Category Archives: landscape

Cityglow Sunrise

Posted by Mike on

Barge Canal looking toward Utica, NY

I got my butt out early Saturday! I made a plan and actually followed through with it. Too bad the approaching front didn’t know my plan… 😦

I wanted to catch the sunrise from the Barge Canal. The past few mornings have been wonderful for sunrises (at least as I looked through the shop windows at work). I noticed there was still a thin layer of ice on the barge canal and thought it would add some nice broken reflections for the sunrise.

At least the ice was still in the canal. As you can see from the picture the clouds were rolling in fast and there was very little of the rising sun that made it though to me. The color in the sky is a little sun but mostly the glow from the city lights of Utica.  I grabbed a few images while the time for sunrise approached but when the sun should have been visible there was nothing but clouds.  I did like the thin strip of white that moved through as I captured this thirty second exposure.

I’m listening to the wind race outside this morning as I write this post so I do not think I will have a chance for a sunrise this morning.  I was spoiled that week in Florida with all the sunrise opportunities.  I know there are pictures here for me I just need to find them!

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Cityglow Sunrise

Cityglow Sunrise
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 30s, 40mm, f/11, ISO 400

Morning at the Bridge

Posted by Mike on

192 Causeway over the Indian River

We had just spent the last two days at Disney. It was Wednesday morning and I was planning on taking the kids up to Kennedy Space Center. I had time, they were not getting up any time soon. I had just downed the cup of coffee my mother-in-law had made so the caffeine was going to kick in at any time. When I looked out the window I could see the sunrise was going to be beautiful.

The day we arrived in Florida I had taken the kids over to Melbourne Beach.  My Leave Your Cares Behind post was from that little excursion.  It wasn’t a great day then but I didn’t care.  I was in Florida and on a beach.  On our way over to the beach I had spotted a little park right on the edge of the Indian River where the 192 Causeway crosses over.  I had a good feeling the view of the sunrise would be best from that vantage point.

When going out for sunrise pictures it is always best to arrive early.  You want to be there at least thirty minutes if not an hour before the sun is suppose to break the horizon.  The reason for the extra time is two-fold.  One, you want to be able to search out a good location (if you haven’t done so already).  The second is the light before the sun rises is actually the best.  The time just before sunrise and/or just after sunset is known as the blue hour.

During this blue hour the sky takes on an extra deep shade of blue, fading as the sun nears the horizon.  If you are lucky enough to have a few clouds in the sky, the sun will color those shades of red and orange as it rises.  This is what I was hoping to capture this morning.  I got lucky…

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Morning Bridge

Morning Bridge
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 400

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Shoot the Middle

Shoot the Middle
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 30s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Going East

Going East
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

Lonely Path

Posted by Mike on

Two Paths

Saturday morning started out beautifully. It had snowed during the night but it was the fluffy, light snow which I enjoy shoveling. I look at shoveling as the exercise I need during the less active winter months. I’m not above using the snowblower when needed though, I’m not totally crazy.

The ground was covered in a white blanket and the clouds were sparse enough to let the morning sun cast great shadows across the snow. As soon as the sun made its appearance I grabbed the camera and went out walking along the road to see what pictures await me.

I didn’t have to venture far before finding this deer path through my neighbor’s yard. The setting was perfect. Tracks through the fresh snow. The sun just breaking through the clouds. Still an orange glow in the sky. I grabbed a couple images and then as I normally do I turned the camera and grabbed a few more in portrait orientation. It is a practiced I learned from Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure book. You will also hear him repeat this practice if you watch his videos on his website or at Adorama TV.

The reason for the title of this post is I processed this image two separate ways. The first image, which I actually processed second, was done entirely in Lightroom. The second image I did my normal tweaks in Lightroom and then finished the image using OnOne Photo Suite 9. There are really only slight differences in the images.

The first image has not been sharpened as much, there is a slight softness to it. The second image has stronger colors in the sky.  I also lightened up the shadows more in the second image.  The more I look at both the more I favor the first image.  It feels more real to me.  It could also just be my morning coffee talking…  🙂

I would love to hear what you think of the images.  Which do you prefer?

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Lonely Path

Lonely Path
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Lonely Path

Lonely Path
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

Wordless Wednesday: Enjoy the Beach Moments

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne Beach, FL

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Enjoy the Beach Moments

Enjoy the Beach Moments
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/3s, 14mm, f/14, ISO 200

Before the Sun

Posted by Mike on

Riverside Park, Indiatlantic, FL

Another trip to Riverside Park along the Indian River in Indiatlantic, FL. This trip was the morning of my last day in Florida. It was a challenge as the clouds were rolling in which would eventually bring the rain. On the plus side the clouds did obscure the full moon which allowed for this extremely long exposure of the 192 bridge and the fishing dock from the park.

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Before the Sun

Before the Sun
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 50s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Turkey Creek Sunset

Posted by Mike on

Palm Bay Marina, Turkey Creek

Just down the road from my mother-in-law is the Palm Bay Marina. I drove by numerous times every day wondering if there was an image I could capture. The other night I walked down after dinner and found a walking path that followed the creek out toward the Indian River. Although I managed to grab some individual shots, I setup on the walkway corner to capture what I needed for a panorama.

After getting my pictures by the creek I wished that I could have gone into the marina to capture some images from the docks. The gate was open but the sign indicated only boat owners and guests are allowed after 5pm. I looked for someone to ask but no one was in sight. I almost talked myself into sneaking in but thought my luck would have brought the police. I guess I’m not a very adventurous photographer. 🙂

I used Lightroom’s panorama feature to combine the images and make my normal adjustments. A quick trip into OnOne Photo Suite for few enhancements gave me the view that had been in my head.

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Turkey Creek Sunset

Turkey Creek Sunset
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/80s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200/em>

Full Risen

Posted by Mike on

Indian River, Melbourne, FL

Well, sometimes you have to run with the image that knocks your socks off. I had another image all ready to go today but last night we went over to the water to see the full moon. The first stop was the park at the end of the 192 Causeway on the Melbourne, FL side. Just standing next to the water with the lights from the bridge and the moon I knew I was going to get a great image.

There was just the right amount of clouds in the sky to give the moon a glow and reduce the sharp moonlight. I had to manage the ISO to get a suitable long exposure. I didn’t want to completely glass over the water. I wanted to still have some texture in it. Increasing the ISO to 400 allowed for a 25 second exposure at f/13. I was ready to go back and start working on this image but we continued on over to the beach and that was just as beautiful. More on that image later…

Merry Christmas my friends!

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Full Risen

Full Risen
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/13, ISO 400

Sunrise Shadows

Posted by Mike on

Indian River near Melbourne, FL

I went looking for the sunrise the other morning and it did not disappoint. I was at the small park on the Melbourne side of the 192 Causeway over the Indian River. I was like a kid in a candy store. Running all around the area grabbing pictures. I’ll warn everyone now that there will be more pictures on the way… 🙂

This image is a manual blend of three exposures. I used the normal exposure for the water, blended in the under-exposed image for the sky and the over-exposed image for the rocks. After the blending I worked a little of my normal processing with the Topaz Labs plug-ins (Clarity, Adjust and Detail).

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Sunrise Shadows

Sunrise Shadows
Olympus OM-D E-EM1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, {0.6, 1/3 & 1/6s bracket}, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200