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Winter Sunset

Posted by
Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 8 February 2012 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

A cold and misty winter sunset on the beaches of North West England.

This was a handheld shot using 4 stops of neutral density graduated filters - 2 of these filters were used stacked on my wide angle lens. Without them those lovely ripples in the sand were far too dark when I exposed for the setting sun.

NIKON D700 1/15 second F/16.0 ISO 500 16 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.

tim /\ʌ° from desert lapping at the feet of mountains, United States

Amazing Ian! Surely a candidate for your next book. A photographic landscape Taijitu. Wonderfully balanced.

8 Feb 2012 7:19am

@tim /\ʌ°: Thanks for that Tim!

6th March 2012 Edit - Tim, have you read the book: "The Tao of Photography: Seeing Beyond Seeing"?....it's worth reading for those interested in exploring the essence of art in photography.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tao-Photography-Seeing-Beyond/dp/1580081940

Christian Richer from Le Havre, France

A vacuum strange, almost frightening ... But what a great picture!

8 Feb 2012 7:52am

@Christian Richer: Thanks Christian!

Bill Brown from California, United States

Fantastic!

8 Feb 2012 8:13am

@Bill Brown: Thanks Bill!

Sergei Z from Türi, Estonia

Simply perfect!

8 Feb 2012 9:07am

@Sergei Z: Thanks Sergei!

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Extraordinary image.

8 Feb 2012 9:32am

DIMITRIOS from ATHENS, Greece

Ian, I am spechless, BRAVO*100

8 Feb 2012 10:12am

hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong

This is an incredible sight you've managed to capture Ian! How intriguing and captivating at the same time! The tone, patterns and textures couldn't be more wonderful!

8 Feb 2012 10:13am

omid from mashhad, Iran

wooow!
very nice & beautiful!!!

8 Feb 2012 11:12am

yz from Budapest, Hungary

amazing composition, perfect light

8 Feb 2012 11:51am

Gérard Beullac from Paris, France

Another stunning image !
I am especially astonished by the technical quality of this image which is in the same time smooth and crispy.
A kind of masterpiece !

8 Feb 2012 12:32pm

Stefan from Thiersee, Austria

FANTASTIC!!!

8 Feb 2012 12:47pm

Ian Smith from London, United Kingdom

This is an incredible photo Ian! That subtle sun in the distance is a great addition to an already fantastic composition.

8 Feb 2012 1:43pm

OpenSpace Images from Wirral, United Kingdom

Superbly composed and great control of light. Just wondering if this was taken a couple of nights ago -- looks like there might be a bank of fog in the distance and we had an unusual bank of really thick sea fog here on the Wirral on Monday night...

8 Feb 2012 2:24pm

@OpenSpace Images: Thanks!....yes. it was in that fog on Monday which lasted all day.

Pavan Kaul from Mumbai, India

Awe inspiring composition Ian. Intensely beautiful!

8 Feb 2012 5:15pm

Garfield from Ancaster Ontario, Canada

Congratulations = excellent compo and light = photography! :)

8 Feb 2012 6:45pm

Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France

a beautiful wide angle and rendering of patterns of wet sand ! the lighting is beautiful !

8 Feb 2012 7:51pm

Elaine Hancock from Rockville, United States

Absolutely beautiful! 5*'s!

8 Feb 2012 8:52pm

Daryl Johnson from Worcester Park, United Kingdom

Just brilliant!

8 Feb 2012 10:43pm

DarkElf from Perth, Australia

absolutely superb composition with the sand ripples stretching from the foreground onwards and creating a feeling of endless space and distance!

9 Feb 2012 1:59am

janina from Melbourne, Australia

...forming, overall, a lovely abstract. beautiful. 4stars. :OD PS: You must have a very steady hand...

9 Feb 2012 3:45am

@janina: Thanks Janina. I'm lucky that the 16-35 zoom lens that I use has 'vibration reduction' so 1/15th of a second is a very safe shutter speed, especially at the 16mm end of the lens. Hand held shutter speeds as low as 1/2second are possible but I have to concentrate very hard on technique and breathing etc which isn't very relaxing!

Skyriani from Nelson, New Zealand

Stunning! Superb composition

9 Feb 2012 8:32am

Skyriani from Nelson, New Zealand

...and perfect clarity

9 Feb 2012 8:33am

Barbara Lee from Oakland, United States

This is simply GORGEOUS!

9 Feb 2012 5:47pm

shooter from United Kingdom

Stunning

9 Feb 2012 8:09pm

Denny Jump Photo from Easton, PA, United States

This is phenomenal, Ian...Wonderful!

9 Feb 2012 9:20pm

Sandrine from Houston, United States

Beautiful!!! Wonderful feel of infinity...

10 Feb 2012 3:20am

Punit from Somewhere in, India

The tones and the texture here is fantastic. Lovely composition!

12 Feb 2012 3:14am

Dhaval from Princeton, United States

Beautiful.. As usual.

12 Feb 2012 4:38am

Stefanie from Paris, France

Lovely.

13 Feb 2012 10:04am

Sof from Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Superb

13 Feb 2012 3:52pm

Serenagooner10 from Northwest England as some puts it ;), United Kingdom

where in manchester is this taken from?

22 Feb 2012 9:12pm

@Serenagooner10: Not many beaches in Manchester are there!! :-)

It's from the west coast near Southport.

PRASHANT from Mumbai, India

Amazing..

23 Feb 2012 10:00am

Russ Devan from New Hanover, United States

Drop-dead gorgeous image, Ian. Simple images are my favorite and you've done a great job of keeping it simple yet fascinating. I love the pattern created by the ripple marks in the sand and the leading lines. Just the right amount of color in the sky and perfect placement of the sun and the horizon. VERY well done.

2 Mar 2012 4:04pm

Jerry from Aberdeen, United States

the shots just keep getting better and better. This is outstanding.

3 Mar 2012 9:46pm

Ranita Imposible from Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Wooow! Just amazing!

20 Apr 2012 1:55pm

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

superb

22 Apr 2012 1:54am

Loretta from Pretoria, South Africa

Magic image. Absolutely stunning!

22 Apr 2012 3:43pm

Eric C. from Ivry sur Seine, France

Great pov !!

2 May 2012 4:29pm

APP from Nevers, France

Absolutely fantastic ...

9 Oct 2012 9:50pm

Ryan Hammond from Tucson, United States

Quite possibly my favorite photo of yours. It's really just..perfect. Every time I view your work I once again feel honored to have had the opportunity to shoot alongside you. You're truly an outstanding photographer, Ian.

10 Jan 2013 2:33am

@Ryan Hammond: Thanks Ryan - it's one of my own favourites too and is on the wall as a framed print at home. (It's from Crosby beach by the way!)
Re the photo trip - it was a real pleasure photographing with you for those couple of days in north Wales and NW England although I'm not sure that I was able to 'teach' you anything as it's clear you were already a great photographer.

NIKON D700
1/15 second
F/16.0
ISO 500
16 mm (35mm equiv.)