Wildlife Photography across the Water: Dorset Trip Report - Part 4

Monday 4 April 2011

Dorset Trip Report - Part 4 - Sundown at the Bill

A few years ago on my birthday, I took some images from this same viewpoint, or almost from this viewpoint to be strictly accurate. There is a little notch that has space for one maybe two photographers and it was occupied previously. This time I got it to myself. So these images were taken with the camera about 7 or 8 feet lower, and the reason will be clear when I explain.

In a previous post, part 2, I shared the sunrise images that were taken about three hundred yards and twelve hours previously.

On arrival at this spot, I took a quick image without any filters, and have done a straight conversion with the RAW image with changes

All pretty unappealing I think

Now fitting the lens out with the 10 x screw on ND B & W filter and the Lee Filter 3 stop ND Blending grad, I got this result after a 6 min and 12 second exposure

Better, but I dont think it works as well as the morning shots did with the lighthouse at sunrise

Getting rid of the 10 x and waiting for a bit more sunset, things start to look much better

With the sun coming out from under the clouds, the rocks to the left start to get a nice glow

On the filters, I used the Blender, and another 1 stop ND Grad in the second slot, with a soft transition. I also rotated the filter holder so that the grad line followed the line of rocks from top left to bottom right, as it was the brighter areas I wanted to hold the exposure back on.

Swapping the 24 -70 to the 17-40, I could get a bit more scene in to add the sun.

With about a 3 second exposure, a bit of water movement adds to the scene

Finally, with the sun dropping below the horizon, the colour temperature comes down and the scene starts to go cooler.

As I mentioned at the start, with a view point about 7 feet higher, the horizon line of the sea comes up above the rocks to the left of Pulpit Rock. With this view point you lose it. It pays to watch other photographers and see their attention to detail.

Just a pity the sea was so calm. I would have like much more action in the water.

My final critique is that I went there too late in the year. If you go between the months of November and February, I reckon the sun would be in a more advantageous position in the image.

MArtin

2 comments:

Martyn4 April 2011 at 22:27
Its good to see the alternatives Martin, makes for an interesting article.

Matyn
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andy page7 April 2011 at 20:13
Good stuff Martin - interesting to see the process as you went along and some very nice images. The earlier time of year you mentioned would also more likely have given you more movement in the water.
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.