Thread: Long water exposures with the EM5

Built a homemade variable ND filter using 2 polarizers I picked up in a camera store bargain bin for 3 dollars each. Wanted to test it out today so I took a detour on the way to work, then again on the way home - to shoot some long exposures of moving water.

Setup was an EM5, 12-50, wired release and a tripod. I set the front polarizer to get the reflection how I wanted, set the focus then turned the outer reversed polarizer until I got the darkness I wanted. Camera was on manual, ISO 200 and f8. Shutter speed was 20-30 seconds on bulb.

Lessons learned: Next time I will bring a small flashlight so I can see what I am doing and so I can paint a little light on rocks as I see fit. Also while I know how to manual focus on my CV lenses, I couldn't figure it out on the fly with the kit lens....in the half dark. Lesson there is to set your gear up before you head out.

Here are the shots, hope you all enjoy. Pretty cool what a small camera, the kit zoom lens and a 6 dollar VND can do.

- tdp


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr


Fluid by Photos By 夏天, on Flickr

Very creative. I love the look of long exposure water pics!

Very nice. Only problem with doing this is that trees blown in the wind do show blur. Overall though, very nice.

Or do it in the daylight with a strong nd OR Multiple exposures. or both. :-)

I used a variable nd which is pretty strong, and the movement from the leaves doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I think it is part of what makes a photograph like this appealing.

Fantastic images, thanks for posting them!

Sorry missed the first bit about the polariser . Tapatalk seems to be misbehaving today ?
Nice clear contrasty images

Wow, awesome effect!

Well that worked really well! Excellent job and a bargain too!

Thanks everyone. More to come once the weather lets up.