Nature the Artist

Studying clouds and attempting to predict the weather is a full time job for any outdoor photographer. It is how we try and increase our changes of getting that special shot. It is also incredibly fascinating. Clouds are for dreamers and I never tire of observing or shooting nature’s big canvas known as the sky.

On a warm Summer night you will often get some high level cirrus clouds that looks like Nature the Artist did a few lazy and casual soft brush strokes here and there. Usually these clouds disappear before sunset but occasionally they stick around and when they do the colours are quite spectacular. Wednesday night was a good example of cirrus clouds here in Copenhagen and I was in place to capture this panorama:

Click to see large size on my gallery! Copyright Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Copenhagen Harbour Summer Panorama
Copyright Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

This is a 170 degree view of Copenhagen shot directly into the sunset across the harbour. It is a good spot for getting as much sky as possible and the same spot as this Harbour Storm panorama. It was in the middle of a warm Summer week here in Copenhagen with temperatures above 30 degrees creating cirrus clouds. Everything is relative someone once said and what we call heat wave is a cold day in the Northern Territory! Nevertheless a super lovely day and sunset.

Tech specs and oh the horizon, the horizon

This panorama is 7 vertical images stitched in PTgui (PTgui really had to save me this time, more about that later). Shot with 17-40mm L  lens at 20mm, f/22.0 using 1.3 second exposure with a Cokin neutral density filter attached. RAW files were developed in Lightroom 2.0 and the final stitch received very little post production in Photoshop. Nature the Artist did all the work here, I just painted a bit more light into the shadows to show more of the buildings and added a vignette. The horizon is straight in this final version. It may appear slightly curved due to the wide 170 degree view but it’s straight. It wasn’t always so…

FBJ-crooked-horizon I have an uncanny ability to spot anything crooked, any horizon not straight even if it’s off by just half a degree. I use this super hero power to “help” other photographers straighten their horizon by politely pointing it out on their blogs; normally with some level of sarcasm. Well the photography gods are not without humour! When shooting the above panorama my head was in the clouds. I levelled the tripod and then moved it forward to the edge of the pier resting the front leg on a raised edge. Guess what. It’s not level anymore!

My tripod should carry a sign saying “I’m with Stupid!”

With my head in the clouds and also slightly trying to look cool because there are several interested people next to me on the pier I shoot away – and don’t even look into the viewfinder because hey! I have super powers. Thank the maker that PTgui is so good at stitching because on the right is the leftmost shot of the original files. Super powers indeed Human Spirit Level Man. Oh the horizon!

11 Comments on “Nature the Artist”

  1. Very pleasant shots Flem.
    I love clouds myself. On more then one occasion I have been caught out at events with mates, cameraless and not even in a decent location. Only to watch nature turn it on with a fantastic cloud and light show! It usually leaves me hopping around like a toey 14 year old and my mates thinking I'm absolutely nuts!! :-p

    And good to see your human too,damn those horizons!

  2. Beautiful colours Flemming. If only sunsets like that happened more often!

    I'm sure we all have one of those moments Flemming where we realise after the shot that we neglected the most basic rules.

    I have only done a few images with PTGui so far but thanks to your tutorial last week, I am amazed at how well the software processes the image.

  3. Feel your pain, done that many times, but I now have a levelling base and double bubble for the hotshoe which makes me keep things level.

    I sometimes rotate them all the same angle and in lightroom and stitch that way.

    Go the human spirit level!!!

  4. nice shot flemming love the sky in the shot .
    Yeah I know how you feel as well been to many locations that have turned into a great light show and didnt have my camera .whats worse is that you got your camera and forgot to charge your battery or forgot the filter lol 🙂 will only happen once but

  5. mate what are you talking about, that horizon looks straight to me,………just like all mine!!! Don't be so hard on yourself, I sell photos everyday with crooked horizons!

I'd love to hear your comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.