I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. I finished mine off last night by throwing a couple of beers in a cooler, and heading to a place about 20 minutes from my home called Honeymoon Island (in Dunedin, FL). I’ve been to Honeymoon Island a bunch of times. In fact, you’ll notice this post was titled “Another Sunset…”. That’s because I posted a photo of another sunset (from a different location on the island) a while back. This time, I went to a spot I just found on a different part of the island.
SIDE NOTE: Really quick, before we get started – I’m doing a free webcast on Wednesday on how I use Lightroom and onOne’s Perfect Effects together for my landscape photos. Here’s the link to their webcast page if you want to sign up. The last few have sold out, so make sure you grab a spot. Okay, on to the rest of the post…
The Weather
As always, the weather is interesting here in our Florida summers. Sunset was at 8:30pm. At 7:00, there was lots of clouds, at 7:30 there were less. And, while there was some weather rolling in behind me, there was a lot of clear sky in between so I figured it would never make it here by sunset.
Wrong!!!
What do I know right? 🙂 At about 8:00 it was almost like a light switch went off and it became windy and gray. I noticed some weather getting closer so I grabbed my camera and took a photo behind me. Nothing award-winning, but it gives you an idea of what was rolling in. And it was rolling in fast. At that point, the left-over weekend beach-goers started packing up quickly and almost running off the beach. I didn’t even think I’d make it out there until sunset. But then it started to calm down a little and the really bad weather stayed mostly to the south of where I was so I hung around.
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Waiting it Out
As sunset got closer, I started worrying that too many clouds were going to roll in and that it would block the sunset all together. But I got pretty lucky. The sky cooperated and I got a nice amount of color and drama all mixed together. Here’s my favorite photo of the evening. The long exposure from my 6-stop ND filter smoothed out the water nicely. And that last warm light from the sun on that piling in front of me really helped.
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Photo Details
Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
Lens: Canon 24-70mm
Tripod: Really Right Stuff TVC-33 and BH-55 Ballhead
Shutter Speed: 25 sec.
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/11
Filter: Lee Little Stopper 6-stop ND filter
Post Processing: I processed this on in Lightroom, some touch-ups in Photoshop, and finished it off with the Dynamic Contrast filter in onOne Perfect Effects.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a good one!
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Matt,
I stumbled upon your photo while researching Photo Ops in Dunedin, FL. where I will be spending one week in September. I was wondering if you have any recommendations for awesome places to take photos while in Dunedin, Tampa or St Petersburg? I live in St Louis so I would love to photograph the ocean with interesting features such as your Honeymoon Island photo. I also love cultural images and birds. Thank you.
Love your work, inspires me to go out and shoot more often. I see that you used the Little Stopper on this shoot. Considering the Little Stopper and Big Stopper are the same price and assuming you can only afford one, which would you purchase. I am a landscape guy fortunate enough to be in Hawaii for another year, so I mainly shoot beach scenes and waterfalls. Thanks.
Matt,
I love your photography! I have a question…..I have a large heavy gitzo tripod for my bird photography, etc. but want a lightweight tripod for easy travel overseas. What would you recommend that would hold the weight of a Nikon D4 and wide angle/macro lens?
thanks
carol smith
Hey Carol. I have a Gitzo traveler that I go with when I want to go REALLY light. It’s small, light and easy to carry. Good luck!
Great shot Matt! Did you blend 2 exposures, one for the sky and one for the water? The clouds look more static than the water. I know that’s a technique you’ve shared before, so just curious.
Cheers!
Yup. I did indeed put a different sky in. But depending on how fast the clouds are moving, sometimes even at 25 seconds they don’t show much motion. I used a sky that was actually just over to the right of this photo. Looked more interesting. But at least it was from the same sunset 🙂
Hey Matt,
Love your “gambling” attitude in taking pictures. Inspires me to shoot for more pictures along the Oregon coast in the Spring/Fall. Especially lovely is the ND filter affect: smooth, silky water. So coooooool!
Incidentally, really enjoyed your pictures of L. Tahoe awhile back. Have driven by the beach many a time and never knew it existed.
Best.
Thanks! Landscape photography, if anything, is always a gamble. You should definitely get out to the coast there. Our beaches are relatively flat and it’s hard to find things to shoot here. I wish I lived out that way because I really enjoy your rocky coastline. And I really want to get back to Tahoe. So many places, too little time right? 🙂
Great one, I like the first one more.
Kind of sad that I was looking for the ‘LIKE’ button under the photo you said was your favorite….so I’ll do it the old fashioned way! Beautifully done! Thank you SO MUCH for the ‘recipe’ under the photo! PS the ‘rolling in’ photo is so dramatic!
Thanks! Yeah, those clouds were pretty crazy.
I was so close to go to that beach yesterday, but I got lazy lol, I have been in that beach two times already just scouting the area, and it’s pretty nice. I might go pretty soon..
Nice photos like always Matt!
Thanks. You should have gone 🙂
Hey Matt,
Nicely done! I love your long exposure photos! They really inspire me to get out and do some. I would love to see your webinar on LR and onOne, but since it’s changing to Tuesday next week, I won’t be able to attend. We are in the process of moving from Parker, CO to San Antonio, TX and the packers are coming on Tuesday. Bummer! Hopefully, it will be recorded so I can watch it later.
Dennis
Good luck on the move Dennis. Buy me a 6-pack of beer and I’ll come help 🙂
onOne always saves the webcasts so I’m sure you’ll be able to re-watch it.
Dennis is correct Matt. Looks like you’ll have some free time on Wednesday 🙂
I followed the link above to the oNOne site to sign up for the webinar. However, there are no webinars listed for Wednesday, July 9.
I always enjoy your descriptions of your shooting adventure.
Sorry about that Dennis. Looks like we’re switching it to next Tuesday.
Hey ya Matt! Love this one!
By the way… have you gone all Canon now like Scott has? Just wondering… I am happy with my Nikon D800 and don’t see jumping at this point… but like to get others opinions of those I respect. I know a number that have this year and it has made me pause.
Hey Stephen – I’ve been shooting both but mostly Canon lately. They both take GREAT photos so I wouldn’t worry about it. Definitely be happy with your D800. Here’s a post I did if you need a little back story: https://mattk.com/2014/01/21/why-ive-been-shooting-canon-photography-gear/
Thanks 🙂
Thanks Matt! Although I check your blog almost every day… It appears I missed that one. Good read and I agree with you 100%. My regular job involves me knowing as much as I can about a number of products so I get it.
For me I had wanted a Nikon since I was 15 but could never afford one. I had an Olympus OM1 that still works for like forever. Had even bought my daughter a Nikon for her birthday one year. In 2008 the opportunity presented itself to get my first Nikon… been happy ever since.
Next time you are in Michigan give me a heads up… will buy lunch or dinner… maybe do some shutter clicks together.