A river rapid long exposure in B&W: Smooth as Silk
In the Alps, the smart thing to do is to always think twice before putting something in your backpack. Taking less is best, as the weight seems to always magically quadruple during a day of hiking. Well … uhm … it seems that I am just not that smart … besides that, I guess I am not a great learner either … I keep bringing too much! I simply find it sooooooo hard to leave something at home that I might need for that special thing I might run into! For instance, ND filters for shooting river rapid long exposures like this one from Pontresina in Engadin.
Silky Smooth, a milky river rapid in B&W with rocks
Granite rocks surrounded by the milky water of a glacial mountain river rapid, in a minimalist black and white fine art photograph.
Four pieces of ND glass in a pouch is approximately 500 grams extra on my back! I always take it, though. Why? Well, I sometimes like to be able to capture the movement of clouds around mountain tops. I also like to be able to use a longer exposure to smoothen water in landscapes with mountain rivers. It makes them more dynamic but less busy. I also love to zoom in on details of mountain river rapids. Almost always something zen comes out. This river rapid long exposure titled Smooth as Silk is a great example. An advantage of bringing long exposure glass and using it is that it slows you down and makes you see better. Of course, it also gives you time to eat a sandwich. I am almost sure I had an awesome one with meatloaf when shooting this photograph 🙂
I shot this with a Nikon D3x and 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens and used a 10-stop Lee ND filter to get to an exposure time of 50 seconds.
Click on the photo if you want to buy a print or a licence of this river rapid long exposure.
Cheers, Johan 🙂
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This river rapid long exposure is part of our Waterfalls & River Rapids photography theme, which also includes:
Please check out our Minimalist photography theme for more minimalist photographs.
Nicely seen :D
Thanks Daryl 😀
@Betty: that is nice Betty! Thank you. Have a great week 🙂 (yes I am late)
Thank you too E. Cindy and Jackie ! 🙂
Outstanding
Love this one
Just stopping by for another look.
good day to you, +Johan Peijnenburg
wonderful work again ! : ))
Thanks again Victoria 🙂
@Renay: thanks Renay! 🙂
@Mona: thanks Mona. This is a difficult one for most. Not in your face enough I guess 😉
I can imagine what you had to experience in order to have a shot like that! Marvelous!!
Breath taking and a piece of art! Thank you Johan for sharing!!
Amazing
@Sweedon: thanks again Sweedon! 🙂
@Robby: I guess it is a way of life Robby 🙂 Thanks!
It is really tough to leave gear at home. I’m always overpacking as well. Great shot Johan.
Gorgeous capture – luv the long exposure look on the water
@Mady: thank you very much Mady 🙂
@Carsten: thanks ! 🙂
Beautiful long exposure ! Excellent work !
Wonderful picture
Celestial capture Johan, right to the edge.
thanks a lot for the compliment Don ! 🙂
@Chris: hey thanks Chris! I guess I fooled you there 😉
@Gerard: many thanks Gerard! 🙂
@Michael: thanks a lot Michael! 🙂
It doesn’t take much unfortunately!
Lol Chris. For some reason I don’t believe you 🙂
I just hide it well that’s all :)
Lovely minimalist take!
So simple yet so effective. Lovely!
Fabulous! I had the scale all wrong when I first saw this, I thought it was mountains shrouded in cloud :)
Good to see what my friends have done in my absence … very impressive as always Johan
Wow, it has been ages. What have you been up to? Thanks for the compliment 🙂
This is gorgeous Johan…love the effect on the water!
Thank you very much Sweedon 🙂
Breathtakingly beautiful Johan!
Glad you think so Lisa 🙂 Thank you!
Very nice image. It’s kinda special ’cause of the light and subtle tones in the dominating area of flowing water here. Almost like fog. I like it :-)
Thanks for the feedback Wilfried! Glad you like it :)
how was the meatloaf sandwich? 🙂
😀 That meatloaf sandwich was crazy delicious Sheila!
Like Like Like Like 🙂
Thanks Yasmin!
thats nice!
Thank you 🙂 How are things with you?
I’m fine Johan, hope you having lovely day 🙂
Good to hear Nora! Having a great day so far thanks 🙂
I like very much the mystic effect which slows us down.
Thanks Joseph! Glad you like it!
