Greg Molyneux Photography

Category: Blog

Greg Molyneux’s latest photographs and words presented in reverse chronological order.

  • Mirrored Worlds

    A long exposure photograph taken during blue hour overlooking the lake at Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area. The picture creates a near perfect mirrored reflection.
    Mirrored Worlds — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | EXP 121 sec

    Pictures aside thank you Daylight Savings Time. It’s a real victory being able to chase light and photograph after the long commute home. It changes the game for me as extended weekday shooting is back in the fold.

    I had some time to kill before dinner tonight—and in the interest of full disclosure, dinner tonight consisted of pepper steak at the folks’—I quickly hemmed and hawed over the beach or Stafford Forge as I grabbed my gear and loaded the car. Once I remembered we were negotiating evening high tides all along Long Beach Island, I opted for the Forge. Long exposure jetty rock tidal pictures will just have to wait.

    Some quick thoughts on the ND filter:

    • Set up is more laborious—especially with the care needed in handling the filter so as to be sans prints (fingers)
    • Loading in the outer slot and leaving the inner slot empty will cause light leaks
    • The filter itself seems to cast a blue hue; not certain if it’s common but the filter’s not as neutral as its name would suggest
    • Enjoying the challenge—gonna be a bit before I get something really gripping

  • Fallback plans

    An HDR photograph taken at the end of Cedar Run Dock Road overlooking the bay to the south taken just after sunset.
    Fallback plans — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I had every intention of shooting with my ND filter today. I even got so far as to spending the greater part of my sunset shoot one 300 second photograph at a time. After cursory glances at my LCD I was pleased with the exposures rolling through. It wasn’t until closer inspection—after I was packing up my gear—that I noticed the litany of light leaks scattered about each photograph. Looking at the images back home on the computer revealed even more frightening results. It was so bad you could actually see the entire reflection of my convex lens in each picture. It was almost immediately that I knew where I went wrong, I loaded the filter onto the mount in the outside slot instead of the inside slot. A rookie mistake. One I will not make again. The added spaced allowed the light to bounce wreaking havoc with reflections.

    Rewind back to sunset, where I didn’t have the benefit of a large display and well-informed hindsight, I quickly set up shop so I could test my now filterless lens to ensure nothing funky was going on with my glass. Sparing no haste I composed the shot above and fired off seven bracketed exposures. Not a bad way to turn the shoot around, and I made a mistake and learned.

  • In color

    A long exposure photograph overlooking Great Bay during blue hour taken by Manahawkin, NJ photographer Greg Molyneux from an abandoned boat ramp on Great Bay Boulevard.
    In color — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | EXP 300 sec

    I’m not one to usually post numerous treatments of the same photograph, but I thought it made sense here for comparison’s sake. But the more I think about it now, I’m beginning to prefer the color treatment over the black and white I posted previously.

  • Testing the water

    Manahawkin, NJ photographer Greg Molyneux takes a long exposure black and white photograph of the bay and abandoned docks on Great Bay Boulevard.
    Testing the water — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | EXP 300 sec

    For months now I’ve had my eye on an ND filter. I’ve been coveting the sublime long exposure work of talented fine art photographers and hoped to someday begin learning their craft and working it into my repertoire. After a bit of research—and some savings—I figured out everything I’d need to get a filter mounted on my convex 14mm wide angle lens. A simple threaded filter on a flat lens was not an option for me.

    Today it all came together. My filter mount, adapter, and 10-stop ND filter were finally off of the internet and into my hands. After a brief period of test setup in my house, I figured out how the system would work, repacked my camera bag due to new found size constraints, and headed out to Great Bay Boulevard for my first round of experimentation. My buddy Jeff was hip to come along which was key this time out as having an extra pair of hands proved helpful—sliding 6.5″ by 6.5″ filter plate into position while trying not to smudge any of the resin filter is quite a task. I probably will invest in some linen gloves in the future.

    The picture about was taken (started) about 5 minutes after sundown and was an open shutter for a total of 300 seconds—that’s 5 minutes for those scoring at home. I can’t wait to get back out and try again tomorrow!

  • Capturing a moment

    An HDR photograph of a rare event: a full spectrum sunset over a snow covered, frozen marsh south of Cedar Run Dock Road.
    Capturing a moment — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Yep—

    This is what I’ve been waiting for. The perfect storm of a snow covered marsh, expressive clouds and an explosion of color. The occasional visits of the Polar Vortex this year have served to paint the most dramatic skies; and tonight just may have been the best of all. I shan’t distract you from the photograph with any more words and I hope you enjoy.

