To the gates

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 29, 2011348 views8 comments

I didn't have to many occasions lately to check the graduated Lee filters acquired... but during this trip I finally got some interesting moments so I got the chance to play more with them. The lake is called Bucura, a place you are allowed to camp in Retezat Mountains from Romania. In front you can see the Judele Peak, but also what is called Bucura's Gate. The place it's a well known a visited and photographed place, so you could think there is nothing more you could try there. Wrong! This time I only wanted to try the Lee Big Stopper filter (ND 10 stops), I placed my tripod about half an hour after the sun set down after the peak in the image, I chose the composition, then I started to expose for 3 minutes (F/11, RAW). I need to set custom white balance for using the Lee Big Stopper because the blues are building up with this filter. Also I need to pay more attention to the exposure, because it's more 10 1/2 stops after I measured it. One thing is nice, the tones are getting saturated very nicely.
Any thoughts are welcome!

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on June 29, 2011 at 6:18 PM

I like the depth to this image and the subtle color in the sky.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 29, 2011 at 9:10 PM

Serban,

I'm not sure if I ever welcomed you to NPN, so WELCOME! We're glad to have you here.

No doubt the very long exposure increased the blues here and I think it's pretty fitting for the scene. This is a very nice "reflectionscape" as I like to call them. I also like how the long exposure softened the clouds too.

The only nit/suggestion I have would be to work on the light balance. What I mean is that to the normal eye, the reflection is always going to be darker. Here, the sky/upper portion of the image is darker and the reflection is slightly lighter. I would perhaps try and bring those closer together. Either darkening the reflection or lightening the top, or some combo. Certainly not a deal breaker for this image though.

Nicely captured and thanks for posting. Hope to see more!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on June 30, 2011 at 2:22 AM

Serban, glad to see you here again. While you don't necessarily need my advice on this one, as we can talk face to face about it

, I'll throw some thoughts in here. You already know I really like the surreal atmosphere created by the raw beauty of the place and by the use of the big stopper (I'm planning on buying one, you know). The composition is simple, classic, yet very effective. At first, I had a few doubts about the rock in the lower right corner, but I like how it's balanced by the presence of the cloud in the upper left corner. Regarding exposure, you should definitely try making the reflection a bit darker than the sky and lightening the top of the peaks. I know you're a fan of exclusively using the graduals and I really respect that, but some small adjustments for a more natural rendition would certainly put this over the top. Can't wait to see more.

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 30, 2011 at 3:34 AM

A very nice image, Serban. I love the dark and mysterious mood this image creates. The rich blue/purples seem to add a lot to the mood as well, as does the soft long-exposure clouds. The purple/green combination is also very nice. I agree with the others re darkening the reflection. A nice comp with the rocks leading into the image.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Serban Simboteleca on June 30, 2011 at 3:43 AM

Thank you for your thoughts. Lon, Dorin, David you are right about the reflection and the exposure balance there. I will try to adjust it how you said and see how it works. I think some subtle changes would work, not much, as the scene is already dark.
Dorin, I can't say I'm am exclusively fan of using graduals

, I would want to use used blending in certain scenarios.
Thanks also for your comments regarding the composition. It's a little bit complex, but for me all the elements fit well, so there is a composition I'm happy about.

Serban

Registered on March 17, 2011, 8 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 30, 2011 at 11:27 AM

That's nice light and the blues seem to work OK here, Serban. The upper left cloud sort of feels like a filter vignette, but I like the way it is echoed in the lower right corner with the rock.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Serban Simboteleca on June 30, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Exactly my point, Tony. Actually is not the ND filter that is vignetting, it's the lens corners vignetting amplified by the long exposure. But that adds more to the images, because with this long exposures you start creating totally "new worlds"

Registered on March 17, 2011, 8 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on June 30, 2011 at 9:32 PM

Lovely purples throughout. I like it.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments