Jamaica, Mon

[Sungrazer]

I'm not busy at work, so I suppose I'll share a few shots from my trip to Jamaica a few weeks back. We were mostly stuck on the resort, so photo opportunities were limited. Here are a few:

Sunrise, with coconut tree.
17-55 @ 17mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, mistakenly shot at ISO 1600 :mad:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/235/462453162_7245d8889e.jpg

Beach at Sunset.
17-55 @ 35mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 100
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/462458595_19b0e4680c_b.jpg

Beach at Sunset.
17-55 @ 42mm, f/8, 10 seconds, ISO 100
3-stop neutral density filter applied
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/462459115_119dd43217_b.jpg

I wish I'd pointed the camera more to the right on the last shot. Oh well. Two questions on this shot. 1) The tops of the trees are blurred because of the wind. Do you find this distracting? 2) What ISO would you have used here? What results in more noise - longer shutter speeds or higher ISO?

[Sungrazer]

And here are a few mini pictures from the wedding, which link to larger resolution versions. This was just for fun, there was an official photographer there using a Nikon and a 50-200 lens. I've always admired Christian's and Jamie's work, but after having tried my hand at a few shots, I have that much more respect for good wedding photographers.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/463383872_934ea06cfe_m.jpg (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/463383872_934ea06cfe_b.jpg) http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/463384066_9ffdf595b9_m.jpg (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/463384066_9ffdf595b9_b.jpg) http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/463384550_ee1224114f_m.jpg (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/463384550_ee1224114f_b.jpg) http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/463391393_c2d06f3ec9_m.jpg (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/463391393_c2d06f3ec9_b.jpg)

[chrisl]

they're worst places to be stuck:D

[toriaj]

I wish I'd pointed the camera more to the right on the last shot. Oh well. Two questions on this shot. 1) The tops of the trees are blurred because of the wind. Do you find this distracting? 2) What ISO would you have used here? What results in more noise - longer shutter speeds or higher ISO?

I love the last ocean shot. I hope I can get to the ocean and try some similar shots. I do not find the tops of the trees distracting.
Maybe they would be if you blew it up to poster size ;) but I say, print it out to a normal size and frame it!!

Long shutter speeds do not result in noise. ISO is what influences noise. I always use a low ISO in night shots.
You have a tripod anyway, so you can make the shutter speed as long as you want! Good job. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

[RichNY]

I really like your 3rd shot also. Did you double up a 1 stop and 2 stop ND filter or where you actually traveling with a 3 stop?

Can you share how you metered that shot?

[Sungrazer]

Long shutter speeds do not result in noise.

Is this true? I've read that long exposures result in fixed pattern noise. This is why if you have long exposure noise reduction turned on the camera will take a second photo of the same length with the shutter closed. The noise pixels from the "dark frame" are then subtracted from the original.

I really like your 3rd shot also. Did you double up a 1 stop and 2 stop ND filter or where you actually traveling with a 3 stop?

Can you share how you metered that shot?

I have one ND filter currently, and it's a 3 stop. What intrigues me is the Singh-Ray Vari-ND (http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html). By rotating the filter, you get a variable 2-8 stops of density.

I metered normally after attaching the filter. I didn't handhold a grad in front of it or anything, so I just tried to find a good average between the sky and water.

[toriaj]

Is this true? I've read that long exposures result in fixed pattern noise. This is why if you have long exposure noise reduction turned on the camera will take a second photo of the same length with the shutter closed. The noise pixels from the "dark frame" are then subtracted from the original.

Now that you mention it, I have heard of that feature ... but I haven't had problems with noise in long shutter speeds.
I didn't reduce any noise on my waterfall shot at 57 seconds. Maybe it would show up if there were large dark areas in the photo.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=216546&highlight=willow#post216546

(Normally, the only time I have problems with noise is if I'm trying to take a shot in low light
and do not compensate for it with my settings, and then try to pull up the exposure a long way in PP.)
But I think you're probably right. (Sorry)