Calm Against the Rae
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 70mm, f/18, ISO 100
Calm Against the Rage
Category Archives: long exposure
Buttermilk Falls – Gorge Trail
I finally made the time to finish some of the images from my exploring around Ithaca, NY early last week. These are along the gorge trail in Buttermilk Falls State Park. I parked at the upper lot and walked the trail down to the main falls. The best images where definitely along this trail and making the main falls a slight disappointment once I reached it.
Pools
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100
Alcove
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.6s, 19mm, f/20, ISO 100
Cascades
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/4, 0.6, 1.6s bracket), 19mm, f/20, ISO 100
Reflection Pool
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/13, 1/3, 1.3s bracket), 17mm, f/20, ISO 100
Stairs
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/3s, 32mm, f/20, ISO 100
Drizzle
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 21mm, f/20, ISO 100
Up Close
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100
Layers
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/2, 2, 8s bracket), 24mm, f/20, ISO 100
Water Shapes
The day before I left to bring my daughter to her college orientation I was searching the NY Falls site for candidates to explore around Ithaca, NY. I knew there where too many potential locations and I was hoping to find a few good ones lumped together. I had a few definitely on my list like Buttermilk Falls and Wells Falls but for some reason I confused the directions for Ithaca Falls and Cascadilla Falls. I suppose if I had just printed out what I wanted I would not have had any issues.
Cascadilla Falls is on Cascadilla Creek right in the city of Ithaca. I was able to park along a side street and walk a short distance to the entrance of the trail. I also did not read the entire website for this falls as the trail is blocked about half way to the falls from the end I started at. I wasn’t able to reach the main falls and since I still had another waterfall on my list for the day I didn’t search out the other end of the trail and work my way down to the falls. It wasn’t a big issue though since the creek is full of beautiful cascades and I was busy capturing all that I could.
I really liked this section of the creek because of the shape created by the water and rocks. Call me crazy but I see a person in the white water with their hands out stretched and the legs straddling the big rock.
Little Steps
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 4s, 17mm, f/18, ISO 100
Shapes
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 35mm, f/18, ISO 100
Green with Envy
What a great couple of days! I took my daughter down to Binghamton, NY for her college orientation (did I mention the quiet house in a month!) and spent the two days exploring the gorges and waterfalls around Ithaca, NY. I haven’t had much time to go through the images yet, but this is one of my favorites from Monday. I had an amazing time walking the gorge trail in Buttermilk Falls State Park. The area above the main falls is absolutely beautiful. I had to force myself to keep exploring or I would never have made it to the main falls.
Green with Envy
Nikon D5100 Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100
Closing for the Night
After dinner, and the rain, I headed out to the park to grab some sunset images. I managed to come home with a few keepers. As I was finishing up the dishes I noticed the clouds and some really funky light. I went out into the yard to see what I could do with some long exposures. I’ve always liked the way clouds streak in the sky when you leave the shutter open.
My first few attempts turned out OK for the clouds but the foreground was a little too dark. What the heck, might as well play around, digital images cost me nothing but my time. I popped the flash up (yes, I really need to buy a proper flash unit) and tried a few settings. I didn’t want to overpower the clouds so I dialed back on the flash power. A -2EV setting gave me what I wanted.
Not a bad attempt although there was just enough movement in the blossoms to cause a little ghosting. I think it works OK considering the movement in the clouds. I would have stayed out longer but the darn mosquitoes were eating me up!
Closing for the Night
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 30s, 17mm, -2EV flash, ISO 100
Coming and Going
My intent the other night was to capture the clouds just after sunset. I setup at the side of the road to capture a few images. Not as exciting as I hoped. And then the first car passed my location. Ding! Idea forming. It was late, it took longer than normal.
I had to wait quite a few minutes to get cars going in both directions. I didn’t think my luck would allow two cars going opposite directions at the same time so I decided to capture one each way and blend the two images in PS Elements. Another few attempts and I finally settled in on a 13 second exposure (two of them). I needed that amount of time to get the complete light trails along the length of road in the frame.
I had fun, and isn’t that what it is suppose to be about?
Coming and Going
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 13s, 35mm, f/22, ISO 100
Night Light
Night Light
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 30s, f/16, ISO 400
Low and Slow
We have had quite a lot of rain the past few days here in Upstate NY. I can say, without even looking, that the pool is now overfilled and I will have to be draining some off. I guess I shouldn’t wish for a little water!
There was a break in the waterworks about an hour after I arrived home from work yesterday. I knew the creek behind the house would be running fast and high. I mounted the camera on the tripod, attached the ND filter, pulled on the waterproof boots and headed down to one of my favorite playgrounds. There was still overcast skies but the sun was peeking through in a few places to provide some nice light through the trees.
I was not disappointed! The water was flowing fast enough to provide some nice patterns as it wound its way around the rocks and over the fallen trees. I kept the tripod low and the shutter between 1 to 3 seconds. I like it when the flow starts to turn silky but still appears to be moving. I was able to capture enough images in 30 minutes to keep me busy the rest of the night.
This is the first look after climbing down from the road. I was surprised to see the vibrant colors in the leaves. I would have expected that with a circular polarizer filter but not the ND filter. I’m assuming it is due to the water still on the leaves.
Water Playgound
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 100
I walked just a little further upstream to the small waterfall area. And by small I mean about a two feet in total drop. But it is layered in a few sections and when the water is running at the right level it has provided me with more than a few good images. Last night it was creating some great white water patterns.
The Rapids
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.3s, 19mm, f/14, ISO 400
Once I captured these “rapids” I decided to play with a little zoom effect. I started out with a 1 second exposure and while the shutter was open I zoomed the lens in, trying to pause just at the end of the movement. It required a few attempts and eventually a 2 seconds exposure provide the look I wanted to achieve. In post processing a conversion to monochrome completed the image.
Into the abyss
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.8s, 32mm, f/14, ISO 400
The sun decided it was going to fight the clouds for total dominance over the evening sky and was providing a nice area of isolated light through the trees. I came back downstream to a spot below my little falls and attempted to capture both the water rapids and the brilliant leaves on the trees. Everything seemed to fit better in a portrait orientation.
After the Rain
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 21mm, f/10, ISO 100
Of course I couldn’t resist some up close and personal images. I’ll admit that I am totally captivated by the moving water. I have been playing in creeks since I was in kindergarten! I hope I never outgrow it…
Crash ‘n Splash
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.3s, 17mm, f/8, ISO 100
After about 30 minutes of playing I had to get back to the house to make dinner. The kids were not going to wait forever. Normally I’m eating quickly so I can go out and play with the camera but last night it was so I could see what I captured on the computer screen and start creating my images!
MLCreations Photography 