The Flaring Fence
Being the (current) most popular piece of art on RB, this will obviously get thousands of views…so I want to use this little space to share with you all the most important thing I know about landscape photography…
I read it in a blog by Marc Adamus…. and it is…
That you will take the best photos in places you are familiar with.
I have found this to be 9000% true.
I’ve probably shot 100+ sunsets on this beach and all my best photos are from this beach.
This was a 7 minute exposure taken at 11:47 midnight.
I had shot this fence a lot and knew when(tide) and how( comp) it looked the best. I noticed that the clouds were coming over Cape Town and thought that a long enough exposure would make it look like the clouds were exploding from the lights of Cape Town. I set up my tripod, composed the shot and took some ISO1600 F4 shots to get an idea of what exposure time will be necessary. It needed to be longer than 5 mins to get the right look from the clouds, but not much longer because the peak waves got to the tripods legs and could ruin the photo. I tried over and over…took about an hour, and in the end it was 436 seconds, F9, ISO200.
The Original is brown and purple…I colored the photo using WB settings from the RAW tool….
Once again. This isn’t sunset, it’s Cape Town, South Africa, about 50km across the bay….taken from Strand at midnight. Those lights to the left is Simon’s Town.
All proceeds from sales of this photo will go to the art for aid group….so please buy people…very generous considering that I’m a poor student.
And this proves beyond a doubt that the photographer makes the photo and not the camera…
Taken with a EOS 400D (rebel xti), kit 18-55mm lens and a circular polarizer filter…..
Benjamin Scheurer
7 minute exposure?.....man….that’s incredible. This IS stunning!
Added to favs in a split second!
Hougaard Malan in reply to Benjamin Scheurer’s comment
thank you
cynthiab
wow awesome agree with benjamin and added to my favs what a shot
jerry alcantara
WOW! this is awesome, i really like it.
Hougaard Malan in reply to jerry alcantara’s comment
thank you
Carl Osbourn
f**k me! this is brilliant! what the hell camera do you have for a 7 minute expousure! the colours are delicious!
Hougaard Malan in reply to Carl Osbourn’s comment
thank you!EOS400D.nothing spectacular
Hougaard Malan
i dont know how to reply to your comments people?eos400d
justlinda
Stunning!, Wow! Speechless!
Elizabeth Aust...
Wonderful!
royce
This is stellar, beautiful,awesome fantastic just awesome…Great job!The colors just stun me!
Elana Halvorson
Great shot. Love the colours in this
DigitalDelights
What a stunning piece of work… the colours are fantastic, beautiful work
Debra Trean
outstanding…brilliant
Deri Dority
Amazing piece of art!!
StacyLee
WOW
Steven Potashnyk
Great shot, i love the cloud movement….. Well done
misschristina95
job well done. :)
Rany Lutz
Stunning work!!!
Holly Werner
This is stunning. Just beautiful. Love it.
Mark German
Beautifully done, mate.
Lachlan Kent
That’s some awesome work!
itsallgoodamanda
beauty comes from within ,but not everyone can see it ,i thought this was pretty damn good
EOS20
Beautiful shot!!! Love the colours.
Naomi Frost
AWESOME, BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC, STUNNING – all in capital letters because this shot is breathtaking.
Jennifer Resemius
One of the most beautiful images I have ever seen! WOW….
Paula Birch
magic.
cdwork
Superb!
mahalolove
this is so beautiful. i want my sunsets to look like this. i would want to swim in its amazing colors
Hougaard Malan in reply to mahalolove’s comment
lol…..this was taken at midnite….
Jake Easley
The light is amazing! But it’s the long exposure cloud movement that gives it LIFE!
maniac
this is amazing!
Antoine Dagobert
Spectacular! Superb work mate
Basia McAuley
What a totally incredible sight! An instant favourite.
Chloe Flathers
wow this is beautiful. Brilliant work with the exposure. Perfect! Love it.
Matt Harvey
excellent shot well done
Mikael Hörnlund
Colorful and very beautiful picture! Great composition..
ed wong
amazing, unique shot – love it
Deborah Fuller
shhh!!! I’m gazing, you did a good job puting this one together. looks like a painting.
