Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: 14mm

All photographs tagged here have been taken with a 14mm f/2.8 L II lens.

  • Stay awhile longer

    Fiery HDR sunset photography taken from Sunset Cove in Bowleys Quarters, Maryland, overlooking a Chesapeake Bay tributary.
    Stay awhile longer — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Or perhaps titled, Take your own advice?

    On the upside I got to shoot a sunset from a new spot and that’s always exciting. As hindsight will explain, I just should have been more patient about it.

    This past Tuesday, perched at the rear of Sunset Cove in Bowleys Quarters, Maryland, I took aim at one hell of a sunset. Dramatic colors, glassy waters, and plenty of objects to compose. Pretty much everything you can ask for. Luck would have it that the timely end of a late afternoon food run allowed me to arrive at this sunset spot ten minutes after sunset. At the perfect time for ideal color. Usually.

    About 15 minutes after sundown I made my last bracket of 7 exposures. I only took a grand total of 3 brackets over a span of maybe 3 minutes. For whatever reason I just wasn’t comfortable loitering around this new locale and busted loose with great haste after only a few minutes of shooting. In doing so the sky did something weird. It got brighter and more colorful. And while I readily admit the color always improves after the sun goes down, I’ve yet to see the sky do this. Where it amplifies to this degree some 20 plus minutes after sunset. And sure I am really happy with my shot, I’m just bummed knowing I missed out on capturing an even more dramatic brand of sky.

    Next time, Gadget. Next time.

  • A change in the weather

    A black and white HDR photograph of fierce clouds, a tidal pool and undulating sands on the beach in Holgate, NJ.
    A change in the weather — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Holgate, New Jersey. Back to where it all began. This is the photograph. The date? January 1, 2012. I didn’t know it at the time, but this began a 365 day (366, it was a leap year) photo project that would later transform into a full on passion. I am thankful for life and its odd twists of fate.

    As for tonight’s shoot? I was hopeful the clouds would break just enough to allow sunset to do its thing. That never really happened, but for tonight that was OK. With storm clouds moving through in advance of tomorrow’s rain-out, the clouds were plenty dramatic. Combine that with the tidal pools and undulating sand patterns marking the foreground, and I had the ingredients for solid landscape photo. Considering the abundance of grey the stretched on for miles, I had a notion I may go black and white for the final processing choice. Once I got home and went monochrome with Silver Efex Pro 2 my decision was made.

    Oh, and speaking of weather—it may snow for Thanksgiving, New Jersey.

  • Color me bayside

    Winter sunset colors and clouds rolling in from the west, dramatically backdropping Antoinetta's restaurant over Manahawkin Bay in this HDR photograph.
    Color me bayside — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Winter sunsets, man. So hard to beat. When I don’t get enough camera time I really start to miss it. It doesn’t take long either. There’s just something about regular, near daily shooting that regulates my mood. And I guess that’s the hallmark of any therapeutic hobby, really. That chance to decompress and slip away from the daily grind to recalibrate.

    Lately, however, life has gotten in the way and Mother Nature has hardly been the most cooperative, either; leaving me cloudless or entirely clouded out. But that’s just the way it goes, I guess. This afternoon, after saying goodbye and celebrating the life of an unparalleled man who meant so much to so many, a clear day turned variably cloudy allowing the waning light of day to do its thing.

    Thanks, Dr. Wurst. You will be missed.

  • Seriously cirrus

    Cirrus clouds tinted gold brush the whole of the sky in this late Fall marsh landscape photograph with soft tones easing and subduing the viewer's eye.
    Seriously cirrus — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    Sunset didn’t work out but golden hour sure did. By the time twenty five more minutes had elapsed, the abundant cirrus clouds you see above had raced off to the north and east, leaving a near endless expanse of open sky. And while the whole of it was quite relaxing to witness, it wasn’t much to photograph. Fortunately I was early enough to get this shot, and I just can’t get over that golden glow. Light sure does some pretty amazing things in Fall (thanks sun angle).

