Cool and Warm
When the sun was setting this past weekend (Sept 7, 2019) the moon was about 60% and quite high over the horizon. As the light from the sun was all but gone, the moon shining on the water created this cool/warm juxtaposition in harmony with these old pilings.
The breaking waves in the foreground appear to be trying to blend the warm and cold together. Also, notice the split in the color temperature how the light significantly affected the shadows of the pilings on the right vs. the ones on the left.
These situations remind me of George Eastman's quote:
"Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography."
Out of Acadia
This is a late post but never the less the Out of Acadia conference was spectacular. Over a hundred participants and multiple instructors made the event a great success. Between leading excursions and doing classes there was not much time to do a lot of photography but this was photographed on the last day at Little Hunters Beach. Given the shape of the cove and the direction of the sunrise, one has to wait for the light to hit is peninsula.I used my new Leica 12 - 60 mm with the GH5 that I am loving more and more - particularly with Version 2.1 of the firmware update. Exposure triad: ISO 200, f/7.1, 6 sec at 12mm (24mm equivalent). Benro filter holder with a polarizer and 4 stop ND and a grad.The image below is the same converted to B&W using Capture One 10.
Beaches of Martha's Vineyard
Here are another three images from my Martha's Vineyard workshop last weekend. The image above and the next were captured on the beach at Aquinnah just below Gay Head Cliffs. The last image was captured on the last evening at Menemsha. Menemsha is famous for exceptional sunsets but this was a overcast and stormy evening with no hope of a sunset. Stormy yet so serene. 
ND Filters' Color Cast comparison - Vü 10 stop Sion, Lee 10 stop (Big Stopper) & Formatt Hitech 8 stop
The Lee Big Stopper was introduced in 2010 to compete with the Hitech 10 stop filter that was known to have flare and other issues. Subsequently Hitech reengineered their 10 stop filter and emulated some of Lee’s design features. In particular the the light blocking gasket. Soon Lee introduced the Little Stopper while Hitech developed a wider range of solid ND filters the Pro Stop line from 6 to 10 stops and in multiple sizes. Most recently I was introduced to the Vü system and hence this test as a comparison. I will do a full review of the Vü system in the near future.As I own the Lee Big sStopper and the Hitech 8 stop with the Hitech holder (I do prefer the Hitech to the Lee holder) I was keen to understand the differences in the way high f-stop ND filters impart a color cast when used. Hence this test. Please click on the images to see a larger version.The set up was fairly simple. Using a Sony A7R II and a Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens set at f/2.0 and a base ISO of 50, shutter speed 1/125 sec. The light source was two Elinchrome studio strobes positioned to give a 1/3 stop exposure variation at the edges. The camera was focused on a white foam-core board with a X-Rite Color Checker Passport clamped to the upper right corner. Camera white balance set for flash rather than a custom white balance (5450 Kelvin) and an "as shot" tint of +9. I wanted to allow for any variation in the white of the foam-core board that is typically not 100% white be adjusted in post.The test exposure was made and the white balance adjusted in post using Lightroom - this is the image below. White balance adjustment yielded a temperature of 4750 Kelvin and a tint of -1:
Next the strobes were adjusted to full power providing 8 additional stops of light. The ISO was adjusted to increase sensitivity by two stops while the aperture of the lens was kept at a constant f/2.0 for all the exposures. Each filter was tested for color cast only.
The Lee Big Stopper (10 stop ND)
The Lee Big Stopper (10 stop ND) was mounted and the image as shown below was captured. This is as a screen shot so as to show the RGB histogram. The info panel shows the reading from the center of the captured image. Values are R=219, G=229, B=243
In this next image the Info Panel shows RGB values from the lower third of the image. Values are R=187, G=203, B=222
Next the image was white balanced in Lightroom WB to 8600 Kelvin and tint +43. Compensated for the color of the board and the lights the calculated readings are 7900 Kelvin and a +35 Tint adjustment.
The Lee Big Stopper exhibits a heavy blue cast in both the center and the edges.
Formatt Hitech 8 stop ND filter
As I do not have a 10 stop Formatt Hitech filter, I chose to do the same test with the 8 stop that I own. As with the Lee filter before, here the info panel shows the reading from the center of the captured image. Values are R=234, G=238, B=236
In this next image the Info Panel shows RGB values from the lower third of the image. Values are R=209, G=220, B=212
Next the image was white balanced in Lightroom WB to 5750 Kelvin and tint +52. Compensated for the color of the board and the lights the calculated readings are 5050 Kelvin and a +44 Tint adjustment.
The Formatt HiTech 8 stop exhibits a heavy green cast at the edges but is more neutral in the center.
Vü Sion Q 10 stop Neutral Density Filter
The Vü Sion 10 stop ND filter mounted using The Vü professional filter holder (more abut this in a future post) and the same test was performed. As before the image captured is shown as a screen shot showing the RGB histogram. The info panel shows the reading from the center of the captured image. Values are R=235, G=235, B=239
In this next image the Info Panel shows RGB values from the lower third of the image. Values are R=211, G=214, B=219
Next the image was white balanced in Lightroom WB to 5800 Kelvin and tint +13. Compensated for the color of the board and the lights the calculated readings are 5000 Kelvin and a +5 Tint adjustment.
The Vü Sion 10 stop is very neutral in the center an has a negligible shift at the edges.In conclusion I am very impressed with the Vü Sion 10 stop and is near neutral rendering. My full review of this system is forthcoming.
Cape Cod - after Lexi
After Friday's snow storm, Saturday's skies and a thin layer of high clouds were a good indication for photo opportunities. heading out to the Cape this next image was off Rt. 1 in Foxboro. (please click on the images for a larger rendition)
There are many great opportunities for some exceptional color in Cape Cod. This next image is an outhouse at a farm. A favorite location we always visit during my "Light of Cape Cod" workshops that I will be posting in the next few days.
Low tide coincidental with the sunset in the flats are another set of my favorite locations.
With the way the low cloud bank was forming I did not expect much of a sunset. There were some interesting cloud formations and a lovely warm glow on the horizon.
As photographers we know never to leave after the sun sets - you never know what the skies might do. Staying pays off:
Wild Flowers, Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove - Spring Workshop
April 17 to 22, 2016 - Six Day 5 Night Photo WorkshopGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is a world-renowned preserve of wildflower diversity over 1,660 kinds of flowering plants are found in the park, more than in any other North American national park. In fact, the park is sometimes referred to as the “Wildflower National Park.” From the earliest hepaticas and spring-beauties in the late winter to the last asters in the late fall, blooming flowers can be found year-round in the park. Wildlife is fairly abundant in Cades Cove and we will have opportunities if lucky, to photograph bears. Landscapes, rivers, waterfalls and much more - a photographer's paradise.CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe
The Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe, unlike most moths that are nocturnal or shade loving, is seen on bright sunny days. It is a fantastic hovering species that flies like a hummingbird and hence its name.They feed on nectar using a very long proboscis. Their wings flap at incredible speeds. This image was captured at 1/1600 sec and I was unable to freeze the wings.
A Special Discount for LRTimelapse 3
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NiK - Google release Analog Efex Pro
"Explore the look and feel of classic cameras, films, and lenses" as state by NiKBlurs and Abstracts
Many an image of birds in flight have been photographed while panning and using slow shutter speeds to create blurry images (aka "pleasing blurs"). I decided to try something similar but different. Rather than capturing a whole flock I concentrated on a few. Waited for a decent formation and captured the image. Enhanced in photoshop to augment the high key effect and treated with NiK Color Efex Pro for added impact.Your thoughts and comments are welcome?