Using LONG EXPOSURE Photography to EXPLOIT Bad Light
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- We don’t always get great landscape photography conditions. Bad light can be exploited though by using techniques such as long exposure and black and white photography. Especially when combined and edited using Silver Efex Pro from the NIK collection.
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In this video I head into the depths of the Yorkshire Dales for a day of landscape photography in some less than ideal conditions.
It’s easy to imagine photographing a beautiful landscape in great weather. It’s warm, the sun is about to light up the evening sky and life is good. It’s an appealing experience that we chase over and over again. On the other hand amazing images can be captured in rough, stormy weather with unique conditions. But what about those grey days in between? Here in the UK we have a lot of them. They can be bleak and getting off the sofa to go out and take pictures is not an obvious choice. However, there are great shots to be captured in all conditions if we are willing to get creative.
One effective method to make the most of grey conditions and flat light is to use long exposure photography. It creates interest by smoothing out clouds and water and creating an ethereal feel. I have talked in depth about long exposure before:
See here - • RAISE your landscape P...
Whilst grey conditions produce flat light it does not necessarily mean it is bad. An extreme long exposure of over two minutes essentially turns textures of the sky and water into smooth tones. It creates new possibilities with composition and the soft light adds to the overall fine art photography feel of the image. Combining this with a black and white conversion can add to the image even more and create something unique on a day when no other photographers were out.
Black and white images can be post processed much more heavily than colour images which creates extra creative possibilities, especially with contrast. Using Silver Efex Pro from the NIK collection is a brilliant way to edit black and white pictures. Whilst this video is not a silver Efex pro tutorial I go through the edit of the image I capture to show how the app can make your black and white images pop.
My video photography tutorials, gear reviews and landscape vlogs are designed to entertain and document how I go about capturing my work. If it provides landscape photography tips and inspiration along the way then please share it with your friends so more people can benefit from the content. If you enjoyed this photography vlog I would really appreciate it if you subscribed to the channel so you can come along for the journey.
I'm really loving your videos, actually because of you I got into photography (like a year ago) and it changed my life completely. It really helped me to get myself together and focus on the future. Whenever I'm watching your videos I feel like a have distend friend in you (what I'm saying is that your videos are amazing and you're doing everything right in my eyes). Hope you read this :) and again thank you for making this videos you're great !!
That's amazing to hear Martin and I very much appreciate you sharing. Its the same for me too, when I go out it feels like people are coming along with me. It makes pointing a camera at myself in the middle of no where feel much less weird. Thanks for watching mate.
I Will continue to enjoy videos
That’s a great comment from Martin. It’s so true that photography by getting us out and having a purpose and so on helps us all. Adam is brilliant too which helps 😀
Photography is art, just like painting or music, etc. There is no deception (unless you're documenting reality, i.e. journalism, crime scenes, etc.). You create the image that pleases your eye. It's all well and good if you want to take images and keep them as close to how it actually looks as possible, but other people may want exaggerate, detract, downgrade, manipulate, etc., to get the viewer to feel a certain way or look at the image differently. There's a thousand different reasons, but art is art. There is no wrong way.
Fully agree with your philosophy on using the center column. When given the limited choices of extending the column to get the shot versus hand hold, versus not getting the shot... Extend it.
I’ve been sat inside all weekend looking at this dull and flat sky itching to get out ....... and didn’t ....... I think I need to get myself a 10/16 stop ND filter....... what a stunning image!! Great work again!
Thanks Darrell. I'm planning to do a more in depth video about these extreme long exposures.......possibly this week in fact.
First I've ever subscribed to anything on Utube, if you can take that nasty day and make that gem of beauty of it, I'm following. Thanks for the SEfex tutorial at the end. I never use it 'in manual' because I have yet to understand control points, which I've seen only poorly explained, and boom, you simply show it in action without all the complicated details!
I just upgraded my Photoshop Elements to a version compatible with the Nik Collection 3, which I've been wanting for some time. Found it on sale so made the move! I've only had it loaded for 2 days and am still learning about the controls and adjustments. I feel a bit overwhelmed by the complexity, but seeing you include Silver Efex Pro in this video has inspired me! Perfect timing! So nice to see you demo how it can be used. Thank you!