Jared Poole
I think I’m about to faint… This shot is just stunning, perfect, brilliant, great, nice. Unfortunately my vocabulary limits my ability to compliment you on this one (that, and I’m quite lazy).
Hougaard Malan in reply to Jared Poole’s comment
lol….thanks man!I know about sucking with words and being lazy:)
Lachlan Kent
FAR FREAKIN’ OUT!!!! I just had to comment again… this rocks!
Hougaard Malan in reply to Lachlan Kent’s comment
lol….thanks Lachlan
lightsmith
fantastic. pure magic!
Lisa Kenny
Wow! Stunning!
velveteagle
You captured pure energy well. I find myself wondering is this nature or man creating this burst. Fantastic
Hougaard Malan in reply to velveteagle’s comment
I guess it would have to be a combination of nature and man….the clouds make the light look like an explosion but the light is from a city…
5* INDUSTRIA
7 minutes!! – whatr a fantastic result!
kevy
absolutley amazing.
Nicole Goggins
this is an incredible image – well done!
Daniel Rarela
colors colors everywhere, and not a bite of it to eat! guess I’ll just have to settle for looking at it, admiring it, and telling you what an amazing job you did with this photo!!!
bravo, hougaard!!!
Bruce Halliburton
Love the effect – Great portfolio too!
Benjamin Scheurer
I tell you something…..I ordered a bunch of cards and a shirt before you uploaded this picture
so it’s gonna be a while til my next purchase.
When the day comes this picture is gonna be on my list.
Sara Montour
Beautiful!
rippedangelwings
Great work man! The colors are superb!
Lee Burgess
This is simply outtanding!!!
Like you didn’t already know! lol :)
Elizabeth Pier...
This is a beautiful image, what more can i say!?
Roddy Atkinson
I agree with all the above, simply stunning! Also a total inspiration as I have just bought a 400d …..though I haven’t figured out how you get it to do a 7 min exposure?
Hougaard Malan in reply to Roddy Atkinson’s comment
well unless you have a petrified steady hand your gonna need a remote. not that expenisve
John Snodgrass
What everybody else said, plus a few more wow’s!
Angela Stewart
Spectacular image!!!
Craig Myers
Awesome
Clayton Turner
Wow, instant favorite!
Panteli Pyroma...
What can I say but “This picture speaks louder than words”.
Paul Vanzella
the amount of impact in this image is astonishing!
Jennie Rosenbaum
wow this is brilliant! and instant grabber
Jodi Webb
Wow. Wow. umm – yeah – wow! Words can’t describe this image, and wow just isn’t enough! It’s absolutely amazing, stunning. I just want to jump in and sit in it for a while to soak it all up! WOW.
joggi2002
Absolutely amazing shot.
I love these colors
Natalie Manuel
Wowser of a shot, well done.
sandra56
Outstanding color
Chris Clark
Fantastic and amazing.
Your now one of my favourites
Adrian Donoghue
It’s all been said, congratulations. It must be a nice feeling to have this one under your belt.
Hougaard Malan in reply to Adrian Donoghue’s comment
yip:) kinda shows my dad that my cam was worth investing in:)
Sharon Hammond
What they all said. Sensational
Damiend
Superb image.
TonyLegg
Stunning !!!
songkoking
it is better to make them to canvas art
justjulie
sublime….
cheerishables
This is beyond stunning. Wow! The colors just blow me away. Gorgeous!
Sharon Bishop
Wow, this is such a striking image.
coleen gudbranson
whoa totally amazing into the favs it goes
Frank Legault
Stunning capture, I like that!!!
John Sternig
Absolutely amazing. The colors are so rich! Possitively one of my favs!
Maria Dryfhout
Are there any more descriptive words left that wasn’t used by others? Everyone has the same opinion like mine…. My feelings are all printed above! How about FANTABULOUS!
Hougaard Malan in reply to Maria Dryfhout’s comment
thank you Maria!
Phil Eckert
WHOA what a shot!! Just brilliant !!!
