Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: sunset

Sunset photography

  • I’ve got the time

    An HDR photograph taken over the front lake at the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area. This photograph features a foreground of long yellow grasses and a large fallen branch with a stunning background sunset radiating through middle ground clouds. Atop the image, barren branches frame out the scene.
    I’ve got the time — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I took my time leaving work today. There were no pressing needs at home and pictures were not on my radar. As I walked to my car I felt good about my leisure pace, there were no clouds to be had, and, ostensibly, no worthwhile sunset to chase.

    Time to drive.

    And drive.

    62 miles of drive. Each way. But hey, who’s counting?

    People usually balk at the distance, and right fully so. Me? I mostly shrug it off and enjoy the four wheels of solitude.

    I was 30 miles from home when I first caught glimpse of a solid cloud layer off in the distance. I unscientifically gauged this as being right over my town. 25 miles later would reveal my best guess was correct. Only I was up against the clock.

    6:23: Seven miles from home and running against a 7:04 sunset. Knowing I needed to stop home called for haste—I immediately settled on Stafford Forge, a 12 minute drive door to lake. Making it the closest in my sunset rotation.

    6:32: enter driveway. Quickly I toss aside my work bag inside—OK, it’s a satchel—and grab my camera, tripod, ND filter (would later prove unnecessary), sweatshirt and jacket. Oh, and I ditched the loafers.

    6:36: exit driveway.

    6:48: arrival.

    Bored with my usual Forge setup, I eyed a little patch of woods near the park entrance. Camera in hand I worked through the branches and settled in under a tree. Overlooking the lake with long yellow grasses and a fallen branch in my foreground I knew I had my spot. I dashed back to the car for my tripod, got set up, dialed in and made my bracketed exposures. Above is the result.

  • Still worth it

    An HDR photograph taken over a windswept marsh on a cold winter's day at sunset along Cedar Run Dock Road. The photograph features a soft diffuse light.
    Still worth it — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Twilight was cold. And windy. And frankly the sky was largely meh—a ho-hum vestige at best. Did I mention it was windy? And cold?

    Wind was such a factor I was concerned about camera shake with my exposures. Were it to wind up being an issue it would have been further compounded as I was taking seven bracketed exposures to boost dynamic range. Looking at my images back at the house revealed the trusty tripod did its work and kept the images clean and clear. Seriously, I can’t stress the importance of a sturdy tripod enough; particularly if landscape photography is going to be your thing.

    Back home I took a little departure from my standard post-processing workflow. After some initial tweaks to the seven exposures in Lightroom, I imported the images into Photomatix for merging. After re-importing a single image back to Lightroom I edited to taste further, bringing about a more representative dynamic range. It’s here where I departed from the status quo and took it an extra step. Bringing the image over to Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 4 I applied the Duplex filter to make the final image more diffuse and a touch warmer.

    I’m pleased with the result—maximizing the most of an otherwise ordinary sunset.

    I did have some company while I was out there. I ran into a gentlemen cruising about Cedar Run Dock Road in his van taking sunset snapshots. We chatted for a few minutes, talked about good spots, a sunset a few days back, and then went on about our business. It’s always good to see other people out and about enjoying and capturing nature. It’s not a bad way to pass the time.

  • On point

    An HDR photograph taken just before sunset from the north end of the bay beach in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. The protruding jetty rock creates a natural leading line toward the drama off on the horizon.
    On point — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Here’s a holdover from last night’s shoot at Ship Bottom’s cloistered sunset park aptly named, Sunset Point. I made this shot from seven bracketed exposures; I took them just before I loaded up my ND filter and made yesterday’s long exposure.

    I’m using the jetty rock as a natural leading line, pointing out the action across the bay along the horizon. The smooth blue tones washing over the scene evoke a calming mood, reinforced by the soft ripples undulating across the top water. This spot just screams (whispers?) stay awhile and listen. Listen to your thoughts. Listen to the water. Listen to the birds and to the breeze. There is wisdom in nature.

    With Spring just over the horizon the place makes me smile, imagining the warmth to come.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • A homecoming of sorts

    Manahawkin, NJ, photographer Greg Molyneux's HDR photograph of Holgate, NJ at sunset. This HDR photograph overlooks the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
    A homecoming of sorts — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed Exposures

    The prodigal son returns. Or the fool finds his roots. Or whichever yarn you’d like to spin this is where it all began. Just north of two years back I embarked on what would become my photographic journey—right here at this very spot in Holgate, New Jersey. Only I didn’t know it at the time. That one innocent photowalk down a section of the eastern shore of the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge on one a seasonably warm New Year’s Day; that one innocuous macro shell and here’d I be two years and some forty thousand picture later blogging about it on my own photography website. Sometimes life is strange.

    As I made my way around the refuge today it dawned on me just how much territory on this isthmus there is to explore despite the fact that access on the bayside western shore is restricted to protect the wildlife. I stopped for a second to chat with a local, an elderly gentleman who noted the southern tip of the refuge made its way three miles to the south where a micro sized Atlantic City looms. For another day, I quipped. Short on daylight, and therefore time, I made my way back to the jetty rock. Jetty rock that had been laid waste by years of violent storms—Sandy of course topping the list.

    It was here that I made my stand. Here that I made my shot for this story. Here I shall return for future sunsets as this locale offers both potential and an important link to the past.

  • 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.