A low tide winter sunset, unfortunately no clouds.
I have a 7" LCD I use for these low angle shots, but forgot the cord this afternoon. So I set up a little higher up on the beach (it was still wet) kneeling to fine adjust the tilt angle and focus on the 24 TSE. I couldn't possibly do this without magnified Live View. Then waiting for the waves to recede, walked out into the soupy sand to plop down the tripod, estimate the horizon and composition and quickly shoot a few frames. The hit rate on this type of "blind" shooting is very low as the set up on drier sand is never quite the same.
Mike K
Lovely light! The framing could possibly be better, but I like it as it is. A panoramic crop could be interesting, but you would loose the foreground action.
Feb 13, 2012 at 02:23 PM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Love this aspect Mike. Not sure about the crop, but it looks fine to me. I really like the position of the camera....and that crashing wave on the far side of the span.
Mike K wrote:
A low tide winter sunset, unfortunately no clouds.
I also hate no clouds! You made up for it though. Lovely shot.
I have a 7" LCD I use for these low angle shots, but forgot the cord this afternoon.
7" LCD? How come I never heard of that?
TSE without liveview is very frustrating. I use LV for about 80% of my shots. On this particular photo, I would not attempt to tilt the lens. Too many elements outside any chosen focal plane. However, you always find the way to make it work Mike!
So I set up a little higher up on the beach (it was still wet) kneeling to fine adjust the tilt angle and focus on the 24 TSE. I couldn't possibly do this without magnified Live View. Then waiting for the waves to recede, walked out into the soupy sand to plop down the tripod, estimate the horizon and composition and quickly shoot a few frames. The hit rate on this type of "blind" shooting is very low as the set up on drier sand is never quite the same.
When shooting at the beach, I usually don't go very low to avoid splashings. Instead I use shift the lens up and down for a composition that works.
All the best,
Fred
Fred Miranda wrote:
I also hate no clouds! You made up for it though. Lovely shot.
7" LCD? How come I never heard of that?
TSE without liveview is very frustrating. I use LV for about 80% of my shots. On this particular photo, I would not attempt to tilt the lens. Too many elements outside any chosen focal plane. However, you always find the way to make it work Mike!
When shooting at the beach, I usually don't go very low to avoid splashings. Instead I use shift the lens up and down for a composition that works.
All the best,
Fred
Probably the 7" tablet that he is using to tether and shoot. Android has an app DSLR controller for this.
Nice try Mike. Deviating from your signature style to get the pebbles/sand/the bridge in focus, are you? Nice clear weather, must have been a few days back because lately we've got rain and clouds and fog by the bridge.
You are at the bridge end of the Baker's beach where the naked people are at and bridge turns sharply away from you at that spot. I wonder if you pulled back a little further(toward the opposite end of the Baker's beach) could you get more of the bridge in the frame. 45 or 35 TS-E with a 10 stop ND pano perhaps? May be I should try when the darn rain stop instead of just yupping.
Fred Miranda wrote:
7" LCD? How come I never heard of that?
TSE without liveview is very frustrating. I use LV for about 80% of my shots. On this particular photo, I would not attempt to tilt the lens. Too many elements outside any chosen focal plane. However, you always find the way to make it work Mike!
Right now I am using an inexpensive 7" Lilliput LCD from Amazon via the HDMI port on the 5DII. http://www.amazon.com/Lilliput-monitor-interface-dedicated-high-definition/dp/B0041I8UAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329196976&sr=8-1
I don't have enough experience with it to commend it one way or the other than its too large and awkward.
However there are quite a few other 5-7" LCDs made for dSLR use as video monitors. They all seem to have similar resolution, which is a bit low (800x480) for this critical fine tilt/focus adjustment. Check out models from Marshall, Ikan, and Sony. Some have focus peaking.
I almost always use a bit of downward shift when getting really low, but I like the results with max tilt in addition. Its just too difficult making out the fine adjustments for tilt and focus when the cameras LCD is an inch or two from the ground. Unlocking tilt takes one hand and adjusting it takes the other. Unless I can lay on my belly to view the LCD its really a challenge.
