From the vantage point of yesterday's shot: turn 90 degrees to the right and wait about an hour and a half. This is the companion shot to touchdown #1, and I much prefer this one.
Quick update: A couple of people have asked about the (monochromatic) toning on this image but the image wasn't toned. What you see here is a white-balance corrected image. I forget exactly which bit of the image I used as a white/grey point but I didn't do anything else to the colour of this shot. Also, the exposure, despite being five minutes plus, was relatively easy to set; i.e. this would have only been a 20 second exposure at f/4.0. In other words, I just metered at maximum aperture then adjusted the exposure time for f/16. Each stop you close the aperture doubles the exposure time: f/5.6 = 40s, f/8.0 = 80s, and so on.
capture date camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
comment byJames Lomax at 08:04 PM (GMT) on 9 May, 2005
Nice shot David.
I've been to Blackpool a few times for photos, but never at night.
comment by B l o o r c h i at 08:19 PM (GMT) on 9 May, 2005
For 5m 8o of shutter speed is really a sharp one ... and I think it would be better if it was more contradicted ... there is a thin layer of dust over the shut.. but should say that I think it is one of the hardest shots you made .
Wondering if there was something 'unusual' done while postprocessing. Or is it just a bit adjusted? Just asking.. maybe it's not a secret :-) Nice pic, though.
with a five minute shutter, is it just experience that allows you to take a great shot. Or do you have to guess a few settings?
A beautiful shot.
comment byfraxinus at 09:06 PM (GMT) on 9 May, 2005
I also prefer this to Touchdown #1 - this really looks as if it has just landed and the inclusion of the contrasty wet foreground as counterpoint to the smooth and subtle background is absolutely spot-on. I'm also glad that you rendered it in this intriguing mono/duo tone. Definitely one to remember - and well worth waiting 5 minutes for!
I think it's to do with symmetry and balance. I think the pier kind of overwhelms in #1, whereas in this one it acts more as a divider and the beach, sea and other buildings add a lot more interest/detail.
I think the two huts help as well.
The pier's also more obviously off centre in #1 (it may be in this but it isn't so obvious). And the ariel (is it an ariel?) doesn't help.
I've played with pictures of the school darkroom with just redlight, and it's quite difficult to get the exact exposure time right. Excellent work David, this is a beautiful photograph. I really like the shiny to matted contrast and the symmetric feel. Keep the photos coming!
comment by End_User-X at 05:34 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
I love the way the sky looks at 5m. The buildings standing out from it make it look like a painting. And as someone said about the first shot, the starburst effect on the lights are great, even better in this one.
comment by jcyrhs at 05:45 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
I prefer this to touchdown #1 too. Having seen this, I feel alittle cramp when i re-visited its companion. I wonder if you realised this but at f16, your objects at the distant look so sharp they resemble minute toy objects with a spotlight in the background. Really looks like a set to me... =)
The street lamps are alittle distracting to me though... great shot nonetheless.
comment bysandro at 05:48 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
Wow, a dream atmosphere with a central point of view which confers an immobile stability to all the composition
comment by Sharla at 06:25 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
An excellent, excellent shot. There is plenty of room to land in this one and the evenly lit buildings are fortunate. The street lights were very generous with you but your eye to use two others for accents is so intimidating to us miniscule mortals. I'm curious how close you got to the optimal exposure and how much you had to do with C-1? In any case, it worked fine.
comment by SteveO at 08:33 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
This is miles better than the other pic, the composition is much nicer and its a lot sharper too, which always helps. The toning also seems to work really well in this one, it would be interesting to see it when it wasn't colourised though, just to compare.
comment by Anders at 10:35 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
Wonderful shot, light, composition and crispness. But... you do get a little bit tired of all these pier pictures after a while, however nice they may be. Sorry for the negative criticism, looking forward to some new subjects on your wonderful photos.
comment bySmallest Photo at 11:09 AM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
Beautiful use of light.
comment by Abbas at 01:17 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
I've checked Canon 20D specifications ... the minimum shutter speed was 30 seconds and I wonder how you did this ...
comment bydeceptive at 01:24 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
I like the surreal feel adjusting that white balance has produced - the beach almost looks like snow - very nice.
it always baffles me when i see photos like this.. how on earth can you work out how to set up your camera to achieve such a result. i wouldnt even know how to set my d70 to a 5 minute exposure time heh. fantastic work!
comment byVivien at 04:14 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
this one is way better then the one before which shows the same building but more blueish.
this building looks like a bog spider from outerspace. this is cool, a frightening alien spider preparing to attack you.
or better not. who knows ;).
comment by mr.nyo in ohio at 05:50 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
David, love your work, can't remeber if i've told you that before. do you guys get low tides there or what?! do you need to wear waders to take these shots? does your tripod sink? thanks for the pix
comment byfrisky? at 06:34 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
great tones!
comment by juan manuel at 06:43 PM (GMT) on 10 May, 2005
From the vantage point of yesterday's shot: turn 90 degrees to the right and wait about an hour and a half. This is the companion shot to touchdown #1, and I much prefer this one.
