Sutro Baths San Francisco long exposure

Hooligan Dan · Aug 7, 2013

Had some time between assignments to stop and take a shot at the Sutro Baths. I've been wanting to do a long exposure here for a long time but never have before today for some reason. I was there around noon so it wasn't the best time, but it still worked out pretty well.

Nikon D800
17-35mm @ 24mm/f5.6
ISO 100
Exp: 5 min, 27 sec

tirediron · Aug 7, 2013

Nice!

amolitor · Aug 7, 2013

Well done. This is a really interesting location, but you've found something specially nice there.

NancyMoranG · Aug 9, 2013

Amazing!!
Can you tell me more on settings? I am learning...
why 5 minutes? Was it totally dark? Or was that to get the smooth cloud look?
What ISO?
One day, I should hope for such a photo!
Nancy

ceeboy14 · Aug 9, 2013

Seems a little too contrasty. Your darks are choked in black on this screen but in photoshop look much better. Your horizon line needs a -.02 rotation. It's an interesting perspective and while I like what the clouds are doing from left to right, I wonder if you couldn't lose that area to the left and go with a vertical crop...just a thought.

Hooligan Dan · Aug 9, 2013

Thank you, everyone. :thumbup:

NancyMoranG said:
Amazing!!
Can you tell me more on settings? I am learning...
why 5 minutes? Was it totally dark? Or was that to get the smooth cloud look?
What ISO?
One day, I should hope for such a photo!
Nancy

ISO was 100
Taken around noon.
I used 10-stop and 6-stop neutral density filters stacked to take 1/200th of a second to 5 minutes, 27 seconds. The ND filters allow for long exposures during the day(far beyond what would normally possible during the day) without using super small apertures like f/22 and the long exposure creates the smooth water and drifting clouds.

weepete · Aug 9, 2013

Mate, you've knocked it out of the park. Love this photo, the strong composition, the silkyness, the way you have a few simple elements that come together nicley to create interest and the textures of the stone. Good job!