Franklin Lindsey
Ohhhh you dawg! You beat me to it! I have had too many images of still waters along fence post, yet haven’t seen anything to inspire me yet, but this one is right there and you captured this concept with beautiful results, great job!
focusonu
Everyone has summed it up for me!
Perfect!
Kellie
THEEGGMAN
WOW BRILLIENT
Shelley Spille...
excellent capture !!!
Nicholas Averre
Fantastic image! simply stunning!
Andy Harris
fanatastic colours – super shot!
Tami Montgomery
THIS TAKES MY BREATH AWAY!......literally…...I am just floored!
berndt2
Glorious shot!
Suni Pruett
My Goodness..that is awesome!!!!!!111
Paul Tait
Congratulations – you certainly have a gift here. keep up the good work
Amanda Cole
fantastic iamge and thank you for the details behind it!
Tiffany Dryburgh
It has all been said, but I just had to add my congratulations to the long list!
Charlene Aycock
WOW!! I AM SPEECHLESS
David Stuart
brilliant!!
chriso
Fantastic colour. Love the long exposure.
banditart
thats real cool
Jelena Mrkich
Oh, the goodness!
Nick Hartigan
MOST AMAZING PICTURE I HAVE EVER SEEN
MY FAVOURITE ALL TIME PICTURE
WELL DONE MATEY
Hougaard Malan in reply to Nick Hartigan’s comment
Thanks Nick!
Peter Soulis
absolutely breath taking
tarabas57
WOW!! That is sooooo beautiful, surreal and divine. Well worth 7 minutes.
Meach
Nice shot – wouldn’t know what the h**l to do with myself for seven minutes – seven minutes, geee hwizz
Hougaard Malan in reply to Meach’s comment
lol….cellphone chat!
Mandy Fell
wow just beautiful
funkyfacestudio
Great photograph and beautiful colors :]
Gustav Nordlund
Fantastic shot. Great effort and it looks like it was worth it :)
micmac
That’s it ,put it on my fav
jeany
Brilliant Shot!
ciege622
this is very beautiful…the sky looks kinda tye dyed to me : )
TANYA WILLIAMS
AMAZING IMAGE! GREAT TALENT!
Goldengem
beautiful!
Lisa Roberts
Fantastic hougaard1
Lisa x
Charles Dobbs ...
Awesome shot! Well done!
boss
Outstanding, speechless, great image!!!
sword
What a fantastic image well done
Jing3011
Striking! Amazing!
snurfdood
absolutely stunning – what more can I say? :o)
Leigh Ann Pobiak
this is astounding ..there are just no words to describe it!
Chris Alsup
i got a word for it …....Woah …lol
tonyphoto
*jaw drop, surreal, amazing!!! *
just not quite sure about the tiny white spots 30% across at top… are they stars???
look forward to seeing your other work.
meanderthal
colours are just ridiculous…ridiculously good i mean.. :)
Jayson Gaskell
Great shot
great colours
great composure
great great great!!!!
monkeyfoto
Ditto all the above, plus sensational!
Janelle
This shot is amazing i could look at it forever! ☆☆☆
Chris Faithfull
Yups thats Great.
Helene Kippert
Brilliant image
honey
Fantastic shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic colors!!! :D
bicozikan
Absolutely gorgeous. I can’t believe it isn’t a sunset!
Leave me speechless why don’t you!!
o0o
addymandesigns
I think everyone said what i wanted to. One word…..spectacular!!!!
Phil Thomson IPA
Absolutely Awesome !!!!!!!!! incredible colours and tonal range the flare is magic !! Well Done.
Pete Chennell
brilliant work
Dan Cahill
Beautiful colors and incredible shot. Well done.
Alateia
eewww history speaks through wire.
macrocosm
Great shot,love the colours well worth the loss of the filter
Halcyon007
Just stunning
Jenny Haskey
Wow – simply awesome! A truly breathtaking shot…
mand3rz
This is SO gorgeous. I would love to have a print of this eventually :)
DarrellMoseley
Thats a work of art! The color is an amazing spectrum of them all. INSPIRATIONAL!
Momlee Bhattac...
Wow, what an effect! Absolutely stunning. Creates quite an impact. Great work!
tassj
wow!