    Also, if you’ll notice to the right of the sun there’s a lens flare in this picture—appearing as a red smudge. Unscientifically I’d say that 80% of the time this annoys and distracts me, but here I think it works. Just one of those things that sometimes pans out. Happy accidents and such.

  • Waving in the marsh grass

    Windswept marsh grass is photographed with late afternoon sun backlighting pastel clouds of blue, pink and yellow bringing the seeds to life with golden color.
    Waving in the marsh grass — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/15

    Make the wind do the work for you. It was blustery yesterday, and I capitalized on this by having a lazy enough shutter (1/15 of second) to allow the wind to create the slightest hint of movement in the photograph. You can just start to notice it in the bushels of marsh grass seed that look oh so slightly out of focus throughout the lower half of the photograph.

    I’ve been craving a glowing shot of marsh grass ever since I’ve been photographing New Jersey marshland; one really featuring the marsh grass itself. This one is my new favorite. The warm glow and soft motion backdropped by dramatic clouds of pink and yellow pastels captures the essence I seek quite well.

  • Feels like the first time

    Looking for a dramatic sunset photograph? Here it is, an HDR marsh sunset in all its saturated color glory. Strong shadows and deep contrast are the hallmark of this seascape picture.
    Feels like the first time — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I haven’t been out shooting once since October 26th. October 26th! I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that’s my longest photo-less stretch since I began this whole picture taking fiasco New Year’s Day 2012. This camera cessation was not planned, and suffice it to say I’ve been jonesing.

    All day the clouds were spectacular. Low, dark, puffy and fast moving they hinted at the threat of sun-showers all day. Since I was already down in the Great Bay Boulevard area picking up four of my reclaimed wood framed prints from my good buddy Ben Wurst, I knew that’s where I’d head for sunset. Tonight did not disappoint. I’m hard pressed to recall a Fall sky more fierce. The shadow play on the clouds dripping in red scarlet color was really something else. Tonight there were several other revelers out there with me, and that’s always good to see.

  • Fall Foliage: The Best of Batsto Village in Autumn

    Fall Foliage: The Best of Batsto Village in Autumn

    In this golden photograph late afternoon sun pours over the Autumn leaves illuminating the west side walls of a tucked away Batsto Village mansion.
    West side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    Batsto Village—Wharton State Forest—Hammonton, New Jersey

    There’s much to love about New Jersey and its southern pines. But for me Batsto Village in Fall just may hold the Pinelands top spot. Rich in maples, colors come alive transforming this once thriving iron works village into a canvas of orange wonder amidst architecture of an era gone by. With its history reaching back to the late mid 18th century, a near decade before the shot heard ’round the world, Batsto Village has gone through several historical periods of development before its final purchase by the state of New Jersey in the mid 1950s. It has served dutifully as a great public destination ever since.

    A couple weekends ago, I made the thirty minute drive with some friends to photowalk these hallowed Autumn grounds. Conditions were ideal—roughly a week or so before foliage peak with near perfect golden hour light. In the parking lot, unsure which lens to rock, I opted for the 14mm prime and ditched the tripod. I committed to myself to walk, shoot, and enjoy. Nothing more, nothing less. So that’s precisely what I did, and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pictures from that one fine October afternoon.

    The Batsto Mansion

    The 32-room Mansion, sits at the heart of Batsto Village, and served as the former residence of generations of ironmasters and reflects the prosperity enjoyed during Batsto’s industrial years. In the late 19th century, the structure was renovated into the elegant Italianate style of architecture by Joseph Wharton, a Philadelphia businessman. Fourteen rooms, including the parlors, dining room, library and bedrooms, are currently open to the public for tours. — source

    I’ve yet to take the tour, but I must get in there with my camera someday soon. For any Disney World fans out there, the Batsto manse has Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion written all over it.

