Dornoch Beach 16 minute exposure

Hey Trevor, how'd you arrive at 16 minutes? Did you do several before that at 10, 11, 12 and so on? That must have taken quite a while with the doubled time. Awesome image!

AdamJL wrote in post #2110380
It's so surprising how much colour there is in a black sky huh?
Great capture, and well done for composition, which must be very difficult when you can't see a blasted thing

Thanks - I learned from my first effort and got set up just before it got dark

Thanks Damian. Yes, its a super beach, goes on for miles.

Thanks for the comments

Thanks J T No what I did was get Nicki to shoot a couple of test shots at 30 secs, ISO 1600 (mine only goes up to ISO 1250, saves me doing the maths ) Based on the results from those, I came out to 15 minutes and added a minute for good luck.

Neat shot Trevor

16 minutes eh ?, I'd have forgotten where I set up the camera

weemannie wrote in post #2110585
Thanks J T No what I did was get Nicki to shoot a couple of test shots at 30 secs, ISO 1600 (mine only goes up to ISO 1250, saves me doing the maths ) Based on the results from those, I came out to 15 minutes and added a minute for good luck.

Hmm...I didn't know there was a formula. I guess you learn something every day. Care to share it or point me in the direction of a site that explains it?

J T wrote in post #2110842
Hmm...I didn't know there was a formula. I guess you learn something every day. Care to share it or point me in the direction of a site that explains it?

No magic formula as such, its just a case of reviewing the histogram and if you're happy with the exposure and composition, setting the time to suit the adjusted ISO. E.g if an exposure at ISO 1600 for 30 secs looks OK at ISO 100 the time would need to be 4 stops higher, in this case 8 mins. Don't forget, to save time with the test shots, turn off noise reduction, but turn it on again for the actual photograph.

Do you always get these colors on long exposiers like this?? almost looks like the northern lights I saw once..beautiful!

Absolutely marvellous, Trevor.
I'll have to try this but how do you read a book in the dark ( 16 minutes ).
I could watch a re-run of England goal keeping howlers.

What kind of light is that on the horizon ..... a lighthouse ?

Buggbairn wrote in post #2110697
Neat shot Trevor

16 minutes eh ?, I'd have forgotten where I set up the camera

Thanks Scottie - I take my wife with me so one of us should remember where they are

I try different WB settings, this one was tungsten. It seems to vary from night to night, but I haven't tried enough yet to say. Thanks for the kind words.

lomond wrote:
Absolutely marvellous, Trevor.
I'll have to try this but how do you read a book in the dark ( 16 minutes ).
I could watch a re-run of England goal keeping howlers.

What kind of light is that on the horizon ..... a lighthouse ?

Thanks Cameron I wouldn't recommend watching the re-run (unless Belinda is with you ) you'll fall asleep. Yes, It's the lighthouse at Portmahomack.

32 mins total for the shot. Lucky it turned out nicely (and in focus) then!

16 min? you are a brave and very daring man Trevor,did the battery run out after this shot?

Its stunning,especially the colours,love them.

wow, thats amazing!

so that was taken in complete darkness?? (I think that's the point here but I'm just checking)


Do you just have to sit there with your thumb on the shutter release cable or can you program the camera to stay open for that long?

WONDERFUL colors, but I would like to see it a little lighter...

Beautiful colors Trevor. Really a great shot.

rudgej wrote in post #2111187
32 mins total for the shot. Lucky it turned out nicely (and in focus) then!

Thanks John. You're right, mind you my luck ran out tonight. 10 mins of tests and then a 15 min. exposure at ISO 200 f4 = underexposed!!!!

Thanks Dimitri . No there was plenty of juice left in the battery. More than could be said for me

Thanks for the kind comments . Yes it was pitch black. I use the TC-80N3 timer remote, so I dial in the exposure, press the little button and run back to shelter and a warming cup of coffee.

Thanks and yes, it probably could do with being a little lighter.

HrcRacing wrote:
Beautiful colors Trevor. Really a great shot.

Thanks Robert .

Love the colors in this shot, nicely done