Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

[@!ex]

Been playing around with some black glass (or film) recently.  Here are a few of my first attempts.  I can get up to 20 minute exposures in broad daylight if I push everything to its max (or should I say min), but these are all around 4-5 minutes each.  All shot with the 5D mkiii and the 14mm 2.8 L II.


Empty at Rush Hour by @!ex, on Flickr


Road to Eldorado by @!ex, on Flickr


Neutral Density Time Warp by @!ex, on Flickr

[Dylan777]

Awesome shots Alex

[Chewy734]

beautiful shots Alex!

By black glass do you mean something like a Big Stopper?  or something else?

[lecoupdejarnac]

Those are indeed killer shots.

I too would really like to know what kind of filters you are using to get these shots please 

[atosk930]

Definitely has the "wow" factor and I'd love to know what this "black glass" is.

Any HDR in these? If so, it is done perfectly IMO. Great shots!

[bbasiaga]

I'm guessing its a super dark ND.  Maybe like a N14 welders glass.  If you figure broad daylight going to 4-5min, that's 14-15ish stops, depending on ISO and aperture. 

-Brian

[wayno]

Very impressive. I've tried this with my Hoya 9 stop and it won't go to 5 minutes let alone 30 seconds at 9 stop. Must be greater? Also I found f22 a bit so-so IQ wise... Your method?

[Menace]

Stunning Alex, well done 

[jVillaPhoto]

Indeed, great shots! I'm going to buy another ND filter(possibly around 4-6 stop reduction) to stack on my Singh-Ray Vari ND that has 8 stops, not sure if it's possible though, any ideas?

[lol]

Interesting... I have to wonder how bad hot pixels might be with such exposures.

If anyone needs a high density ND, you could try Baader astrosolar film. It comes in two versions, the stronger version is >16 stops effective (they say >99.999% reduction) and is made specifically to make direct viewing of the sun safe.

[TexPhoto]

Very nice Alex!  But spill the beans man, how you do these?

[crasher8]

Now this is what I love about photography!

[bykes]

Very nice!  I have a 10x ND that's a lot if fun to use in daylight.

[TrumpetPower!]

Interesting... I have to wonder how bad hot pixels might be with such exposures.

If anyone needs a high density ND, you could try Baader astrosolar film. It comes in two versions, the stronger version is >16 stops effective (they say >99.999% reduction) and is made specifically to make direct viewing of the sun safe.

I was just thinking of that. I've got a Baader filter for the 400. Finding something to shoot with an ultra-long exposure with a 400 might be a bit of a challenge, though....

b&

[@!ex]

Hey guys, sorry I've been busy at work all day and the "notify me of replies" feature only seems to work sometimes (and in this case, not at all).  So, by black glass I was referring to a very dark ND filter, in this case its not technically glass, but rather a gel.  I'm using a 4.0 and I think that equates to 14 stops, and then I'm using f16-22 and iso 50-400, depending on the scene.  Like I said at 50iso and f22, I think I could push a 20min exp no problem (and maybe even 40min, as that would only be 1 stop brighter than 20min).  As for f22 degrading IQ, I wouldn't worry about it, your not going to get great IQ, no matter what you do, on a 5+ minute exposure (camera shake, movement, changing light, light refraction, wind ect), its more about the effect than the IQ.  As for hot pixels, you definitely get quite a few, and I suppose I could use a subtraction image, but I'm too impatient, so I just deal with them in post.  No HDR in these, as I obviously didn't need it, one thing I've found is that the DR in these super long exposures is incredible, I haven't figured out why from a physics stand point (to be honest I haven't even looked into it yet), but I'm sure there is a reason.  I have plans to shoot a few locations with long exposures like these that would have enough DR to necessitate HDR, which I'd be more than happy to post.  I'd love to see some of the stuff you guys have come up with using similar techniques...