  • Thinking about tomorrow

    A cross processed HDR photograph taken at sunset from Cedar Run Dock Road by Manahawkin, NJ, photographer Greg Molyneux. This photograph is colored in blue and grey tones.
    Thinking about tomorrow — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Here’s my sunset shot from yesterday—I was out for an evening of dining and drinks in Atlantic City with friends celebrating a birthday and was unable to post. A good time was had by all.

    This was taken on Cedar Run Dock Road and I’ve composed a photograph from this very location before. While the colors weren’t as explosive as they’ve been other times this winter, the cloud definition was intricate and brooding, teasing topside color that was just out of reach. With about 20% less cloud cover and the sun would have gotten below the cloud deck and painted the sky with its gifted hand. Alas it wasn’t meant to be.

    I opted to cross process this image, which is already a composite of 7 bracketed exposures, smoothing out the image with a calming blue tone. It more fit the mood of the blue-grey day I was seeing out there on the marsh. Snow is coming and the sky was letting us know.

  • You’re uninvited

    An HDR photograph taken from the southern side of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge overlooking the Atlantic City skyline at sunset.
    You’re uninvited — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I was pressed for time yesterday and unable to post this shot before the Downton Abbey season finale and True Detective. Priorities, you know?

    Prior to all that I made my way to the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge to meet up with my buddy Jon and his mom. Ever since I’ve known about this place I’ve lusted over its obvious sunset potential; sprawling vistas, abundant wildlife, marshland for miles, and plenty of set ups with workable foregrounds. Oh, and birds.

    Going into the shoot I knew exactly where I wanted to setup: toward the southeast end of the refuge is a beachhead with exposed pilings and jetty rock. Jon on I hopped out of our vehicles, scampered off the dirt road down the shallow berm and onto the beach. Not exactly Normandy. We bandied about framing shots all about the beach until we honed in our tripods and set ups.

    And let picture making ensue. No? No.

    Just as I began firing off bracketed exposures an innocuous minivan slowed to a stop. A friendly voice hailed down and after the obligatory pleasantries I was politely told I couldn’t be where I was. In fact, I was told no one may actually step off the roadway—anything in the refuge beyond those bounds is off limits. The good news? Nesting doesn’t begin until April, 1, I learned, so thankfully no wildlife or habitat was put in jeopardy. The attendant was kind enough to let us make our shots real quick and then return to the road. It was the most cordial reprimand ever.

    Yesterday I learned I can no longer exploit the refuge for its once perceived wide angle landscape potential. Instead, I’ll take my bird appreciation to the next level and get myself a proper telelphoto lens and make the most of this beautiful place come Spring.

  • Black stars rise

    A moody long exposure night photograph overlooking the marshland toward Atlantic City.
    Black stars rise — 14mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | EXP 30 sec

    Yesterday photography happened by dawn, dusk, and night. By the time the evening rolled around my friends and I were hoping to head into the Pinelands for some astrophotography at Bodine Field. By the time it came time to head out a quick look skyward to us all we needed to know—we were clouded out.

    Plan B.

    And nothing sounds more official than a Plan B.

    We quickly readjusted focus and turned our destination toward Great Bay Boulevard. We had designs on incorporating Atlantic City and the brooding clouds into our shots. I only made a few exposures and when I cam home to process I decided pretty early on that I wanted go black and white. A nice moody monochrome, dark and evocative. I’m happy with the result.

    As for the title, Black stars rise, this is an homage to my new favorite obsession, HBO’s True Detective. Fantastic stuff that has my mind running.

    It’s time, isn’t it? The black star. Black stars rise. I know what happens next. I saw you in my dream. You’re in Carcosa now, with me. He sees you. You’ll do this again. Time is a flat circle.

  • Hey look it’s Dock Road

    An HDR photograph of the actual pavement of Cedar Run Dock Road taken during blue hour by Manahawkin, NJ, photographer Greg Molyneux.
    Hey look it’s Dock Road — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Literally.

    I’ve gotta say, it’s been a pretty solid day of shooting. It started out with this morning’s pleasantries on the beaches of Ship Bottom and ended with the deepening blue skies of a Dock Road blue hour. Since I spend so much of my time photographing the marshes of Cedar Run Dock Road, I figured the least I could do is give the actual road some love. Besides, what else is there to shoot during a sunset that is sans clouds? Also, I’m noticing in my evolution as a photographer that I have a thing for signs.

    Worth mentioning: I ran into my old buddy Vin. He was there with his new Nikon D80o. We got to talk shop and take some photos; he gave me some good pointers for potential printing arrangements should I ever get that off the ground. All in all it was a good day.