Fantastic start, love it Adam! Nice long exposure to kick things off mate. The contrast of the smooth water and clouds against the textures of the rocks made for a really nice image. The perfect choice, given the conditions. You were battling against the elements, but you stuck it out to the top, a great effort. I thought it was really interesting hearing your thought process as you worked out your composition and camera settings, nice work! :)
Thanks mate. Want to share a little more of those thought processes moving forward.
Hi Adam that look in your eye when you see the shot for the first time is what keeps me chasing my Landscape photography shot took up photography last June so I'm still learning something iv always wanted to do but life has its ways of getting in the way watching you keeps me motivated to get out more so Thankyou for that and loved that long exposure you took stunning mate
Thanks buddy. Really appreciate the comment. Glad you're finding a bit of inspiration.
Great topic for me as I'm often faced with poor light in the Bay Area due to frequent high fog layer. I gravitate towards BW and long exposure as well for these kinds of days. Also wanted to say how much I appreciate you and several other photographers I follow who all seem to know the "rules" of photography and also know when to ignore them! The same tension occurs in my field of cartography, lots of folks who take the best practices for visual design and never really step away from them. Some people are dogmatic about their hobbies rules, others probably lack the practical experience to know they are not really rules at all. Cheers!
Thanks buddy. My mindset is to treat at completely as an art. I explore new things, I make mistakes and will always be learning.
Really good stuff Adam and very well presented
Have to agree with you on the tripod. If it works "nuf said". We sometimes get too bogged down by advice , digital photography allows us to click and view so if something hasn't work try again. The picture is the important thing not how we took it which I guess is what you were saying in the info blast.
Nice video Adam. I like using Silver Efex too. Also like Colour Efex. I got them when they were free. Long exposures do bring out mood and lift otherwise dull scenes. I've been to Semer a few times - if I remember I think the flattish topped hill is Addlebrough ( and it is a bit bleak). Just for the record - they are rushes (soft rush by the looks of it) and not reeds in the foreground. All the best.
Thank you for the wonderful idea, I went down to the beach and did my first long exposure thanks to you!! Looks good but I definitely need more practice.
On a side note, love your Lake District videos, my late parents were from there so it always make me smile. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Dave
Thanks Dave. I am addicted to creating long exposure photography. I love it. I also love the Lake District very very much.
One of my three golden rules of photography; Shoot to the conditions. So many people stay inside when the light is flat. What a waste! Long exposures, waterfalls, even some street photography lends itself well to that kind of light
A nice walk. I have had silver effex pro for years lol
Great video. Really appreciate your enthusiasm. Love the bluish tint you added to the first image in Silver Efex. Very inspiring.
I like Silver Efex Pro but have only used it in a basic mode using their presets. I learned from you about using the control points. Thanks for that.
Yeah they are powerful and fun to play around with. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
quite a wow shot your first one
Loved this video and it is a reminder of how powerful Nik Software is, especially Silver Effects Pro, you had a vision of what you wanted from the location and got there with this shot.
Thanks mate. Very kind.
I've been watching your videos past a year and love your energy and your candour. It is so inspiring. This video was great and the first image is an award winning one. Keep inspiring. Thank you. Hope you read.
Thanks buddy, that means a lot. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
First Man Photography wow, the first time you replied. I feel gratified. I follow you everywhere - in here, on Instagram, on 500px as well.
Appreciate that. I'm honoured and humbled.
I use the Lee Super Stopper. Really enjoy getting some 10+ minute exposures. Have to fix the hot pixels in photoshop but that is easy.
Very cool image I think. I shoot mainly b&w so I always love seeing what other people do with it. I really liked seeing how you did the edit as well. Pulling the detail out of those rocks was great and added a lot to the image. Unfortunately I don't have an ND setup just yet so I can't get those cool exposures like you do. I wanted to say however that I really think your info blast was right on. I've been thinking about that same thing recently and I've been trying to do what you mentioned about the comments. I've noticed not only has my following grown a bit but it's also helped to improve my images. It's forced me to look at things in a different way and I have seen a change in what I look at while out shooting. Thank you for sharing such great info Adam... I only wish I had gotten the Nik Collection when it was still free!!!
Thanks Justin. Awesome comment. Really appreciate you taking the time. Google really didn't care about the NIK collection. Hopefully it will be better, even though it costs, now DxO have it.