And thanks everyone for the views and comments.
Mike K
jwin wrote:
Nice clear weather, must have been a few days back because lately we've got rain and clouds and fog by the bridge.
You are at the bridge end of the Baker's beach where the naked people are at and bridge turns sharply away from you at that spot. I wonder if you pulled back a little further(toward the opposite end of the Baker's beach) could you get more of the bridge in the frame.
I watch the tide charts, the photographers ephemeris (for the moon/sun) and the weather forecasts to find times when all 3 line up. Yes this shot was on Feb 8 when the tide was to be -.4 ft at the Golden Gate for sunset. Later that same afternoon: http://www.fototime.com/649B4B1355E72BF/orig.jpg
The location is called Marshall Beach, between Baker Beach and the bridge. I actually prefer closer to the Gate and have some even better shots last year of a -1.5 foot tide at sunrise. Lots of anemone covered rocks with seaweed, an occasional starfish and the reflection of the Golden Gate for a foreground. I would really love to do workshops on photographing the Golden Gate. Over the years I have found it an inspiring subject.
Mike K
Mike K wrote:
Right now I am using an inexpensive 7" Lilliput LCD from Amazon via the HDMI port on the 5DII. http://www.amazon.com/Lilliput-monitor-interface-dedicated-high-definition/dp/B0041I8UAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329196976&sr=8-1
I don't have enough experience with it to commend it one way or the other than its too large and awkward.
However there are quite a few other 5-7" LCDs made for dSLR use as video monitors. They all seem to have similar resolution, which is a bit low (800x480) for this critical fine tilt/focus adjustment. Check out models from Marshall, Ikan, and Sony. Some have focus peaking.
I almost always use a bit of downward shift when getting really low, but I like the results with max tilt in addition. Its just too difficult making out the fine adjustments for tilt and focus when the cameras LCD is an inch or two from the ground. Unlocking tilt takes one hand and adjusting it takes the other. Unless I can lay on my belly to view the LCD its really a challenge.
And thanks everyone for the views and comments.
Mike K
It may help with low shooting since it allows you to view the LCD from above.
Best,
Fred
Thanks Fred for the suggestion. Yes I had looked at that one too along with a few other mirror systems. The Varavon line is a creative adaptation to the video dSLR market and appears to be an optically well made product. The Varavon finder base plate screws onto the tripod hole, which may be a problem fitting an L-bracket between the the Varavon foot and the camera body as it will likely throw off the vertical offset distance. The video clearly stated a battery grip would throw off the fit of the Varavon finder. The base plate would also preclude use of the landscape portion of a camera L plate? Does the Varavon finder rotate for portrait orientation, I know thats not a standard video configuration! At least you don't have to recharge the batteries!
Thanks again for your response.
Mike K
Mike K wrote:
I watch the tide charts, the photographers ephemeris (for the moon/sun) and the weather forecasts to find times when all 3 line up. Yes this shot was on Feb 8 when the tide was to be -.4 ft at the Golden Gate for sunset. Later that same afternoon:
xttp://www.fototime.com/649B4B1355E72BF/orig.jpg
The location is called Marshall Beach, between Baker Beach and the bridge. I actually prefer closer to the Gate and have some even better shots last year of a -1.5 foot tide at sunrise. Lots of anemone covered rocks with seaweed, an occasional starfish and the reflection of the Golden Gate for a foreground. I would really love to do workshops on photographing the Golden Gate. Over the years I have found it an inspiring subject.
Mike K...Show more →
Love this shot as well. Mike K signature is back. Up close shots bring more drama and size impact of the structure.
I see, that explains it. You climbed some slippery boulders(or simply walked over in low tide) to the Nasty Boys. I was thinking I don't recall the bridge being that close to the edge of the Baker's beach.
Thanks for sharing Mike. You do it so well.
Nice clear weather, must have been a few days back because lately we've got rain and clouds and fog by the bridge.