    A golden hour HDR photograph of the Batsto Village Mansion framed behind a large maple tree ablaze in Fall color orange leaves
    Fall colors creeping in — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed Exposures
    In this golden photograph late afternoon sun pours over the Autumn leaves illuminating the west side walls of a tucked away Batsto Village mansion.
    West side manse — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250
    A square format golden hour photograph featuring a maple tree ablaze in rich orange color, highlighting the best of the Batsto Village mansion in Fall.
    A square deal — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/160
    A portrait orientation photograph of an old gnarled maple tree regaled in orange leaves basking in golden hour light, framing the Batsto Village mansion in the background.
    Framing maple — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    The General Store

    When Joseph Wharton acquired Batsto Village, he moved the entrance to the General Store from the side of the building, which faced the Mansion, to its present location. During the 1800s, the store was usually open six days a week. Here, workers from the Village could purchase a variety of goods, ranging from fruits and vegetables to guns and farm equipment. — source

    If you can remember back to the five day black and white challenge I recently finished up, this building has one hell of a porch. I didn’t get any color shots of it here, however, and in the shots below we’re left looking at the general store’s backside. The old country porch (think Old Country Buffet) was loaded with photographers and subjects maximizing the perfect lighting conditions.

    Facing southwest into the late day golden hour sun, this photograph features a dramatic solar starburst just over the Batsto general store and a soft processed glow evoking a moody, fantastical storybook feel
    Oh that autumn glow — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/800
    A portrait orientation golden hour photograph of lush grass littered with orange and yellow maple leaves. The blown out sky and soft yellow glow create an ethereal, shire like feel for the viewer
    On matters of hobbits — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30

    The Batsto Village Grounds

    Along the lakeside is one of the finest maples on the entire property (right there with the Mansion maple pictured above). Tall and regal it’s proven difficult for me to frame up and photograph. Pictured below, set behind the bench, we get but a glimpse of what this tree has to offer. So for now it is a subject that remains on the ever growing things to shoot better list.

    A portrait orientation golden hour photograph with a foreground marked by a lone red maple leaf sitting on an empty park bench on the Batsto Village grounds with maple trees in the background
    The transient nature of leaves — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/80

    Going into this post I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ve never done a comprehensive collection like this. Now that I’ve wrapped up writing and am tidying up the edits, I think I’m going to make this an ever growing collection of Batsto Village Fall Photography. Hopefully throughout the years ahead this post will continue to grow and evolve, showing more of Batsto’s Autumn splendor. In the meantime, if I get to pick a personal favorite so far it’s On the matters of hobbits.

    Thanks for stopping by.

  • Day 5 of 5: Take a walk

    A gritty, grainy black and white wide angle photograph of a wooden pedestrian path along an old bridge spanning the Great Bay Boulevard salt marsh
    Take a walk — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/60

    Here it is, folks. My last shot for the #fivedayblackandwhitechallenge. It’s been a fun departure from my standard photographic modus operandi, but with that said I’m ready to get back to my usual photo grind. Thanks for hanging with me during this brief divergence from the status quo.

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • Day 4 of 5: This old gristmill

    A wide angle black and white photograph of the old Batsto Village gristmill taken in portrait orientation
    This old gristmill — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    I’m going to the well once more. Here’s another photograph from the 184 shots I made Saturday afternoon photowalking Batsto Village. For day four of the five day black and white challenge, I went with the old Batsto gristmill we see above. In the interest of full disclosure, I had no idea what a gristmill was until mere moments ago. Thanks Google! For those just as out of the loop as me, a gristmill is used to process and grind various grains (wheat, corn, etc.). This particular gristmill was, “built in 1828 and originally operated with a wooden water wheel. In 1882, the wheel was replaced with a more efficient “side winder” water turbine.” As with the rest of Batsto Village, the building has been wonderfully preserved and will transport you back to the early 19th century. Batsto in Fall is a great way to spend an afternoon. I cannot recommend enough, New Jersey people.

    Tomorrow’s the last day of the black and white challenge. What lies ahead?

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5