Thanks for the Silver Efex Pro demo. I downloaded the demo last week, but didn't really know where to start, so you've put me on the road nicely.
To be honest I don't use the other applications much but Silver Efex Pro is brilliant.
I’m new to UA-cam/photography, and your insight into composition made a lot of sense, well done.
Very pleasing results, not too sure about the dark area below the rocks but that's down to taste.
I use the same arrangement as you for portrait shots from a tripod and if you're careful it works👍
I'm not going to waste money on bracketed set ups for different cameras. Love your tips 👌
One of your best videos! Thanksl
I watch you videos many times over, AMAZING photos. What lens are you using?
Great to see someone else using a 16 stop. Long exposures FTW. :)
Yeah. I'm pretty much addicted to these extreme long exposures.
Where do you find your music? Your work and tutorials are so great but your video editing is truly an art too. Very relaxing. Keep up the good work!
You got two really nice images Adam, I think they give the viewer a good feel for the weather conditions. I enjoy shooting in poor weather as I think the results can be very satisfying when you capture the conditions well. It's not always easy though, we get some tough weather here in the UK!
Thanks Wayne. You're right, they're conditions that happen here all the time too. Always good to get out.
Lots of good information. I have been using Silver Effects Pro for a couple of months now, but you taught me some new tricks with the control points.
Hi Mike. Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent trip mate!
Landscape is my escape, your stories are really quite interesting... and amazing images. My fave the 'family of trees'. I have the same tripod/head and never lift the center post. D850 46 MP is quite challenging to get sharp.
Good work Adam. Really like the blue tone to the long expo shot, top job. I might have to invest in the 16-stop filter too - I’ve been combining my 10, 3 and polariser so far.
It's not a hat but a bonnet ? Thanks for the tip ! I'll check out the Dutch coast near Breskens today and it's quite grey.
Hi Adam, which app do you use for calculating the exposure time?
Love your videos, keep on the good work!
I'm falling in love with landscape photography as a result of following your excellent videos :)
That's brilliant to hear colm. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Great vlog Adam, that was a cracking image, I have just started to use Silver Efex Pro for my black and white images, I managed to get the NIK collection when it was free to download 👍🏼
Nice digital art but I though you preferred light touches in Lightroom, no cloning previously.
Is this a change of heart?
Not take a stone from the shore and throw it at the rock tower? Loved the final image.
Love the 'information blast' at the end of the video; I wish more people thought the same way. Cheers!
Glad you're enjoying them. They feel like a good outlet for a few extra thoughts. Appreciate the comment.
Lovely shots Adam.....I’ve had people mention the night centre Column before aswell lol. But tbh 3lt winston is eye level with a ball head anyway. Love the long exposure! Right up my street.
Thanks mate.
Hi Adam. Just had chance to catch up. Another great video, with great advice. I completely agree with your use of the centre column, surely it’s designed for this. Just one question , what tripod and more specifically ball head are you using in this edition.
Thanks again, Martin.
Doing things backwards today, saw your image on FB and. Ow watching the video, all comes together Adam, you did so well in those conditions. 😁👍 really enjoyed
How is Silver Efex PRO compered to Lightroom which I use? Most of it is possible to create in LR. Thanks for yet another great video.
Nice one Adam, I always come away from watching you with "learnt something else", you have a great and calm style, some awesome images along the way, the silver efex pro software looks just up my street :-)
Thanks mate, that's some really nice feedback. Silver Efex pro is brilliant and just gives total control over every aspect and tone of a black and white image.
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 is a much better lens, than Canon 24-105 f/4 kit lens. Great choice, I use the same too, and great work.
Great video. It would be useful to know where to source the plugin that you refer to.
Adam, you might want to check out ON1 Photo RAW 2018 which has terrific masking, burning, dodging and toning capabilities.
Adam
Very well done and thoroughly enjoyed the long exposure technique and the mini tutorial on using Silver Effects Pro.
Peter
Thanks Peter. Really glad you liked it.
You have a great way of presenting where you seen relaxed and interesting to listen to. I'm a subscriber after only 3.47 minutes watching this video. Cheers
Appreciate it. Thanks Benny.
another great video
long exposures are truely are great way to make pictures interesting
thanks for sharing this
really enjoyed watching this
I use the latest version of Adobe CC &I've tried using silver effects pro but after I've made my edits and press ok it crashes every time.
