Day's Ending

[Wicked Dark]

So having missed what would have been an amazing sunrise yesterday :headslap:, I decided to see what the sunset would bring. The clouds looked promising, so I headed to a nearby lake and hiked out to a rocky promontory and set up on a huge boulder. This is the only one I've processed. It isn't the greatest since there were virtually no foreground elements available, but I like the rays the tiny aperture produced and the way the clouds lit up.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6136163542_d9e71dee67_b.jpg

After this I used a ND filter combo - solid and graduated, but this one only had the graduated. I like the choppy water and wish I'd done more of them that way, but maybe next time I'll think of it. It's a PITA taking the filters on and off though.

[Wicked Dark]

OK, I guess this isn't doing anything for anyone today. Never-the-less I'll give you a couple more from the same session -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Spring-and-Summer/i-hQxZkXZ/0/XL/Light-Discovering-XL.jpg

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Spring-and-Summer/i-h3J3mSz/0/XL/Wolf-MoonKristenSmithSeptember-XL.jpg

[Marko]

I didn't see post 1 till now...but i find shot 1 in post 2 superior due to a richer overall composition. I also like shot 2 post 2.

[mbrager]

Wow, these are super nice. I find sunsets the hardest shots for proper exposure. The moon shot is gorgeous, a poster shot.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks guys. I'd never been to this spot before and forgot how utterly beachless this side of the lake is. Like it goes from giant rocks or thickly tangled bushes and bank straight down to water - like little cliffs. No in between so composition was a bit iffy. It was a last minute decision to go for it, so I didn't really scout much and wanted a change from my winter sunset location that I used twice already.

[okmqaz42]

No 2 for me stands out, I like what the long exposure has brought to the shot. I had a look at all of them on your flickr and I am in awe.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks. Those channel markers saved my bacon, although on REALLY long exposures you can see they move and I didn't like that so much, so had to pick a shutter speed that would allow for good softening of the water, but not show too much movement of those markers.

[Hillbillygirl]

Also a fan of #2. love that soft water look, but then again, that last shot? Oh well, love them all. Nicely done WD.

[Greg_R]

#3 for me...love the reflection on the water.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks peeps. It was tough doing the moon shot. Like with waterfalls I had to underexpose the scene as a whole in order to keep the clipping to a minimum in those highlights. Was worried that I wouldn't preserve enough detail in the shadows, but it came out fine in the end. I think I'm going to have to give this a go with some waterfalls soon...I know one that would be great because it has no canopy.

[asnow]

Beautiful set WD. Love all three but my favourite is #3, the mood with the colour and the reflection.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks so much.

[thoughton]

2 and 3 are very nice indeed. Great colours!

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks I totally lucked out, which seems to happen often when I go to the lake for a sunset. Look what happened last year -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Winter-Scenes/P1222726/771345109_fBVkV-L.jpg

the lake was pretty well frozen and snow covered so I walked out on it, which I might not have if I hadn't seen the tracks. The sky threw that color down onto the snow, Lightroom had nothing to do with it. I was with 2 friends and it's still the best sunset we've ever seen.

[Lizardqing]

I think I like the moon shot the best, but the one with the markers is pretty well done too.

[QuietOne]

Another vote for the moon shot. Just something about the shades of blue.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks peeps. I guess I'll have to shoot the moon more often.

[aubintbay]

Shots 1 and 3 for me please! Very nice!

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks. It was a great sunset.

[edG]

lovely set and #2 for me as well