Examples inside! 10 stop, bulb mode, B&W = Stunning!! Tips?

[JJD.Photography]

I am getting ready to order the Lee Foundation Kit & Big stopper along with the RRS TVC-33 tripod. All of them are on backorder I really hope to put the 10 stop filter to good use with the local pier / beach. There are some striking B&W water shots on flickr and would like to hear some tips on how / what is involved with these type shots:

I'm not asking if you like the shot but rather discuss the steps to capturing such an image.

To start off I will say must haves for these types of shots:
- Sturdy mounting surface for camera
- Big Stopper filter
- Cable release
- Bulb mode
- No objects such as boats, people, or animals

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjintjelaar/4106459317/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjintjelaar/3713484673/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariastromvik/3958396712/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxxwellsmart/4515002438/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxxwellsmart/6022169816/

Buildings:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjintjelaar/5726214098/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keessmans/6130125230/

Is is possible these shots are being shot in broad daylight with shutter speeds ranging from one to several minutes long? Or most likely at sunrise or sunset? I do not have any experience with the Big Stopper and only used bulb mode a few times with not so striking results.

Thanks for any input!

None of these shots belong to me! I hope one day to have the tools & skills to produce something half as good

[DwainRowe]

Originally Posted by JJD.Photography

Is it possible these shots are being shot in broad daylight with shutter speeds ranging from one to several minutes long?

I'm not sure if this is the type of answer your looking for, but here goes:

If you follow the sunny 16 rule, a sunny daylight shot without a ND filter, your settings would be ISO 100, 1/100 sec shutter speed and f 16.

10 stops down from that would be ISO 100, 8 second shutter speed and f16.

Looking at the EXIF data or what data has otherwise been reported from the photographer, the shutter speeds for these photos range from 1/1250 sec (which I think is an error). Others reported are (in seconds):
82
150,
180,
and 210.

The most specific information provided is, using 16 stops of ND filter: f8, ISO 100, shutter speed 180 seconds (your last link) and->

ND110 filter - 10 stops, f/22, ISO100, 82seconds (your next to last link)

Those look reasonable to me.

Extrapolating further from the sunny 16, I see that a 16 stop difference would get you to f16, 480 seconds, ISO 100. Or, f11, 240 seconds, ISO 100...... Or, f8, 120 seconds, ISO 100, etc., etc.

Is that the the kind of info that you are looking for?

I hope my photo math is correct... these are just quick run-throughs and not double-checked, and are approximations, your mileage may vary, etc..

Dwain

[JJD.Photography]

Originally Posted by DwainRowe

I'm not sure if this is the type of answer your looking for, but here goes:

If you follow the sunny 16 rule, a sunny daylight shot without a ND filter, your settings would be ISO 100, 1/100 sec shutter speed and f 16.

10 stops down from that would be ISO 100, 8 second shutter speed and f16.

Looking at the EXIF data or what data has otherwise been reported from the photographer, the shutter speeds for these photos range from 1/1250 sec (which I think is an error). Others reported are (in seconds):
82
150,
180,
and 210.

The most specific information provided is, using 16 stops of ND filter: f8, ISO 100, shutter speed 180 seconds (your last link) and->

ND110 filter - 10 stops, f/22, ISO100, 82seconds (your next to last link)

Those look reasonable to me.

Extrapolating further from the sunny 16, I see that a 16 stop difference would get you to f16, 480 seconds, ISO 100. Or, f11, 240 seconds, ISO 100...... Or, f8, 120 seconds, ISO 100, etc., etc.

Is that the the kind of info that you are looking for?

I hope my photo math is correct... these are just quick run-throughs and not double-checked, and are approximations, your mileage may vary, etc..

Dwain

Thank you for the explanation. Definitely gives me a better perspective on how the Big Stopper works. Now I sit & wait for Lee to make the holder & filters....

[DwainRowe]

Originally Posted by JJD.Photography

Definitely gives me a better perspective on how the Big Stopper works.

Well, bear in mind that I have never used a ND filter. I have only done long exposures at dusk/night. I believe that I understand the theory, though.

Those calculations assume that the claimed "stop difference" is accurate. Those that have used them can give you a better idea about how close they come to their claimed density.

I would recommend that you do a lot of bracketing around the exposure settings that you either meter or calculate from an exposure without the filter in place. Then, chimp a little at the LCD and also take a look at the histogram.

If this is anything like long night exposures, it does take some trial and error... which to me is part of the fun. It drives my wife crazy though, if she is with me. "Are you still taking a picture of that same thing?!!!"

You know, two minute exposure, chimp, histogram. One minute 45 second exposure, chimp, histogram. Etc., etc., rinse, repeat.

My apologies if either of these posts are "talking down" to you. I don't know what your total knowledge/experience is. Just be sure if you are calculating exposures from a "known good" exposure without the filter(s) in place that you use full f stops and full shutter speeds in your calculations or make allowances for changes that are not true "full stop" changes.

I am jealous and will probably be purchasing some ND filters soon. I await someone more experienced with ND filters to come along and correct my theoretical discussion.

Dwain