Excellent video Adam as always, very helpful tips too! thanks
Good video. What is the make and model of the kit/rucksack you are wearing in it?
Very good video. Clear, Helpful and inspiring. Glad I found your channel.
I'm glad you found it too. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated.
Not for nothing but can't all the Silver Efex edits be done in Lightroom with split toning and selective brushes?
HI .Your detail in the shots are Amazing. To capture the slightest colour from far away is a very Talented skill in Phtography. Great vlog
😊
thanks adam great job 👍 just a question - 0:33 is that a Loupedeck alternative? i must have missed any uploads on what you're using, would be interesting to know more 🙂
It's Palette gear. I just need someone to send me a Loupedeck then I'll do a comparison about external controllers.
thanks. awesome look forward to it. one thing that's put me off Loupedeck is reliance on adobe keeping LR the same and whether they would be quick to adapt firmware updates to any major changes. currently researching other midi options
True. I was looking at the website the other day and it seems there is some support for Capture One as well.
Your videos are awesome! I'm a fan
Thanks buddy. Really glad you're enjoying them and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Great as usual, thank you for sharing.
Thanks buddy.
Nice, I like that you keep things real and down to earth. Nice video
Thanks buddy. Glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful music. So relaxing.
Enjoying your videos and learning so much. It's having such a positive impact on my photography. I wish we had the wide open landscapes that you seem to have. Is it open for hiking everywhere in these areas? We have nice areas but they're mostly private property and you're not really able to just wander around.
Great photography tips! (But a disposable, single-use pod filled with a Nestle product for your coffee? If you boycott Nestle products and brew your coffee in a smaller pot, you'll be doing the world a favour AND your coffee will taste better!)
Sadly it's the best I have found for me. I'll look at a bean to cup system when I can afford it.
It will actually cost less! You can do it :) Either way, thanks, as always, for the great photography advice. Love your final edit, too!
Glad you enjoyed the video. You have inspired a new line of Sunday evening research.......
:)
Jeez just let the man drink his coffee the way he wants
As always an excellent video, I always learn so much from you. I especially like your info blast at the end and your 10 photo suggestion. I am going to start doing that today.
nice shot
Nice video Adam! great looking photos thank you for sharing them with us.😎👍JP
Does the 80D have a built in bulb timer? If not what’s the best way of using bulb without having to hold down the button? Thanks.
I’m not sure about the 80D. I have a feeling not though. If not, you can pick up a shutter release cable for around £10. This fires the shutter but also allows you to lock it open for the required amount of time. Some have bulb timers and intervalometers built in too.
First Man Photography Thanks. I have one and started fooling around with it and got it figured out. Pretty simple. I have another question though, if you don’t mind. I just upgraded to the canon 24-105mm lens. Do you recommend I get standard ND filters or variable? Any brand recommendation? Appreciate all your hard work.
As always superb and informative . You really do inspire me 👏👏👏👏
Thanks for the message Paul. Really appreciate it and I'm glad you enjoy the videos.
Hi Joel love the video, so much enthusiasm. Just one question what is the app in this video are you using?
Loved the video could you me what software you used to plan your trip thanks
Excellent video.
I really learn a lot from your videos mate. Thanks so much.
If anyone can help me out though, every time I use ND filters, I get a nasty haze in the peripheral, like vignette only light. Not sure what I'm missing because I have a circular polarizer or UV filter (situation dependant) beneath the ND... I'm really at a loss and diagnose it at all... Anyone?
It's probably light sneaking in through the view finder. Cover the eye piece and you should see a big improvement. If you're using Canon there's an eye piece cover on the strap.
Oh wow how did I not figure that one out!? Thanks so much!! (How embarrassing though...)
I haven't used silver effects pro. Is it fairly easy to learn? Does it plug directly into PS? Also, on the rock stacks/cairn, I'm torn on those. Here in the US, they are very common around waterfalls, trails, scenic areas. I'd prefer people not move rocks around for the ecological impact but once they are there, I sometimes think they can add visual interest. I sometimes use them as key elements or interest in photographs. I don't disturb them normally. Others here are radically opposed and destroy them immediately. Frankly, I much prefer cairn here and there to beer bottles and cans. Anyway, great video Adam.