Quick update: A couple of people have asked about the (monochromatic) toning on this image but the image wasn't toned. What you see here is a white-balance corrected image. I forget exactly which bit of the image I used as a white/grey point but I didn't do anything else to the colour of this shot. Also, the exposure, despite being five minutes plus, was relatively easy to set; i.e. this would have only been a 20 second exposure at f/4.0. In other words, I just metered at maximum aperture then adjusted the exposure time for f/16. Each stop you close the aperture doubles the exposure time: f/5.6 = 40s, f/8.0 = 80s, and so on.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
11.36pm on 30/4/05
Canon 20D
EF 70-200 f/4L USM
87mm (139mm equiv.)
f/16.0
5m 8s
manual
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
minor
Nice shot David.
I've been to Blackpool a few times for photos, but never at night.
For 5m 8o of shutter speed is really a sharp one ... and I think it would be better if it was more contradicted ... there is a thin layer of dust over the shut.. but should say that I think it is one of the hardest shots you made .
Wondering if there was something 'unusual' done while postprocessing. Or is it just a bit adjusted? Just asking.. maybe it's not a secret :-) Nice pic, though.
with a five minute shutter, is it just experience that allows you to take a great shot. Or do you have to guess a few settings?
A beautiful shot.
I also prefer this to Touchdown #1 - this really looks as if it has just landed and the inclusion of the contrasty wet foreground as counterpoint to the smooth and subtle background is absolutely spot-on. I'm also glad that you rendered it in this intriguing mono/duo tone. Definitely one to remember - and well worth waiting 5 minutes for!
Great compostition...I love the symmetry!
Yes, I think I prefer this one.
I think it's to do with symmetry and balance. I think the pier kind of overwhelms in #1, whereas in this one it acts more as a divider and the beach, sea and other buildings add a lot more interest/detail.
I think the two huts help as well.
The pier's also more obviously off centre in #1 (it may be in this but it isn't so obvious). And the ariel (is it an ariel?) doesn't help.
Or maybe I'm just talking bollocks? Who knows?
Excellent lighting!
A worthy addition to the Portfolio!
Awesome.
Special..
don't know what to say about it, so I'll let it be..
don't like buildings in background
f/16.0! Wow, you're patient.. I take it you didn't bring your wife along? ;)
The monochromatic palette works great.
Lovelly lighting. I especially enjoy the reflections at the bottom of shot.
Sweet shot, really dramatic.
I've played with pictures of the school darkroom with just redlight, and it's quite difficult to get the exact exposure time right. Excellent work David, this is a beautiful photograph. I really like the shiny to matted contrast and the symmetric feel. Keep the photos coming!
reflections really came out dave, looks superb.
I love the way the sky looks at 5m. The buildings standing out from it make it look like a painting. And as someone said about the first shot, the starburst effect on the lights are great, even better in this one.
I prefer this to touchdown #1 too. Having seen this, I feel alittle cramp when i re-visited its companion. I wonder if you realised this but at f16, your objects at the distant look so sharp they resemble minute toy objects with a spotlight in the background. Really looks like a set to me... =)
The street lamps are alittle distracting to me though... great shot nonetheless.
Wow, a dream atmosphere with a central point of view which confers an immobile stability to all the composition
An excellent, excellent shot. There is plenty of room to land in this one and the evenly lit buildings are fortunate. The street lights were very generous with you but your eye to use two others for accents is so intimidating to us miniscule mortals. I'm curious how close you got to the optimal exposure and how much you had to do with C-1? In any case, it worked fine.
This is miles better than the other pic, the composition is much nicer and its a lot sharper too, which always helps. The toning also seems to work really well in this one, it would be interesting to see it when it wasn't colourised though, just to compare.
Wonderful shot, light, composition and crispness. But... you do get a little bit tired of all these pier pictures after a while, however nice they may be. Sorry for the negative criticism, looking forward to some new subjects on your wonderful photos.
Beautiful use of light.
I've checked Canon 20D specifications ... the minimum shutter speed was 30 seconds and I wonder how you did this ...
I like the surreal feel adjusting that white balance has produced - the beach almost looks like snow - very nice.
Excellent shot!
it always baffles me when i see photos like this.. how on earth can you work out how to set up your camera to achieve such a result. i wouldnt even know how to set my d70 to a 5 minute exposure time heh. fantastic work!
this one is way better then the one before which shows the same building but more blueish.
this building looks like a bog spider from outerspace. this is cool, a frightening alien spider preparing to attack you.
or better not. who knows ;).
Awesome.
David, love your work, can't remeber if i've told you that before. do you guys get low tides there or what?! do you need to wear waders to take these shots? does your tripod sink? thanks for the pix
great tones!
Alo.
Thanks everyone.
Man this is a great shot
Definitely the best shot yet, nice one dad :)
Em's right this has to be my fave so far.
To acheive the star8 on the lights did you use a filter or photoshop?
m: neither, it's a natural consequence of using a very small aperture.
superowe