Big stopper project

Project one for the year has reached its end, and I must say, what a challenge that was. I recently acquired a 10 stop ND filter more commonly known as a big stopper. Being able to pull off 5 minute exposures in the midday sun is a weird experience.

I have always been impressed with the results achieved with these ultra long daylight exposures, in particular the B&W fine art pics. You know the ones I mean, the jetty leading out in to a misty void, or the old breakwater jutting out of water that seems so flat you could skate on it.

My first proper attempt at using a big stopper saw me at Eastbourne harbour just after sunrise. I have always liked the reflections in the water you can get from the surrounding apartments, and the rather clinical design of the jetties leading out to boats I could only dream of buying.

I set out doing some exposures between 2-3 minutes at F11 and ISO 100 as the sun was quite harsh, even for that time of morning. The exposures I feel were quite good for the conditions and set this as my marker for future shots.

For my other big stopper shots I used what I knew the best, the stretch of beach between the Pier and Holywell. Focusing on subjects I had used in the past I wanted to bring a new aspect to them by lengthening the exposures considerably. I wanted to prove to myself that you can make the same scene look different by making some minor adjustments. These shots proved to be quite a challenge. The trouble with long exposures is the need to keep the camera still for the duration. God only knows what people must have thought as they walked past, seeing me hunched over my camera holding my coat out like some mac wearing flasher, acting as a wind break. But it was the only way I could achieve a relatively sharp image. Holding the flasher pose in a squatted hunched manner is rather uncomfortable for 3 minutes at a time, so could only fire of a few shots before taking an extended break.

I must say, that although a challenging experience I have really enjoyed using a big stopper filter for the last month. It has bought a new look to some of my images and its a filter I will now always keep in my kit bag. Its something you can use on those days when the sun is beaming down its hard light or when its just to grey to get anything interesting. Regardless of the weather conditions ( as long as its not windy) the big stopper creates a rather surreal quality to images, particularly around water. Its certainly something I would recommend other landscape photographers have a crack at.

Personally I have found using a heavy duty tripod low to the ground and a wireless remote essential for this type of photography. That and a big flasher mac!

 

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