as a novelty to show it that way.

In any case, it is certainly your prerogative to process it to your liking and I applaud you for capturing such a balanced moment.

Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: maddogmurph on April 06, 2015, 04:26:40 pm
I hate to say it, but the moon shadow was an unfortunate distraction for me.  Otherwise I like everything about it.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 06, 2015, 04:51:38 pm
Perhaps a better version would be to crop that out
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: petermfiore on April 07, 2015, 04:54:52 am
Believabilit does not nessacerlly need to be the goal...

Peter
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: maddogmurph on April 07, 2015, 03:34:34 pm
Perhaps a better version would be to crop that out
The problem with the crop is that the bottom right, with the waves is very beautiful and interesting.  I think you could potentially just select the moon shadow, and bring light into that section of the photograph a bit to make the shadow a little less distracting.  Or of course alternatively, bring the lighting down in everything but the moon shadow.  Wouldn't take too long to look at a version of this to see if it's plausible.  I mean it's fine as it is, again this is just my opinion and initial first impression.  I already want to visit the location and probably will.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: luxborealis on April 07, 2015, 10:58:15 pm
Perhaps a better version would be to crop that out

Those of you who know me on this forum would recognize that I have no problem suggesting cropping, but in this case...Nooooooooooooo! Leave it as is.

I find the visual conundrum of having moonshine/shadow combined with sun on the horizon wonderfully beguiling. A photograph doesn't always need to be perfectly understandable or believable right off the bat. When I first saw this, I had to think a moment about how it's possible to have a sunlit horizon and a shadow in the foreground. If this makes you feel off-balance or uneasy - great! Bring it on!
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 08, 2015, 12:30:05 am
Thanks Terry!

Its a very well shot spot so finding something different is always a challenge!
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: sdwilsonsct on April 08, 2015, 08:57:27 am
Those of you who know me on this forum would recognize that I have no problem suggesting cropping, but in this case...Nooooooooooooo! Leave it as is.

I find the visual conundrum of having moonshine/shadow combined with sun on the horizon wonderfully beguiling. A photograph doesn't always need to be perfectly understandable or believable right off the bat. When I first saw this, I had to think a moment about how it's possible to have a sunlit horizon and a shadow in the foreground. If this makes you feel off-balance or uneasy - great! Bring it on!

I agree. Life is weird. Keep 'em guessing.
Very nice work, as usual.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: kers on April 08, 2015, 09:08:01 am
Very beautiful image Rob, the colours are amazing...

I would like to crop it (AAAAH!)  so that the point is exactly in the middle of the picture...
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Jeevz on April 08, 2015, 12:32:09 pm
This is pretty cool.  I love nugget point lighthouse; although I haven't been there since I have been seriously into photography.

I really like the balance/contrast/confusion between sun and moonlight.  It does give the scene a surreal feeling, but in an interesting way.
The composition is pretty 'in your face' with the central lines to the lighthouse and I think that the shadow line across this takes away some of the flow of the scene.  But hey, what can you do when the moon is in one place and there aren't many spots you can get an aerial shot from :)

Overall though. I like. A lot.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 08, 2015, 04:55:18 pm
This is pretty cool.  I love nugget point lighthouse; although I haven't been there since I have been seriously into photography.

I really like the balance/contrast/confusion between sun and moonlight.  It does give the scene a surreal feeling, but in an interesting way.
The composition is pretty 'in your face' with the central lines to the lighthouse and I think that the shadow line across this takes away some of the flow of the scene.  But hey, what can you do when the moon is in one place and there aren't many spots you can get an aerial shot from :)

Overall though. I like. A lot.

Thanks! If people dont know the location they dont know the possible options on shooting, to shoot this you need to be way up on a knife edge ridge with near vertical 300m drops either side. I could have gone higher up some but looked like too much foliage in the foreground


The photo title could be used to provide more of a clue that moonlight illuminated the scene.

Heh yeah, I tend to swing between literal and poetic for titles. often the hardest part of the shot...
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Praki on April 11, 2015, 12:03:34 pm
Fascinating image well captured! Moonlight strong enough to cast shadows and dawn on the horizon is a first time for me. Good to know that it is possible. Thanks for sharing the exposure data also.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 11, 2015, 02:08:54 pm
Very beautiful image Rob, the colours are amazing...

I would like to crop it (AAAAH!)  so that the point is exactly in the middle of the picture...

The colours are wonderful. On the other hand, if I were going to fiddle with the framing, I'd crop a bit off the left, to stress the asymmetry. De gustibus...

Jeremy
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 11, 2015, 02:56:13 pm
The colours are wonderful. On the other hand, if I were going to fiddle with the framing, I'd crop a bit off the left, to stress the asymmetry. De gustibus...

Jeremy
I agree. It should either look intentionally centered, or intentionally off-center. As it is, it doesn't quite fit either concept. But it's a fine image.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Chairman Bill on April 11, 2015, 03:22:53 pm
I think you should have defied gravity & gone off to the left, or right, about 25-30 metres. It would have given a more interesting perspective. Or it's fine as it is. I can't decide.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 11, 2015, 05:54:24 pm
I think you should have defied gravity & gone off to the left, or right, about 25-30 metres. It would have given a more interesting perspective. Or it's fine as it is. I can't decide.


Haha I wouldnt have had time for this exposure 20 meters either side.. or 2 meters..
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 11, 2015, 07:34:02 pm

Haha I wouldnt have had time for this exposure 20 meters either side.. or 2 meters..
I guess that's where these new-fangled drones are handy.
Title: Re: The moment between
Post by: robdickinson on April 11, 2015, 07:51:12 pm
I guess that's where these new-fangled drones are handy.


I thought about them. Are they any good for 20 second exposures..? :D