Magic hour in Cornwall

Location Photography (Assignment 307-I)-Seascapes

 
I like you present my final images regarding Theme I in Location Photography - SEASCAPES.

Only by chance I was lucky to visit Cornwall last year. As I was born by the sea and now living in the middle of England I miss it very deeply.  I was hoping to go to South coast for a long time, to experience all power of open water myself and what can be better place than Cornwall. When I went there I knew I have to come back with some descant photographs and I decided to get every possible good image of magic hour what comes around sun rise and sunset.

My work is far from Cornish masterpiece, for that kind of ability need years and years of training. But anyway I don’t want to be too critical as after all I tried my best to succeed. You can be judge of it.
 

All images were post processed through Photo shop – cropped by 10in to 8in,  removed all unwanted details and for some I used Colour adjustment tools.

Photographs are captured around South Cornwall`s coast starting from Lizard point, ending in Lands` End.

Lizard point

 Image Nr. 1 

Taken on	October 1, 2011 at 6.37am
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1.5
Aperture	f/5.0
Focal Length	34 mm
ISO Speed	200
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:19 10:56:27
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

This photograph is taken early hours in the morning, just before sunrise. You can easily see how sky slowly starts gaining colours from upcoming sun. ISO was 200 as was quite dark by then and also shutter speed was set on Bulb, to allow me control exposure. Was really windy and cold, what wasn’t helpful at all, as camera has to be very still and all movements and shaking just blurring the image. So as you can guess to get more or less sharp image I had to take a few beside this image, as most important thing – it’s not possible to get back and re shoot.

For lots of you image probably looks very dark, but I really wanted it that way, when you can see only silhouette of the cliffs against the golden light. 


I had to improve it a little bit, by cropping to appropriate size and using Image adjustment Curves give to colours a bit bust.

 original

  post-production 


Image Nr. 2

Taken on	October 1, 2011 at 7.16am
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	5.1
Aperture	f/36
Focal Length	52 mm
ISO Speed	100
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:19 11:06:16
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

The second one is captured in the light of rising sun, exposure is a bit longer and ISO speed is changed to 100. But still I had used a Bulb setting, to give a motion to water by the cliffs and I think I manage it quite well.

Image is taken same day no longer after fist. I had lots of images from that morning, you can see some of them in my slide show, just these two come as my favourite and more professionally captured.

 original

post production

I had to crop original as you can see it was captured in portrait layout, so during the big crop, image more or less loose it`s quality.  After using Curves tool I add a bit more perfect colour balance.

Porthleven 

 

Next five images go time backwards as they are taken in previous evening, just shortly after my arrival in Porthleven. I was stunned with weather and surroundings and didn’t want to miss a thing. It was already time before sunrise - colours start changing and light was perfect.

Image Nr. 3

Taken on	September 30, 2011 at 6.00pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/5
Aperture	f/16
Focal Length	10 mm
ISO Speed	100
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:19 12:12:23
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

The first from the beach scene is one of the firsts what I took, just starting to adapt my camera and set my settings. Using advantages of beautiful natural evening light I went for smaller aperture and slower shutter speed, using tripod trying to capture perfect scenery, which I really hope I did. Footprints, water front and sky pattern looks as a perfect composition to me.

That was also the first time when I tried my wide angle lens. Only in open space like this you can really understand that kind a lens main purpose – bring out sky as much as possible. As you can see sky stretches from above to infinity creating dynamic image.

  original

 post production

After cropping and using already familiar Curves tool I fill in some unperfections, to make image look more undistractive. 

Image Nr.4

Taken on	September 30, 2011 at 6.03pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/5
Aperture	f/16
Focal Length	10 mm
ISO Speed	100
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:19 13:17:20
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

Another, in my opinion, distinctive photograph.  A wide angle lens can display a large depth of the field, which allows you to keep the foreground and background in sharp focus – ideal for landscapes.

