Time exposures for a different look

While creating images for a new product coming out from Platypod, I pushed the envelope a bit. Experimentation leads to creating stronger photos. It a also helps you to understand the limitations and possibilities of your gear.

Landscape and clouds

Many times, the best landscape images come well after the sun has dropped below the horizon. That was true here as well. As the sun disappeared the red rocks began to glow and show beautiful depths and dimension with low contrast. It’s my favorite time to capture the landscape at its finest.

All images were made ISO 200 f/7.1 and various times. This was 2.5 sec.

Which brings me to the clouds. You have the ability to “paint” with clouds and they float on the wind. If the clouds are moving quickly even a relatively short exposure will render them softly. Longer exposures can result in a cotton-like look as the water crystals blend together over time.

Six seconds and the clouds move just a bit more than the previous photo. (above)

Experimentation

Even when you think you’ve got the best you can capture, I recommend you keep the experimentation going. In this case, many different images were made using multiple exposure times. Here are some variations on a theme starting at 2.5 seconds all the way to sixty seconds. Each renders the sky slightly different.

15 seconds.

60 second time exposure obviously led to the most streaking cloud formations.

Gear

My camera is the OM System OM-1 (available used) (newer model OM-2) and the M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4.0 Pro lens. This lens is sharp as a tack. With a field of view equivalent to a 24-200mm full frame camera it can often be the go-to for general use. Camera support was provided by the new Delta tripod from Platypod with the new Traveler mini ball head. The Delta is on Kickstarter and you can learn more here.

Platypod Delta with traveler ball head.

Yours in Creative Photography,

Bob

• Posted on January 10, 2025