Clouds keep the Photographer busy

Panorama handheld  on my way to the camera club meeting

All photos taken today at Reenroe Beach Ballinskelligs, Panorama at Raheen Ballinskelligs, evening shots at Kells Bay towards Dingle.
All rights by Michael Herrmann 2013

Polarizer Filter and Clouds

I looked through one of our Velux windows the other day and saw those beautiful clouds on the Kerry sky. A good reason for a photo and some practical advice. Clouds are a great subject and can be useful if you need something for your next Photoshop exercise.

 If you like to keep in control of things ( I do) and you like to have a certain look of your sky use a polarizer filter. It will allow you to set the saturation and contrast to a particular level and boosts the look of the clouds. The whole technical aspect of polarizer filters can be read on this wikipedia article: Polarizer Filter in big detail.
As usual, it is a matter of taste how much polarizing effect you apply or for instance if you are converting your colour photos in to black and white later on the computer a sky with a bit more power may work better.

Here are some samples: 

Polarizer Filter fully applied

Polarizer Filter half closed

No Filter

Polarizer Filter fully applied

Polarizer half closed

No Filter

Today with Claudes 24-105mm, no filter

Today with Claudes 24-105mm, no filter

Today with Claudes 24-105mm, no filter

Today with Claudes 24-105mm, no filter , 1/3 overexposed.

Thank you Claude for the lens and the coffee in Barbara´s Beach Café. The 24-105 is a great lens with a very good range for the full frame photographer and could be the "always on the camera " lens" for landscape photos and all other purposes like portrait and wedding.
 If you are investing in a Polarizer Filter keep in mind that a low quality filter in front of your expensive lens and camera body does no good to your image quality. For wideangle lenses go for bigger sizes as your filter thread and use adapter rings to prevent vignetting. Use circular polarizer filter only.
Give it a try. You will be surprised.

More Clouds from Kerry

Reenroe Beach

Reenroe Beach

Reenroe Beach

Ballinskelligs Bay

Reenroe Beach

Canuig Mountain, Ballinskelligs

Cahersiveen

Clouds over South Kerry

Valentia Island

Valentia Island

Ballinskelligs Bay

Cahersiveen Harbour

Cahersiveen Old Railway Bridge and Cnoc na dTobar

Puffin Island and Skelligs

Puffin Island

Cahersiveen and Cnoc na dTobar

The clouds in Kerry are really special. I have never seen so many different shapes and colours like in the South of Ireland. At the moment we have those wonderful clouds moving towards the South which is very unusual as they usually coming from the South West direction. If you are taking pictures of the sky use a polarizer filter and overexpose slightly to safe the details of the landscape. Check the histogram as usual. Reflections are an extra bonus as they show the clouds twice. The options are endless.
All photos with Canon 5d, 50mm lens.

Winter in Kerry as we like it

Outside Cahersiveen

St.Finians Bay beach

Lemaon Rock and Skelligs

Cloud over Rossbeigh beach

Dingle Bay Rainbow

Kells

Knocknadobar shower

Outside Cahersiveen

Dingle Bay

Clouds over Kerry

After a nice chat with a friend in Knightstown, Valentia Island I went for a walk from the famous slate grotto up to the top uf Geokaun Mountain. The sun was getting low and big fat clouds where everywhere and moving fast. It was a dramatic scene just to stand there and watch the light and the clouds, but I took some photos too. I used a polafilter but I did not apply any changes except sharpening to the raw files, there is no need. You can drive up Geokaun mountain from the other side. After 9 in the evening is a good time at the moment.