@Yasmin: it is always so nice to read your comments. Thank you! 🙂
@Sofie: me too 🙂 Thanks Sofie!
@Margaret: glad you love them Margaret. Working on a few more 🙂
I love your gorgeous long exposures Johan !!
I love mist! This is lovely Johan :-)
Wahoooo!!!
Well, friend Johan, I just simple admire you for all that you are and as a photographer you are simply spectacular, if is hard to make a stunning image below the mountain with nice weather, now I really don’t know how you can make it when you have to hike and do all the things that you already explained.
Congratulations, as always a real killer :-)
@Hope: it is nice to see you smiling Hope 🙂
@Dene’: wow, it has been ages since I’ve seen you around 🙂 Hope all is well with you!? Thanks for the compliment 🙂
Beautiful fine art my friend :))
I love it.. “smile”… a lot..
Woow this is very nice Johan , love it !
Thank you very much Enrique ! :)
Ziet er geweldig uit Johan
Dank je wel Walter :)
beautiful 🙂
Thanks again Mutita !
So peaceful , beautiful and executed like a master Stunning
Lisa
Many thanks for the compliment Lisa 😀
Magnifique longue pose avec de belles nuances de gris!
Merci beaucoup Enzo 🙂 Nice to meet you!
@David: thanks for the great feedback and compliment David. Hope all is well. We still need to discuss Japan! 🙂
@Kurt: thanks Kurt! I swapped mine for a f/4. No regrets here 🙂
@Thierry: merci beaucoup Thierry!
we were suppose to discuss last month, when is a good time for you ?
Time is flying here David … sorry about that. Will contact you privately now :)
@Didier: merci Didier!
@Marilou: thank you very much! 🙂
@Deborah: many thanks Deborah! Had a marvelous day in the Alps 🙂
@Joan: dank je wel Joan! 😀
@Meg: I did Meg. Thanks 🙂
@CJ: thanks for the compliment and nice to hear you like my stories 🙂
@Stefan: many thanks Stefan!
@Claudia T.: thanks for the B-day wishes Claudia! 🙂
@Dominique: it won’t Dominique …. maybe i’ll get even slower though 😉 Dank je wel!!
Amazing shot!!
thank you!
I love how simple and dreamy this is. Beautiful!
may thanks Sinead!
Beautiful exposure and minimalism in this, Johan…
glad you think so Shawn. Tnx buddy 🙂
Great mystical mood in the picture…..love it sir…..
thanks sir 😉
Fantastic picture so beautiful Johan!
Thanks for the compliment Mikko !
So smooth … 🙂
Thanks Jen!
@Gatto: 😀
@Kerry: thank you Kerry 🙂
I love this mood so much. Beautiful.
=^.^=
Lovely
Thank you :)
@Ralph: thank you Ralph! 🙂
@Richard: well seen Richard. Glad you like it 🙂
Fantastic, what I like most is that one can still see the water on the right stone
Very nice Johan, was it during one of our walk?
Thanks! Nope, shot this one in Grisons early 2012. Working hard to catch up with processing here, so running into interesting stuff now and then 😉
Wonderful photo and silky smooth water
@Markus: thanks Markus. Have a great day as well 🙂
@George: glad you like it George 🙂 Hope all is well in Canada!
All is well in Canada, I’m just back from 11 days straight on horses and finding new kinks every day now :-)
haha, that sounds like fun George 🙂 Good to hear all is well!
That looks so good. Enjoy your day.
Fabulous Johan, it looks very dreamy and cloud-like for water!
@Anna: thanks you very much Anna! 🙂
@Heimo: glad you do. Thanks Heimo 🙂
Long exposure often creates an artistic touch – love this pic!
Great shot I like …. very nice work!
Great find, Johan. Really fine execution and presentation here.
Thanks Daniel!
Great shot!
Hey Sumit! Thanks 🙂 All things well with you?
Happy Birthday Johan, with a little delay… A friendly thought :-))
Wonderful detail of a mountain stream Johan! I need to force myself to remove the 70-200 f/2.8 before hiking. So heavy!
Johan, what to say that has not already been said so well about this fabulous composed image. Fabulous detail in the rock and terrific contrasts ! Beautiful minimal work my friend !
Beautiful long exposure Johan. I hope you have nice birthday!!
