Photography, photos you took, photos you are in, photos you like, the lot!

[Dave]

Actually it's burning superfine steel wool stuffed in a wire whisk on a short length of chain.

And its pretty effective!

Did you fluff it out a bit or leave it as it comes?

[jumbojak]

I fluffed the wool a bit on the "fuse" end of the whisk. Not too much or it shoots out like a meteor though.

[hermes2015]

That is impressive. I guess you left the shutter open for at least 30 seconds?

[jumbojak]

That is impressive. I guess you left the shutter open for at least 30 seconds?

Thirtyseconds on the dot.

[Tank]

Bloody good shots jj!

[Tank]

Taken on 25th August 2018 using an iPhone 5c and a 10" Newtonian reflecting telescope at the Kielder observatory

[jumbojak]

That's really good for a phone camera.

[jumbojak]

[Tank]

Very atmospheric!

[jumbojak]

I question now whether I should have centered the sun or left it to the side like I did. Looks a bit bleak over to the right.

[Tank]

I question now whether I should have centered the sun or left it to the side like I did. Looks a bit bleak over to the right.

Do both in the future. The 'rule of thirds' works very well for sunsets. The exposure and colour of the Sun are what makes this picture IMO so I like it.

[Tank]

I would say that with the horizon so prominent in this it either has to be dead level OR well out of whack for effect. The very slight off kilter on this is a tiny bit off putting. But I wouldn't let that put you off showing it.

[hermes2015]

I question now whether I should have centered the sun or left it to the side like I did. Looks a bit bleak over to the right.

That decision is entirely yours, but it looks good to me. One thing I suggested before is that you could try to do three shots at different exposures and combine into an HDR. I couldn't find an example including the sun in my collection, but here is an example I did using only two photos. This example is very subtle, but I believe there is better definition in the clouds, the rocks, and the foreground.

Underexposed by one stop (1/400 second at ISO 200).


Normally exposed (1/200 second at ISO 200).


HDR blend using Photomatix.

[Dave]

^

Wow! The change in tonal character in the final print is quite dramatic, Hermes!

[hermes2015]

^

Wow! The change in tonal character in the final print is quite dramatic, Hermes!

Thanks, Dave. That's why I am convinced that a sunset shot will benefit from this technique. I will try to take some, but our skies are cloudless in winter.