Funnily enough there was a news story about them here the other day with some pretty radical views on them. The suggestion was people should be banned from building them.
I think the world can survive without that kind of legislation. Just needs a few nature photographers to come along and knock them down without injuring the ducks.
awesome. i love silver efx
Yeah. Its brilliant.
Love that final edit mate - beautiful image ☺
Thanks Paul. Very kind.
You make super videos. Its a insperation 'fore me. A lost Dutch man. ;-)
Adam, I just love the long exposure images. Great video.
I need to check the Silver Pro ....
Another awesome video love it♥️
A definite 1st.
Very nice video, as usually :) Just one question regarding removing the stones from water. Isn't it faster to use Content-aware fill instead of cloning brush?
Possibly. I'm pretty quick with the clone stamp though and old habits die hard. The content aware fill is extremely impressive in some situations. I'll give it a try on this image see if it does an equal job of it.
I did use Silver Efex Pro until last year but have since changed to Skylum's Tonality Pro. Have you used it all, Adam? I felt that Silver Efex wasn't improving. I know that DxO bought the Nix Collection, but I had already lost patience. Awesome vlog, Adam:)
Another great vlog Adam keep up the good work
Love your videos. Great for inspiration. What tripod do you have in this video?
Great Vlog Adam, Just shows you can get out in any weather and grab a few decent images, loved the mono conversions, you came away with some great shots, still think you should get yourself an L Bracket...lol
Thanks Stuart. The L-Bracket just doesn't suit my overall photo+video workflow.
B roll is definitely improving! Good job man.
Hi, very nice picture and video as always!
What is the name of the app you showed for determining the shutter speed for the long exposure?
Thank you and congrats
That's a beautiful image mate, well done!
Great video
Nice video...May I know, which Exposure Calcuator App do you use?....Thanks
Thanks. I use Photopills
Love you videos and photos...
Good luck.....*
Thank you..*
Thanks buddy
Loved the image Adam and was wondering when you shot the long exposure did you cover up the eye piece seeing as the 5D4 dosent have the eye shutter like other cameras. Enjoyed the short tutorial too and will check out the Silver Efex programme
On this occasion I forgot. The Canon 5D Mark IV does have an eye piece cover on the strap which I have lost. Its hard to buy a replacement too. I can get away with not using one on the 5D Mark IV where on older camera's I would not have. It is still better to use a cover though because there was a slight red tinge in the areas I cropped out. Would have still been usable if I hadn't cropped but was less than perfect. Only really becomes an issue after 90-120 seconds. Obviously not an issue for mirrorless.
Quick question, what printer was that?
Adam, I've noticed you are using the Quadcopter less in your last few videos, is that just due to inclement weather or the changes in the Drone rules?
It was the wind on the last couple of videos and I forgot it on one occasion. Looking forward to the increased image quality that the new Mavic should provide when it comes out soon.
the large sensor one, or the zoom? I'm more than happy with my little Spark, except living next to the peak district i'm not allow to fly it there as they have a no drones rule :(
Definitely the larger sensor one. Most of my videos are in 1080p so I can just digitally zoom in post from the 4k file.
Great video. May I ask what printer you did that on. I would love to be able to print my own images.
Excellent video and tutorial 👍
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it mate.
Love your videos especially when you show the edits
Thanks Colin. Appreciate it. I can easily show more edits towards the end of videos if that is something you and others would like.
Well I certainly would!
Cool. Thanks again mate.
Great video, love long exposures! What's the app that you use to calculate the times?
I use PhotoPills. It does quite a few other things too including a pretty cool augmented reality mode. Glad you enjoyed the video.
At night the long exposure shots come great but during day when I adjust it only white light appears in the screen even the settings are correct plz help me with that
It's probably over exposing. Make sure you are putting a dark enough ND filter on the front.
Thank you
Could be light getting in through the eyepiece
Really enjoyable video, love watching the whole process from taking the photo to editing it. I would love to see your thoughts on editting on your mobile phone as I do not have a PC to edit my photos. I enjoyed hiking and camping so try to keep my kit light and simple and being able to edit as I go to be able to share on social media. I mainly use Snapseed but starting to try to use the lightroom mobile app. Cheers Tim
Also love the intro, shame about the coffee, black coffee all the way ☕ cheers Tim.