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Severn Bridge, Wales

Posted by
Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 1 June 2009 in Business & Industry and Portfolio.

Photographed from the Welsh end of the bridge using a 10 stop nd filter on my Sigma 10-20 wide angle lens.

30 seconds at f16 (and bags of basic contrast enhancement in post processing!)

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I've decided to enter the 'Cool Photoblogs' annual competition again this year. I'd really appreciate a vote from any of you who like my blog and who feel up to going through the registration process that is required in order to be able to vote: 2009 Photoblog Awards

NIKON D40 30 seconds F/16.0 ISO 200 15 mm (35mm equiv.)

Like what you see here and are interested in photographic composition?.....the blog section of my website now has a complete set of 5 articles covering my personal approach to the subject: Ian Bramham Photography - Blog

For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to my website Ian Bramham - Fine Art Photography where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Wow! Fantastic post editing! Beautiful image with superb composition and contrast! Well done

1 Jun 2009 5:52am

@Magda: Thanks Magda....I was lucky that it was windy enough so the clouds were moving enough to give this effect during the 30 second exposure.

Giovanni from Milan, Italy

Stunning photo Ian! Love the dynamic effect of the blurred clouds and the composition. Great work!

1 Jun 2009 6:40am

@Giovanni: Thanks Giovanni....it was one of those days that was perfect for long exposure photography with fast moving clouds.

Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom

WOW.. very dramatic image.

1 Jun 2009 7:24am

@Sarito: Thanks Sarito!

Didier DE ZAN from somewhere, France

Wonderful photograph

1 Jun 2009 7:25am

@Didier DE ZAN: Thanks Didier!

Jean-François from Les Issambres, France

wowwwwwwwwwwwww fantastique envol dans la photo ! BRAVOOOOO I LIKE *****************

1 Jun 2009 7:35am

@Jean-François: Thanks Jean-François!

Pui-Yee from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

wonderful photo and post processing. it's a captivating image

1 Jun 2009 7:50am

@Pui-Yee: Thanks Pui-Yee!.....the processing is very simple really as it's just a straightforward conversion into B&W from the original colour image and then I applied lots and lots of contrast both using Photoshops curves tool and Capture NX2's 'U' point controls. Ohh, I also added some sharpening as the original image was a little soft due to diffraction from the small fstop that I used (f16) and probably a little wind shake from the long tripod exposure.

Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France

excellent work with filter and 30seconds shutter speed. I love the motion blur of the clouds but also your framing and perspective, the strong contrast BW. great, really great !

1 Jun 2009 8:23am

@Anna.C: Thanks Ana!

Rui from Leiria, Portugal

WOW! 10 stop?! This has produced such a magnificent work! Excellent!!

1 Jun 2009 8:45am

@Rui: Thanks Rui!

Scene by Sharon Photography from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

I am a huge fan of your work - another stunning image!

1 Jun 2009 10:06am

@Scene by Sharon Photography: Thanks Sharon!

Sophie Asselin from Montréal, Canada

Wow ! How do you get a sky like that ! Is it an effect with Photoshop or it's the exposition ?

1 Jun 2009 10:54am

@Sophie Asselin: Hi Sophie....it's all done in-camera rather than in Photoshop. Although I did increase the contrast later in post processing I achieved the blur and movement in the clouds and water through the use of a 10 stop neutral density filter screwed onto the front of my lens. Neutral density filters are discs of grey glass that reduce the amount of light getting to the camera's sensor thereby allowing the use of longer shutter speeds (this photo was taken using a tripod). The filter I used here was rated at 10 stops. A normal exposure would have been about 1/30th of a second at f16 rather than the 30 seconds at f16 that I achieved with the filter in place. I hope that helps, Ian

Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany

This is what we love your photoblog for... Amazing shots combining landscape and dramatic skies in b/w. Well done!

1 Jun 2009 1:40pm

hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong

The contrast between the dynamic clouds and the smooth water is amazingly dramatic!!! As always, your composition and framing are brilliant! Refreshing!

1 Jun 2009 2:39pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Amazing sky! Excellent landscape in b/w.

1 Jun 2009 4:59pm

Onlymehdi from Wayne, United States

STUNNNNNING

1 Jun 2009 5:35pm

Bruno from Marietta, United States

Great Photo!!!! Love the Long Exposure Capturing the Cloud Movement.... Very Nice Work!!!

1 Jun 2009 7:27pm

Ian Smith from London, United Kingdom

You really are an ND master Ian! Wow, this image really has such a kick of wonderment, its like... just... wow!
Very very well done!

1 Jun 2009 8:10pm

Ted from South Wales, United Kingdom

The filter master! Great sky...great job Ian! (So much better for standing on the Welsh side?)

1 Jun 2009 9:08pm

Abraham Siloé from Puebla, Mexico

nice perspective, like it a lot, great treatment,
hope you visit my photoblog!!!
goodbye!!!

2 Jun 2009 1:35am

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

This is just ridiculously good Ian.

2 Jun 2009 6:34am

ManuelaR from Hainburg (Frankfurt/Main), Germany

Top notch Ian :)

2 Jun 2009 9:43am

Chimti from New Delhi, India

This is a absolute beauty! How did you manage such a perfect shot! sigh..
Am so going to vote for you :)

2 Jun 2009 11:04am

Marie LC from Voiron, France

5 stars for me. Great shot Ian !

2 Jun 2009 11:27am

linus. from Singapore, Singapore

nice use of long exposure to create the moving effect of the clouds. love it

2 Jun 2009 11:29am

dkc from Xanthi, Greece

You did a great job handling the long exposure metering! The photo is powerful!

2 Jun 2009 8:31pm

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

This is such a beautiful long exposure. Beautiful processing.

3 Jun 2009 1:42am

Hervé from France

Superbe, l'effet du GA sur les nuages!!

3 Jun 2009 2:09pm

Marie from FRESNES, France

l'atmosphère est magnifique !

4 Jun 2009 8:49pm

Félix Pérez from Los Barrios - Cadiz, Spain

Nice shot.

16 Dec 2011 9:27am

Moein from Bandar-e-Anzali, Iran

Excellent :)

3 Jan 2012 10:48am

NIKON D40
30 seconds
F/16.0
ISO 200
15 mm (35mm equiv.)