30-second exposure of waves under the Surf City fishing pier. I can’t decide if I like the color version or the black and white version more- the color version seems to emphasize the mid-ground elements, whereas the black and white version draws the eye in with the patterns formed by the legs of the pier.
Under the Surf City Fishing Pier (Color), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
Under the Surf City Fishing Pier (B&W), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
After making a series of long-exposure photographs focused on the movement in the clouds and water, I decided to make a panorama that highlights the texture in the clouds and the streaks of rain over the ocean. I chose a half-second exposure time to get some blur in the water and people walking by on the beach to better emphasize the clouds and pier.
Rain Clouds over Ocean near Seaview Fishing Pier, Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x42″)
Two-minute exposure of clouds moving in over the Seaview Fishing Pier just before sunset.
Seaview Fishing Pier before Sunset (long exposure), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
Two photographs I made recently from below the Seaview Fishing Pier, North Topsail Island: one is a relatively short (~1/8s) exposure, the other a longer (61s) exposure. I think I like the more minimalist look of the longer exposure to ‘flatten’ or ‘fog’ the water, which eliminates the texture in the waves and clouds and helps to emphasize the repeating pattern in the pier.
Seaview Fishing Pier and Waves (short exposure), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
Seaview Fishing Pier and Waves (long exposure), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
I recently took a trip to the Topsail Beach, a barrier island along the North Carolina coast. The first morning, I brought along my camera to explore the differences in focus and texture in the clouds, water, and sand using various exposure times.
Topsail Island Clouds (short exposure: 1/80s), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
Topsail Island Clouds (long exposure: 2 minutes), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
Topsail Island Clouds (long exposure: 4 minutes), Topsail Island, North Carolina (12″x21″)
I like black and white for emphasizing the abstract, patterns, texture, and form, but a splash of color can often bring some extra depth to landscape photographs. See last week’s post for the black and white versions.
Cabin Creek Falls (Foreground, Color), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (15″x22″)
Cabin Creek Falls and Rock (Color), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (22″x15″)
A few more angles on the Cabin Creek Falls. Again, I ended up only working on several of the photographs I made while standing in the water- the angles from the rocks just weren’t quite as good.
Cabin Creek Falls (Foreground, B&W), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (15″x22″)
Cabin Creek Falls and Rock (B&W), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (22″x15″)
I decided to wade around in the water to make several of these photographs of Cabin Creek Falls in Grayson Highlands – glad I got my feet wet. I’d rather be in the water with a tripod than balanced on a slippery rock or try to hop across moss-covered boulders.
Cabin Creek Falls (Mid-ground, B&W), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (15″x22″)
Cabin Creek Falls and Mini Falls (B&W), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (22″x15″)
Early in July, I spent the weekend camping and hiking around Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia. Although I think the really spectacular open views of the landscape are found along the Massie Gap – Wilburn Ridge – Mt Rogers trail, there is a nice, relative short (~2-3 miles) loop hike down in the valley near the ridge that goes to Cabin Creek Falls. We decided to hike clockwise around the loop (I’d go this direction again so I can see the falls as I hike up to them along the stream), and I stopped briefly at this small set of falls (not the ‘actual’ Cabin Creek Falls) thinking this was the ‘big attraction’. Cabin Creek Falls next week.
Cascading Water below Cabin Creek Falls, Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (15″x22″)
Crater Lake, Maroon Bells, and Passing Clouds (B&W, 2021), White River National Forest, CO (16″x51″)
