After doing very intensive weather research for some time, I made the executive decision to chase a weather system across Oregon for a nice payoff.
Sony A7R2
Canon 11-24@11mm
1.6 sec
f/22
50 ISO
no filtration
single raw file
Technicals for the techie type:
Because I am usually responsible for other people getting the best possible light for great photos, I never follow a linear itinerary, but we remain flexible and study the weather letting it dictate our movements. In this situation, I spent considerable time studying every conceivable source of weather information (many apps and websites) for the entire Pacific Northwest and decided that the southern 1/3rd of the Oregon Coast seemed the very best opportunity for great light. So, we drove a considerable distance and made it just in time.
Here I was asked to demonstrate the ultra wide approach to streaking waves but how to keep the tripod stable at the same time. I always seriously recommend getting chest waders so that we are not likely to not position ourselves wherever we need to because of getting cold and wet. I had no ND's with me for the Canon 11-24 (except a 10 stop) so I just went to 50 ISO and f/22 for longer shutter speeds. After a bunch or quick test shots, I found that around 1.5 seconds was doing the trick. Because this image is about 90-95% smooth/soft/moving stuff I really did not concern myself with using f/22, because I knew I would still have all I needed to make a big enlargement. I have been able to make shots like this (Lumachrome HD super gloss - Nevada Art Printers - innovated by Robert Park) easily 60" or more.
This is a single Raw file adjusted to its furthest first in Lightroom and then brought into Photoshop as a Raw "Smart Object" (as some know I have been preaching a lot about lately). This allowed me to mask individual elements in Photoshop and make use of various Layer and Masking techniques as well as various color tools, and more... In Photoshop but remain in Raw 32-bit a LOT further down the processing chain (almost to completion in fact). Finally, once Raw "Smart Object" Layers / Masking were used to their full, I "rasterized" the layers (that simply means turning them from virtual 32-bit Raw Layers into actual 16 bit Tiff or PSD Layers or flattened) and I then made the final subtle fine-tuned tweaks.
If you are interested in knowing more about Raw "Smart Objects" feel free to contact me. They are the future of post-processing and from what I am hearing, Photoshop is going to keep expanding 32-bit lossless processing in the future! This means much better data/quality/tonality with less risk of artifacting in images, color variation loss, posterization, tonal issues and much more. We see this already true in the fine art printing industry and it is VERY EXCITING! Like I have mentioned before, check out Fred Miranda member, Robert Parks 106" Lumachrome HD print in the Carnevale Gallery in Caesars Palace in Vegas (shot with the Nikon D810) and you will swear you are seeing something maybe even better than 8 x 10! Nose to the print, with your best glasses on, perfect detail!
All the best to you and yours, and Great Light to you!
Myself with FM member Robert Park next to his amazing 106
This is a very nice image but I want to clarify something that Mark has suggest in his comment above re hip waders. I live in Bandon and I use knee high boots for photographing along the surf. If one needs hip waders they are too far into the surf and face the likelihood of loosing their camera gear trying to save their life. Every year the state and local communities warn visitors to not take the ocean for granted. It is so easy to get carried away taking the picture and not becoming aware of the sneaker wave. Every year there are people who loose their lives by doing so. Happy shooting but play it safe
erobich wrote:
This is a very nice image but I want to clarify something that Mark has suggest in his comment above re hip waders. I live in Bandon and I use knee high boots for photographing along the surf. If one needs hip waders they are too far into the surf and face the likelihood of loosing their camera gear trying to save their life. Every year the state and local communities warn visitors to not take the ocean for granted. It is so easy to get carried away taking the picture and not becoming aware of the sneaker wave. Every year there are people who loose their lives by doing so. Happy shooting but play it safe...Show more →
Very true to be careful!!!
Side note: I never put my clients at risk (and I have been leading people all over the Pacific Northwest including the coastline and here for about 14 years). We wear them because they work very well and keep us warm too. I never put my clients in dangerous or deep surf.
So yes, be careful out there folks! Don't mess with the water! I know one very famous photographer whos clients almost got it tempting the waves. Not worth it!
erielake wrote:
that's a beautiful image Mark.....i would think with all the workshops you do maybe a new pair of jeans are in order......
i was alone surf fishing the Santa Barbara coast once wearing chest waders in rough surf. the waves went out and i ran to the water line to cast my rod looked up and said oh sh!t. i was hit and engulfed by a 15' wave and drug out to sea. i was pummeled on the hard rocky bottom. by the time i got out of those chest waders i was at least 300 - 500 feet out to sea.
Beautiful, Mark. I love how i was lead to that rock which is in the centre of your composition by those cloud streaks.
This is a perfect image. Keep up the good work.
kevindar wrote:
Your images are simply amazing. However, for my taste, its a bit too wide. probably somewhere between 14 and 16mm would work better for me.
Thank you Kevin. I get you. We all have our preferences for sure. I do have a cropped version on Instagram but I do not like it nearly as much.
!!!! Those cost like $100!