Sunset Beach
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

First time to shoot back in Vancouver. Too early in the afternoon but the rocks were showing because of the low tide. Not bad and the only thing I forgot was the remote trigger. I even tried removing the GND before the shutter closed which allowed a lower than 2 stop exposure for the GND. It really helps to read other photographer's blogs to sometimes get ideas that one would not ordinarily come up with.

little beach
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

While everyone else went to the mall and Disneyland, I headed for Little Corona del Mar again and stayed there for 5 hours from 12 noon to 5pm. My intention was to stay for the sunset but after 5 hours under the hot sun I had little energy left and I noticed that I was starting to make more and more mistakes. And besides I missed everyone. This had to be one of my most successful shoots as I remembered to do all the little things that I needed to do. My major mistake was that I had to set the vari-ND to the minimum setting to be able to see through the viewfinder and that was even minimal and I kept forgetting to adjust the setting back to the darkest setting and so over-exposed a few shots. Shooting during sunset hours as they say is the way to go and I realize that now as the photos lacked the warm colours of sunrise/sunset. But I am quite happy with the results.

Point Vicente Shoot

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Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

I wanted to revisit this location to see the effects of using filters. I found the use of the colour intensifier and circular polarizer to be quite effective. The NDs were not as effective. I used the vari-ND (6 stops) and 5 stop ND and I still could not get an effective blur at 30 seconds and F22. Coming at a different time where the light was not so strong would be needed. On the other hand I performed the process in the best way possible as I was able to use the 17-35mm at the widest, used a leveler and a remote trigger. This was on top of the other filters.

Huntington Beach Pier Shoot

Huntington Beach Pier
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

Ok still trying to learn the tools as much as possible. Tried to combine the filters - colour intensifier, circular polarizer, Vari-ND and 5 stop ND. As result I believe using the polarizer will cause colour shifts which are not predictable. Having 4 filters also cause unwanted vignettes so I had to eliminate 1. I tried to go without the 5 stop ND but still got the shifts in colour so I went with the 5-stop ND in the end. This gave me the slow shutter speed that I wanted to blur the water. I now realized that clicking the shutter by hand limits my longest shutter speed to 30 seconds so I believe a remote shutter should be used. This will eliminate camera shake as well as better control of the shutter speed. I can just keep changing the shutter speed (using my watch) until I get the correct exposure.

Little Corona del Mar

1
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

A good location to shoot but a bit busy. Lots of people wandering around including other photographers. A good learning experience as seeing the light was an important part of getting a good composition.

1
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

It really is tough to get away from the shoot-thru umbrella and the Lumiquest Softbox III while easy to use is not as soft as I would like. It takes away 2 stops of light as well as creating harder shadows. Have to work a little harder on the technique.

Fail #3

Fail
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

The easiest problem to fix...don't shoot at the sun doh. Hide behind a cloud, bush or shoot away from the sun. Doh...

Fail #2

Fail
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

Guessing about this one...the light was blown out on the right and I think it was because of the haze. The haze messed up the exposure...

Fail #1

Fail
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

Not a good day for shooting...ran into lots of exposure problems. This was in a canyon...lots of contrast...tried to use a GND and was semi-successful. Still a bit too much shadow. Could have tried HDR technique but didn't think of it.

sunset blahs

sunset
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

No clouds, so-so foreground. Nice and cool sunset made it worthwhile. Just not much of an image.

Nothern California Highway
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

While driving down the highway along Nothern California I was so impressed with the beautiful views...but nowhere to stop. I felt inspired and thought of Ansell Adams and wished I could stop and take photos. There was just this one viewpoint that had a view of Mt Shasta but not a very good one. So I took what I could from the parking lot.

Otter Rock

Otter Rock
Originally uploaded by slowmanluis2010

I was surprised to find a few images I liked from shooting at Otter Rock. We were as usual at the most convenient point in the park high up and looking down at the rocks and beach area. I came to the realization that an even more important part of photography is time and legs. The outstanding photos can only be taken if you have time to spend and study the location and even more importantly to be able to "leg" it to the not so convenient areas. At Otter Creek it would have meant walking down to the beach and rocks which would have taken another 2-3 hours that I did not have. I don't even know if the "better" areas are reachable.