Fantastic , amazing silky smoothness and so beautiful Johan. Wish you a very happy birthday Johan and many happy returns!
Superb
Love the soft and dreamy fluidity, great work as usual ;) p.s. love the back story too! …and the sandwich haha!
Wonderful capture Johan
Hope your having a wonderful Birthday :)
Een heel fijne verjaardag Johan! Ik ben niet de snelste op dit gebied maar mijn wens is welgemeend : )
Happy birthday Johan – best wishes.
Happy Birthday! Wish you all the best and of course great picture!
@Steve: thanks and thanks Steve 🙂
@Barbara: thanks for the compliment and Birthday wishes Barbara!
@Thomas: hey danke dir Thomas! No song in Swiss German?
@David: thanks for the feedback and compliment David!
@Durk: thanks for the compliment Durk and nice to meet you 🙂
@Robin: thank you very much dear Robin 🙂
@Gemma: thanks for the B-day wishes Gemma 🙂
@Anna: thank you too Anna 🙂
I hope you had a fabulous Birthday! :)
I did Anna. Spent the days high up in the mountains. Quickly dropping on here now to thank ppl for all the B-day wishes 🙂
I hope you had a brilliant view to celebrate your Birthday! Now you still have a few hours before midnight for a drink! Cheers to You! 🙂
@kaatje: hey dank je wel Kaatje 😀
@Vitor: thanks Vitor! 🙂
@Andi: thanks and thanks for sharing. Glad you appreciate my stories Andi 🙂
@Carsten: thanks Carsten and thanks for the Birthday wishes as well! 🙂
@Stephen: glad you think so. Thanks for the feedback Stephen! 🙂
@Dalibor: thanks Dalibor and thanks for the Birthday wishes. Enjoyed it with a nice long hike up in the Alps 🙂
@Athena: glad you like it Athena and miss you too! Will try to catch up with you after the weekend! 🙂
@jany: merci Jany 🙂
@Mark: I guess that is how we are Mark 🙂 Thanks for the kind words 🙂
@George: Thanks !!!
@Jerry: thank you very much Jerry! Hoep all is well with you1 🙂
@John: cheers 🙂 Thanks John 🙂
@Mitchell Prout: thanks Mitch!
@E.E. Giorgi: glad you do Elena 🙂 Tnx for the Birthday wishes as well 🙂
@Betty: thanks for the compliment Betty and for actually reading what I write 😀
@Leyla: many thanks for the compliment and Birthday wishes Leyla. I especially enjoyed the cake you posted on FB 😀
@Ian: thanks Ian! 🙂
@Joan: glad you enjoyed my story 😀 It’s vey likely that I will follow that sound advice. Thank you! 🙂
@Rodolfo: thanks Rodolfo!
@aditya: glad to hear that 🙂
@Sairam: thanks for the confirmation and the Birthday wishes 🙂
@Maggy: many thanks Maggy!
@Dominique: always enjoy your comments. Thanks! 🙂
Always enjoy your posts Johan. I hope the shock off the years will not prevent you from posting more of your marvelous work. Gelukkige verjaardag!!!
Looks like the rock is floating on a cloud. Great exposure and effect Johan
Sing sing sing sing sing sing
You know which Song 🙂
Silky and luminous! The b&w tones are simply elegant. Happy, happy birthday Johan!
Beautiful photograph Johan, have a fantastic birthday!
Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day Johan! :)
Happy birthday Johan !!!
Happy birthday Johan 🙂
Then Happy birthday to you dear Johan
Oh, and I just noticed it was your day, Johan … Happy birthday, my friend!
Your work is impeccable, thanks for the inspiration.
Happy Birthday, have a great day !!! This is a wonderful photo – thanks for sharing.
Simple and nice!
Really appreciate your work experience and the fantastic description. The results is thoroughly fantastic and beauty. Thank you so much for sharing.
Fijne verjaardag johan!
Very beautiful!
I like the contrast between smoothness and roughness here Johan. Miss you! :)
Beautiful soft grey tones. The flow is gorgeous and worth the trouble carrying the gear caused you.
wonderful capture Johan
and Happy birthday!!!
This is excellent Johan…. it makes me feel wet…..