Flora Hui
So rare that someone explains how they did the photo.. I like what you’ve done with it! :)
Jen Cannella
Amazing!!!
nick board
Terrific shot, and also for the info
Michael Lane
Truly amazing shot and excellently executed! Really awesome work
Ed Stone
Love it! Such gorgeous colours
Renae
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!
Alan Ngo
Love the contrasting colors and scenery!
jess
wow this is the most comments ive ever seen on one peice so i guess ill just add to the thousands.
this is absolutely beautiful!
:)
GingerSnaps
This is absolutely stunning…
WOW!! Repeat that in 50 different languages…!
Robert Elliott
Superb !!!!!!!
Alex Wise
Beautiful shot! :)
Pooja Pillai
Amazing! You photography and photoshop skills are brilliant! You got so much colour and vibrancy out of one picture!
Michael Brownjohn
awesome
kmlsphotos
very unique with superb colors!
Visions
A party for your eye’s, I love looking at this one.
judy
Amazing colour blends well
judy
Amazing colour blends well
judy
Amazing colour blends well
Julie Langford
Wow – this is amazing, front page material.
Douzy
Now please raise your hand who has NOT seen this photo on Red Bubble!!! ;) Great work – wish I could do things like that :(
vonne
Wow… WOW! , enough said.
Lumineux
Kudos for making the concept a reality, albeit it an altered one! A wonderful piece.
Michael Cuneo
Holy crap! Thats awesome!
Splogy
Superb. Love the brilliant colours and the transition from right to left – scorching white/yellows to piercing blues.
kristian94
fantastic!
Kevin Kroeker
WOW!!! excellent!
Nigel Lewington
Fantastic Colours.
Ada Panich
Gorgeous colors! Congrats for the homepage!
daantjedubbled...
this is so unbelievble amazing great photo, and i have a lott more words for it but i think everybody else is saying the same, surely a favorite of mine…
SallyAnnLowe
Totally amazing.
Aleks Blazeski
This is terrific. Great idea with the timing and exposure length! Turned out terrifically. Post-processing was intelligent too! Getting a favourite from me!
Bramble
WOW! I love all the colours in this, it’s stunning!!
Angela Damecki
Love it
mickeyb
gob smacked…..struth. how good is this. well done…..
midzing
brilliant
sanyaks
Absolutely brilliant, excellent work, well done!
aphoto4you
one can not describe with words how beautiful this is…
Luke Jones
Something to be proud of…Amazing pic…
CreativeMinds
WONDERFUL!
CHECK MY STUFF PLEASE :)
Alycia K
Totally outstanding, its beautiful
RoughDiamond
wow
Shutta
Awsome stuff mate
kellymb
What a stunning shot, fantastic composition :)
Coralie Plozza
love the coulours…great work
Jan Cartwright
This is amazing and beautiful. Congrats on a fantastic capture!
Lis29
Very cool… love the colours its very dynamic :)
Laura Sigurdson
wow, gorgeous colors!!
Tom Arnell
the best picture Ive seen on this site and that speaks volumes… beautiful.
aljen01
The color is amazing, love this!!
paulspoon
what a photo!!! amazing.
Justyna Kedra
wow… beautiful!! that’s all I can say… stunning!! ;D
Trace Lowe
Perfect, what can I say that hasn’t been said!
SamHarrons
Loving everything about this! well done mate
hangthisphoto
Stunning shot WOW
Martie Venter
Totally amazing shot – very inspiring work, and great to meet another South African here!
focus
awesome colour .
Stacey Hatton
Wow, you’ve created an amazing image here! Excellent work.
Rebs O
amazing work!
Mary Lake
Simply beautiful work here!!! Awesome!! A new fav of mine now!!
DanielVG
wow just wow!
would make a really good wallpaper
nikspix
I have no idea about the techy stuff, like 7 minute exposure, but I do know I love what I see. :))
Vasile Stan
Amazing, fantastic and then some. Not to mention brilliant…
JPPreston
This picture is amazing, I thought it looked like a nuclear test site when I fisrt seen it.
Melissa Contreras
Purely Amazing and Fabulous!!
MarbiaStudios
Love the colours in this shot
Jamie Lee
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!