In this images using wide angle lens I manage to capture some sort of synchronisation of movement - the water against the sky, what makes a big impact in my photograph.

 original

 post production

In this photograph, as you can see in original, I had lots to fill in. Lots of sea weeds was very distractive, so I decided to remove them all to get clear image.

Image Nr. 5

Taken on	September 30, 2011 at 6.06pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/5
Aperture	f/16
Focal Length	10 mm
ISO Speed	100
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2012:01:02 22:07:59
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

Image five one of my favourites, simple photograph capturing upcoming waves of the sea and beautiful pattern of the sky..

 original

 post production

Usual deal - crop, curve, fill, but result gives me clear, natural image, what speaks for it self - just sky and sea...

Image Nr.6

Taken on	September 30, 2011 at 6.16pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/5
Aperture	f/16
Focal Length	15 mm
ISO Speed	200
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2012:01:02 22:09:50
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

Same location, about the same light, but image is complete different colour? That`s because I used Cokin sunset filter to make a scene more dominant, how its should be. Sometimes photographers get lucky and not using even slightness filter or post-production can capture something like this, but in this our amazing planet you have to be in the right place on the right time, what is 1 of 100 chances for every human being. 

  original

 post production

Didn't have to do much with this image as only cropping wise and adding more colour with curve tool. Have to fill in little spots, what probably was created from my lens becoming dirty, from all humidity and splashing water.

Image Nr.7

Taken on	September 30, 2011 at 6.28pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/10
Aperture	f/25
Focal Length	125 mm
ISO Speed	200
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:19 22:40:46
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

For this image I used my telephoto lens. As I had all three my lens with me I had to try them all. So as you see subject is more clear and more visible. I do like my Tamron, just only downside, when you are surrounded by wind, also trying avoid upcoming waves is quite hard to keep sharp image.  

  original

 post production

In original image you can see surfers, so I had to remove them. Usual crop for appropriate size and curves, for perfect contrast.

Land`s End
 
The most amazing experience of my life so far...be there by Land`s End, when you have feeling as you are in the edge of the world as behind the land waters stretching to infinity.

Swap my lens once again for wide angle I tried my best to capture that moment. 

The last image is from my second trip to Cornwall, I just have to go again and seems my skills in landscape photography improving by the time.

Image Nr.8

  

Taken on	October 1, 2011 at 6.41pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/4
Aperture	f/25
Focal Length	14 mm
ISO Speed	200
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:21 10:21:20
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

  original

 post production

Very less done to the image, as sunset filter already created perfect colour balance. Photograph was just roped and removed some dust spots.

Image Nr.9

Taken on	October1, 2011 at 6.42pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	1/4
Aperture	f/22
Focal Length	14 mm
ISO Speed	200
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Software	Adobe Photoshop CS5 (12.0x20100115 [20100115.m.998 2010/01/15:02:00:00 cutoff; m branch]) Windows
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:21 10:26:53
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

 original

 post production

Same as previous very less has done apart from cropping and filling. Image was taken using the same sunset filter, by placing more coloured part on the top leaving ground only slightly tinted, what makes great balance.

Image Nr. 10

Taken on	November 19, 2011 at 5.52pm
Camera	Nikon D3000
Exposure	8.2
Aperture	f/18
Focal Length	14 mm
ISO Speed	100
Flash	No Flash
Orientation	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution	300 dpi
Y-Resolution	300 dpi
Software	Adobe Photoshop CS5 (12.0x20100115 [20100115.m.998 2010/01/15:02:00:00 cutoff; m branch]) Windows
Date and Time (Modified)	2011:12:21 11:50:28
Exposure Program	Manual
Metering Mode	Multi-segment
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Landscape
Format	image/jpeg

Last but not least and probably the best of all lot. It comes from my second visit that place. I felt more confident on that time. Knowing what to expect I was already prepared, what give me good result.

 original

 post production

Creating those photographs was greatest pleasure of my life, as the place itself gives you satisfaction. I’m far from professional in Landscape photography and perhaps I’ll will never return to that subject again, leave that area for best peoples...but no matter what, that what I produced will gives me always warm memories from magic place in light of magic hour.