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[Singing snapper]

Back up the mountain behind my house in South Wales yesterday evening just before during and after sunset.

Pentax 645D FA 35 f/3.5 at f/8 1/60 ISO 200


overlooking-Port-Talbot-just-before-sunset by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Caught the sun setting close to this spot

Several images merged in photomatix

f/16 ISO 100


summer-sunset-over-Swansea-Bay by singingsnapper, on Flickr

A little further down after the sun has gone down

again several shots merged (fused) in photomatix

f/11 ISO 100 (1 shot at 200)


The-sun-has-set-on-swansea-bay by singingsnapper, on Flickr

looking over the town of Port Talbot after sunset

f/8 25 secs ISO 100


overlooking-port-talbot-at-twilight by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[karenoliver]

Love the first and last shot as the view is tremendous and really appeals to me. Think you did a great job with the night shot in particular. The second shot has a nice perspective but did you know the sensor probs needs cleaning or you can use the heal tool in PS as there is some weird mark in the sky and a few dust specks.



Karen

[Singing snapper]

Originally Posted by karenoliver

Love the first and last shot as the view is tremendous and really appeals to me. Think you did a great job with the night shot in particular. The second shot has a nice perspective but did you know the sensor probs needs cleaning or you can use the heal tool in PS as there is some weird mark in the sky and a few dust specks.



Karen

One or two sensor spots, I had the camera for a year without getting any dust, then I get it back after a few months away in Japan for repair and it picks up dust within a week

There are a few small plane trails up there but looking at 100% I can't find anything else...

Further frustration is the fact that the Giottos dust blower I have is not recommended for CCD sensors (like all medium format sensors, the 645D is a CCD) I have asked Pentax what I'm meant to use but I'm yet to receive a satisfactory answer.

[karenoliver]

I know how frustrating it can be. My 5DMK2 constantly gets dust and I am always cleaning it. You'd think by now that these huge companies would be able to sort the dust problem out!

Karen

[Singing snapper]

Originally Posted by karenoliver

I know how frustrating it can be. My 5DMK2 constantly gets dust and I am always cleaning it. You'd think by now that these huge companies would be able to sort the dust problem out!

Karen

Thankfully it's only a few spots which are fairly easy to clone out (when I remember). I think the reason I forgot on this occasion was that the previous shot I had processed was the first shot of this set and was shot at f/8 so the spot wasn't visible.

Need to get a definitive answer from Pentax though. Previous to the last repair a contact I have n Pentax had offered a FOC sensor clean, which they would be able to do at Johnson's Photopia who are Pentax 's UK repair agents in Staffordshire. Need to think bout that again, but don't want to be without the camera for too long.

[Singing snapper]

Went out this evening down by the beach. A dull day today with little sun. Right at the end before going into a cafe for something to eat on the sea front, I set the camera up on my very lightweight Benro tripod which held up well against the wind, unweighted. I wasn't sure what result I would get. I have the official Nikon cable release with timer which comes in handy. The result is very interesting indeed. Despite the fact that it was almost dark, the camera focussed straight away. The foreground is partially lit by streetlight and the colour in the sky is a mixture of last light and streetlight and I find the colours in this interesting.

It has been processed in Efex's Viveza, and saturation and contrast have been tweaked. I also used a software ND grad at 50% strength.

Nikon D800 14 - 24 at 20mm f/11 8 mins ISO 50


Aberavon-Abstract by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[JonnyM]

A lot going on in this photograph 'Singing Snapper'. Bold vibrant colours and lots of movement, very abstract. The direction of the clouds contrasts the horizontal lines of the beach and headland which works really well. It could be one of those serendipitous experiments where you think it turned out rather well and you didn't have to miss dinner. A criticism could be the overexposed foreground which is quite distracting. One observation, how do you have time for sleep/work/relaxation let alone dinner with the amount of travel/photography/post-production you appear to do!

[wil59]

I love the beach shot, but have to agree with JohnnyM, the foreground does distract from the image, but this could be rectiifed. Excellent picture!! Well done

[Hardy]

nice photos!

[Singing snapper]

Some from around South Wales' Gower coast:

All shot with Nikon D800 Nikkor 24 - 70

Lone boat in Swansea Bay - I went for the minimalist approach here, cloning out fishing buoys

70mm f/8 1/400 ISO 125


lone-boat-at-mumbles by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Rhosilli beach:

24mm 1/400 f/8 ISO 200


rhosilli by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Worm's Head

f/8 45mm 1/160 ISO 125


Worm's-Head by singingsnapper, on Flickr