Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: blue hour

  • Getting my feet wet

    A ground level perspective wide angle photograph of an ocean break during blue hour in Ship Bottom, NJ, on Long Beach Island. Foreground bubbles are left behind the retreating waves.
    Getting my feet wet — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/50

    This all wound up better than expected.

    First I was hemming and hawing about whether to get out there and shoot; the setup was meh worthy at best, its lone saving grace a distinct color cast from scheduled controlled burns in the area. I packed my car. I looked up one last time. I unpacked my car. In the end it was packed again.

    Unsure where to go I wound up on 13th street in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. With a quick glance south I saw there was a small batch of exposed jetty rock about five blocks down. I dashed back to my car, strapped on my gear and began my walk against fading light.

    I began photographing. Making what I would minutes later find out to be a hack-job move of not making sure my focus was dialed in. Shots wasted. Light wasted.

    Annoyed I ditched the tripod and decided I would race in against the receding waves in an attempt to get low angle close ups of the jetty rock. In my desire to get a well composed, properly metered photograph I hung too long and took water up to my shins. Cold water. Most importantly, all equipment was safe.

    At this point I’m just thinking this isn’t my day. To rub salt in the wounds, I look west over the berms and ocean front homes to notice their silhouette emblazoned by a fiery sunset. Opportunity lost. But at least I got wet, right?

    As really nothing more than a I’m gonna hunch over and dangle my camera an inch off the sand while approaching surf comes and goes around me and hope for the best shot, I got my picture above. And honestly, I’m damn pleased I struggled out there today.

  • Passing time

    A long exposure photograph taken during blue hour overlooking Barnegat Bay from a sunset park in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. A stretch of jetty rock serves as the foreground.
    Passing time — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | EXP 241 sec

    I did a bit of impromptu exploring today. Initially I went east to Sunset Park in Surf City but as soon as I arrived I just wasn’t feeling it. The tide was up and I couldn’t make a good angle. I got back in my car and moved on. In doing so I was daydreaming, you know, thinking up a spot. In daydreaming I nearly ran a red light. Nearly.

    After that shock to my system I decided I head to a familiar place from long ago: the Ship Bottom bay beach. A place where I used to paint the restrooms, dump the trash, and sweep the walks. A memory from my time with Public Works. Once the 10 second nostalgia wore off and I arrived, I immediately noticed the little sunset park tucked away to the north end of the bay beach, hiding in plain sight. Smiling, I knew I had a new spot and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.

    A quick walkthrough revealed many possibilities for tonight and for future nights. It even has its own little beach with a little run of jetty rock, and a gazebo too. So much potential.

    Tonight I wanted to address a few early misses with my ND filter. I wanted to play around with the white balance to see if I could counteract the blue color cast that is the byproduct of my filter, and I’m pleased with the result. Also, I wanted to capture some good clouds for once. With ample cloud cover cruising in from the west I was able to capture some real movement with this 240 second exposure. During that window, the sky really lit up orange and red and cast a pleasing glow on the final exposure.

    Enjoy.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Whatever title you like

    An HDR photograph of a Great Bay Boulevard sunset by Manahawkin, NJ, photographer Greg Molyneux. In this photograph the sun sets next to an abandoned boat dock.
    Whatever title you like — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    First things first—I’m not in love with this shot. I’m not even sure I like it. I made my way to Great Bay Boulevard with a specific location and an already framed shot in mind. You see, I had already conceived a shot on my during my last trip to Great Bay Boulevard; only I was clouded out and unable to shoot. It was this that setup I had in mind with tonight’s more favorable sky conditions in mind. All of this is notable considering I seldom do much active mental planning regarding my shots. While I often revisit familiar places, I try to let the moment dictate the composition.

    When I arrived on scene I immediately knew I was hosed. A floating dock had rammed its way up the boat ramp—the spot I was already planning to setup shop. None of this was surprising considering the powerful Nor’easter that blew through here yesterday. I should have expected as much.

    What you see above is Plan B. And a haphazard plan at best. I don’t think I spent enough time finding the best composition at my location. More scouting will be required in the future. Nevertheless the sky colors did not disappoint, and it just felt good to be back out shooting again. It had been five days and I was getting stir crazy. Especially with all the potential snow my area just missed out on.

    Related to this evening’s photos shoot, I ran into a fellow sunset chaser. He was a Nikon shooter and I didn’t catch his name, but he was out taking in the departing sun as well. As we were both wrapping up he took note of the still unseen-to-me rising full moon over the marshland that was previously at our backs. Once I fixed my gaze I was instantly transfixed. Alas I have no telephoto. Fortunately he did and here’s to hoping he got off a great shot.

  • I’ll leave you when the summertime

    An HDR photograph of the marsh at sunset taken by photographer Greg Molyneux on Great Bay Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey
    I’ll leave you when the summertime — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Since I was already down in Little Egg Harbor visiting with friends today, Great Bay Boulevard always hung in the back of my mind as the likely landing spot for tonight’s obligatory sunset chasing. I say obligatory if only because a) it’s a Saturday in winter—rending me home from work—and b) the setup looked favorable all day.

    We found our general area and I began investigating as to where I’d eventually plant myself and my tripod. While meandering about the shoreline excellent light was holding sway out over the marsh and my mood was good. This is always a favorite part of the experience for me—framing the shot and appreciating the waning light of day. Always take a moment to step back from the viewfinder to take it all in.

    I positioned myself precariously on some loose fitting jetty rock, or some facsimile of a lesser jetty rock. Regardless, it felt like a twisted ankle waiting to happen but served up the best view angle as far as I was concerned. Potential falls be damned, I set up the camera and tripod and began making the above photograph. It’s a composite of seven exposures later merged for processing in Photomatix Pro and Lightroom. I hope you enjoy.

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  • Winter has its ways

    Winter has its ways

    A wide angle HDR photograph of frozen bays and a magnificent sunset at Antoinetta's Restaurant on Cedar Run Dock Road.
    Winter has its ways — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed Exposures

    I’ve been privy to a spate of spectacular sunsets of late. While winter typically brings the goods, over the past seven weeks I’ve had this, this, and this happen; each better than the next. You could say the first rule to making good pictures is being there, and nothing has proven more true.

    Get out there and freeze your butt off. It’s worth it.

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