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Tropical Storm Alberto
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Tropical Storm Alberto

by Buck Ward

Gallery: 10 Years of NPNPosted April 19, 2010525 views8 comments
Tropical depression number 1, soon to become Tropical Storm Alberto, churned in the Gulf of Mexico in June of 2006. After Charley in 2004 and Wilma in 2005, we were all a bit nervous about this. This driftwood was on the beach at Point Ybel, Sanibel Island, next to the lighthouse.

I couldn't have made this picture without knowledge of filters gained here at NPN. I used a polarizer and a 0.9 (three-stop) neutral density filter to extend the exposure time to ten seconds. A graduated neutral density filter is usually used to reduce the tonal range in a photo. Here, I used a hard edge 0.9 graduated ND filter to increase the range between sea and sky, because the light on the water was quite subdued.

I discovered NPN early in 2001 I think, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. What a wealth of knowledge, freely given. Thank you all!

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 19, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Buck: I remember this and still like it a lot. I really like the effect of the long exposure on the water. Bravo! >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Carol Nichols on April 19, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Buck, what a very striking image. For those of us who lived through those hurricane years, I can imagine your concern with this storm closing in on the gulf coast. Your use of a neutral density filter here is just perfect for the image. I like the progression of colors from dark to light which signifies to me the storm is moving closer. Really terrific :toast:
Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on April 20, 2010 at 7:45 AM
Your choice of exposure has really worked here, intresting piece of drift wood and the overall colour is very appealing.

Gary.
Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 20, 2010 at 8:31 AM
An excellent image Buck, dramatically captured. Very nice uasage of both the ND and Graduated ND.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on April 20, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Beautiful image. Lovely color and detail.

- Dan.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 24, 2010 at 1:36 PM
Simple and beautiful. Great colors and mood as well.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on April 27, 2010 at 10:53 PM
One of my favorites of yours, Buck. Excellent exposure and composition! :toast:
Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments
Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on April 28, 2010 at 3:49 AM
I remeber this one well, one of the inspiring images that convinced me to join NPN. I even remember I remarked sg about how only a seagull on the tree would be the only chance to improve the shot. now I see it different - there is no way to improve it!
Georg
Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments