garyalexander
FollowSt Monans Pier, St Monans,Scotland.
St Monans Pier, St Monans,Scotland.
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8573
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Winner in Black and White Nature Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Rule Of Seconds Photo Contest vol1
People's Choice in Monochrome Creative Compositions Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monochrome Creative Compositions Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Long Exposure Experiments Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Genius
Top Ranks
Categories
michael_mancilla
February 16, 2018
Beautiful image, fantastic composition all around excellent work. This is worthy of a large print on Fuji Pearl black and white paper for your wall.
garyalexander
February 17, 2018
Thank you Michael, much appreciated and will consider your suggestion.
garyalexander
February 17, 2018
Thank you Mike, very much appreciated and black and white works very well for this image.
garyalexander
March 11, 2018
Thank you very much for your nice comment, glad the BTL help, that and lots of practice!
rosaposa
April 23, 2018
Wonderful shot. It makes me feel like this pier goes on forever. So effective in black and white too. Congratulations on your very much deserved award too!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image, being not only one of my personal favourites, but also very popular, was taken in the bay of a small fishing village of St Monans, on the eastern coastine that is part of the Fife region of Scotland. This is a breakwater, a stone structure that serves as a means of preventing both coastal erosion from the Firth of Forth estuary and a means of boats passing safely into St Monans harbour.Time
Arriving in St Monans the night prior, I stayed overnight at a local guest house, to arise very early at 5am in the morning. The reason for the early rise is that having studied the tidal times the night prior, I wanted to capture a long exposure at high tide to capture the effect of the water hitting of the side of the breakwater.Lighting
Having decided I wanted a long exposure shot, I mounted my camera to my tripod and using a shutter release cable, allowed for a 34 second exposure shot.Equipment
Canon 6D, Canon EF 17 40 f4 L lens at 23mm, ISO 50, f14, 34 second exposure. Vanguard tracker 3 tripod and wired shutter release cable.Inspiration
The St Monans breakwater serves as a great leading line that follows your eye through the photo, I felt that given the weather conditions using a black and white composition served this image perfectly, gave it a kind of surreal yet dark and mysterious feel to it. I also like how it conveyed a sense of solitude within the emptiness of its surrounding environment.Editing
Using Photoshop, After I had worked on the RAW image to get the best black and white tones, I decided to add a gradient curves layer to the top half of the photo and a circular gradient layer to the bottom half of the composition.In my camera bag
Canon 6D, 17 - 40 f4 L lens, 70 - 200 f4 L lens, Vanguard tracker 3 tripod, Lee big stopper and filter holder kit, various ND grad filters, spare batteries.Feedback
Visualize the type of shot that you are aiming for even gaining inspiration from others work through sites such as Viewbug, plan ahead to determine tidal times, weather forecasts, travel arrangements and arrange accommodation prior to visiting, before leaving check all batteries are charged and lenses are cleaned prior to taking photos, before taking the shot take time to plan your composition and framing of the shot.