Photographing the Sea

[skino]

Morning,

Im new to the forums and i have just done a search but couldn't find anything on Photographing the sea. I have done long exposure on rivers and lakes but when i try it on the sea it seems to come out all crappy. i have seen some Monochrome photos done before of the sea wich is what im really looking for but have no idea where to start...

i have an EOS 450D with a Sigma 18-50mm 2.8-4.6 lens. what sort of settings should i use on my Camera and should i use any filters such as ND, ND Grad or Polariser?

any help would be much appreciated.

Regards, Mike

[Nicole]

So, something like this?



This is a 25 second exposure at sunset. So, I used an ND filter as well as a Grad ND filter (and most definitely a tripod). Actually, that's pretty much the general thing you'll need to know. If you're looking for that smooth water look, you'll want a long exposure. So to get the long exposure, you'll need either darkness or enough darkening your shot that you can take a longer exposure. And since you're using a long exposure, you need a tripod. Then the last thing that helps make an ocean shot better is something that's static and that the water can move around. So rocks, wood, posts, a dock... something. Then good timing and trial and error can help.

[skino]

Thanks for the fast reply. i thinkil try this after work tonight... really love that type of Photography, i dont have an amazing camera but i think i should be able to get a few decent shots to work with. I only have an ND grad so will a polariser do for darkening the shot?

Regards, Mike

[Nicole]

So long as you can control the aperture and shutter speed you'll be fine

You should still be able to get the look with the ND grad and the polarizing filter. You might just have to wait until it's a little darker out to get the exposure length you want. I found that 20-30 seconds was usually ideal for me in terms of water movement.

[skino]

nice thanks for all the replies

[navcom]

Nice shot Nicole!

Originally Posted by skino

Ti dont have an amazing camera but i think i should be able to get a few decent shots to work with.

Hi Mike! Just a quick note. It's not the camera that makes art, it's the photographer. For some reason, these days people are under the dillusion that if you take really well composed images, "you must have had an expensive camera". It's so not true!

You can take full professional photographs with the camera you have. As the artist, it's totally up to you.

Reminds me of something I heard awhile back...you don't tell a chef after eating a fantastic meal, "Wow! You must have some expensive pots!"

[SusanH1970]

Nicole, I just have to tell you that photograph is absolutely stunning!

[Japaslavian]

Originally Posted by skino

Morning,

I have done long exposure on rivers and lakes but when i try it on the sea it seems to come out all crappy. i have seen some Monochrome photos done before of the sea wich is what im really looking for but have no idea where to start...

By 'crappy' do you mean not very smooth?
The difference between shooting the ocean and rivers/lakes is the movement of the water. In rivers and lakes, the water is generally much calmer, so it does not require as long of an exposure to to smooth out, while the ocean tends to be choppier, or just plain wavy. To smooth this out require a much longer exposure. Nicole's image shows a fairly smooth water capture, but she is using multiple filters. I personally prefer to smooth the water out even further then her image, and because I'm lazy, I generally don't wake up early enough to catch the best light, so I have to deal with very bright conditions. I stack a 10 and 9 stop neutral density filter which allows me to shoot upwards of 5 minutes even at mid-day and smooth out essentially any water condition.
For instance:


This was a 5 minute exposure and as you can see, there is really no texture to the water other than tone changes caused by the refection of the pier, and the swell of the waves. In most cases, 2 minutes is probably more than enough, but given my filter options, it's either 5 minutes with both filters, or 30 seconds with 1.

And as far as the camera comments, I would say to an extent, the camera doesn't make the image, but for me, I could not do a majority of the stuff I do with say a P&S because the options and manual controls just aren't there. That said, I shoot with an old Rebel XT that has definitely seen it's fair amount of action.

Hope that helps.

[dougmiranda]

This is such a nice question I never think like this way and very nice post also. I'll be back with this answer. Thanks!!!!

[josiebourne]

You still graduated and polarizing filters with ND should be able to see. You just have to wait until a little thicker than the length of exposure to the outside you might want. I found that 20-30 seconds, usually in terms of water movement were perfect for me.