The people at the restaurant must be wondering what the hell I’m doing. Let them wonder.
This is my first attempt at getting a decent Capital District sunset photograph, and although I’ve achieved sunrise pictures in the past, it’s time to capture the setting sun. This is just a test, nothing more.
Sunset was at 8:26 yesterday. This meant I had to get to the shooting location at least a half hour ahead of time so that I could set up my camera gear, compose the shot, and make any last-minute adjustments.
There’s a clear area near the Holiday Inn on Route 4; from this location, I can get the entire Empire State Plaza in my picture, along with plenty of sun and clouds. The clearing is just a few feet below a restaurant; people along the outdoor patio can also get a fantastic view of the sunset. And from my location, I won’t be in their way of enjoying it.
Pulled out the Nikon D700 camera for this trip, and started with my 85mm f/1.8 lens. I could have used my 300mm f/4.5 manual focus telephoto lens (the “Rachel”), but since this was just a test, the smaller lens would be fine for my needs. Slapped everything on my Vanguard Traveler 4 tripod.
As the sun made its descent in what, from my angle, appeared to be Menands… I switched the D700 to “aperture” mode, stopped my lens down to f/16, and started shooting.
Then, I fiddled around with my camera’s white balance. In addition to the whit balance presets on my D700 – cloudy, flash, sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc. – there are adjustable settings based on Kelvin temperature.
This is the sunset at 2500 Kelvin – cool and calming.
And this is the sunset at 10,000 Kelvin – fiery and intense.
Wow, I got some God’s Rays over the Leo O’Brien Federal Building. Swank.
Now normally when the sun finally descends over the horizon, you pack up your gear and head home. No. What you should do is stay there and capture the glowing skies. It’s another light show in and of itself. By this time, I had switched my camera from aperture mode to manual mode, and continued shooting.
And for my final exposures, I created an HDR combined image to assemble both the orange-silver sky and the Albany skyline in the same frame.
Good. Next time, I’ll try another location, and a longer telephoto lens. First test went well.
Each time I take my camera equipment out for a shoot, it’s the opportunity for me to teach myself a new technique, a new discipline, a new way to create what I couldn’t create yesterday. And it’s data on which to improve for future shots.
For me personally, it’s a moment of calming and internal reflection. Slow down the heartbeat. Increase the focus. Learn patience and control and discipline and respect. And, in time, the rewards will arrive.
Chuck The Writer 
Gorgeous. Not sur which I like more. Each have their own unique quality that makes them magnificent.
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The HDR is really nice.
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This is one of my favorite views from this side of the river. I just could sit and view it all day. Great spot to watch impending storms too. Unfortunately, Fed Ex will be opening soon and there will be too much traffic in that area to stop and see the view (or smell the roses).
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Very nice. I think the third is my favorite (10,000 Kelvin). My only wish is that you could see all the way down to the river from this location. Still, it is definitely one of the best places for viewing the skyline.
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No mention of the Sports Grill by name? Were their wings not tasty? Were you not offered a second gallon of Diet Pepsi?
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Yeh, it’s too bad about FedEX…the 50 other stores on Rt 4 aren’t a problem. The hundreds of cars that were at Wal-Mart even on Memorial Day stocking up on Chinese junk aren’t a problem. The roundabout for the high schoolers can’t possibly be a problem…
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Hi Chuck,
I really enjoyed your sunset over Albany photo experiment and had some questions about how exactly the heat measurements (Kelvin temperature) chemically change the pictures. Are different amounts of heat actually applied to the film or is something else happening?
When I heard about Astronaut, Don Pettit thinking way ahead to Tuesday’s transit of Venus across the sun by bringing a solar filter to the ISS when he traveled there in 2011 along with specific Nikon camera lenses and equipment I thought about your own planning ahead motif.
Since our blog deals with peace and justice issues here on Earth, I was hoping that you’d do an article on this rare event that comes in pairs (eight years and 2 days apart) at more than 100 year intervals. Since the first of the 21st century pair happened in June of 2004 no one alive now will see this transit after Tuesday.
Here’s a wonderful [less than 4 minute] video of how one of the astronauts aboard the space station is going to photograph the transit of Venus across the sun on Tuesday, June 5th. I’m going to watch at the link that they provide. If I can get my welder’s shade 12 goggles (and if the skies are clear) I’ll watch directly starting around 6 PM our time.
“High above Earth, astronaut Don Pettit is about to become the first human to witness and photograph a transit of Venus from space. His images and commentary will be streamed to Earth during the crossing.”
FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_isstransitofvenus/
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lx4fC42KI
And here’s an update that describes James Cook’s observations of the transit of Venus from Tahiti in 1768:
FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/02jun_jamescook/
Whether you do a blog article or not I hope that you get a chance to watch and to see Don Pettit’s photos.
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