This is gorgeous and I particularly enjoy the water patterns on the rock in the lower right third of your precious photo! Well done as always!! :-)
Sweet shot! Beautiful!
I tend to carry a bit more than I need too Johan! But I’m glad you brought what you did with you because this is fantastic! Great work as usual!
such an amazing long exposure capture, dreamy, almost ethereal. excellently done, dear johan!! and a great read :)
Nice, love the veiled effect of the water!
Nice one Johan!!
Great shot!!!
You are not only a fantastic photographer but a great story teller as well. I enjoyed reading this one very much and I have come to the conclusion that you should always bring your long exposure glass and an extra meatloaf sandwich to enjoy when you have worked up an appetite because of the extra weight : )
What’s not to like Johan ? Rocks in the clouds – very nice!
Brilliant work and exclusive image…
I wouldn’t give it to much thought, you take as much with you as you want on your hikes, I don’t mind at all… gives us more chance to enjoy the magic you come home with. Great work as always Johan ;)
Wonderful image, Johan!! What a great work!! Love it!!
Oh yes this is truly a masterpiece ! I really enjoy these intimate landscapes a lot :)
@Alycia: thanks for the kind words Alycia 🙂
@aditya: yeah been a bit too busy Aditya! Thanks for the kind words. All is fine with me. And with you?
I am fine too 🙂 but see you again I am more happy 🙂
glad to hear that 🙂
Beautiful longexposure shot dear Johan
Hi Mr Johan Peijnenburg great to see your post again it’s been such long time you did not post anything but glad see you back :-) how are you
This is a grand image Johan. There’s an illusion that it’s a rock in a water garden surrounded in mist. 🙂
What you really need on your future excursions is a sherpa, and plenty of awesome sandwiches. I personally know someone who’d be willing to sherpa for good food. :P
Many thanks Tom! I kinda like the illusions LE’s like this create 🙂 Thanks for volunteering. I would be happy to have you along (even without carrying my stuff)!
Great shot Johan , very beautiful composition!
Thank you very much for the compliment Gemma! Hope you are doing well! :)
@Natascha: thanks Natascha! 🙂
@Eric: thanks! I guess I will bring it again next time then Eric 🙂
@Thierry: my thoughts as well Thierry! Thank you 🙂
@John: yup 🙂 Glad you like it John! Probably something not everyone appreciates 🙂
Hehe, your story is excellent, I hope the sandwich was delicious 😉 I really enjoy your photo where sharp edges of the rocks are smoothed by flowing water. Quite unusual point of interest to your style but I can’t complain, Great work with capital “G” 😉 Superb Johan !!
Thanks for the compliment Grzegorz. I actually do this sort of stuff quite a lot. Don’t post it that often though. Plenty of normal landscapes in the pipeline … how have you been recently?
Wonderful, Johan … and a great read … ;o)
Thank you Robin! 🙂 Sorry for not picking up on that other thing yet. Things are a bit crazy here this summer ….
Great capture. It was worthwhile taking that extra load of 400 grams.
Spectaculair!!
Soft and sharp in one image Johan. Great work.
Fine image, It is better to load the backpack 400 grs a little more, and have no regrets…….
Back from an hour walk, need to learn to keep up with you in the mountains. :))
Love the image. Great conversion 🙂
I am sure the sandwich was proper made :))
Wt’s live without mountains, a proper sandwich and LE glass Anette 😉 Thanks! Looking forward to more of your holiday shots!
Nice!
Hey thanks Michael ! :)
Very creative stile Johan ! Great work!
thanks Günter!
@Michael: glad you like it Michael! Yes, certainly worth it. How are things?
@Karin: many thanks Karin! Glad you liked the story as well. Nice to meet you :)
Always top notch with me Johan , hoping all is well on your part to – i am busy making some food right now so i better close this distraction so i dont end up burning it :)
good to hear all is fine. Same here, thanks 🙂
Love this and greatly enjoyed your story 🙂 Certainly seems worth the extra weight:):)
Soft and peaceful to the eye and mind LE Johan, nicely made and surely worth 400 grams of weight :)
Awesome!
Thank you very much Anatoliy :)
Such a lovely long exposure with great composition Johan!
You could think of all that extra weight you carry in your pack as a more intense cardio workout :D
Glad you like it Elizabeth 🙂 I do think of it that way and apparently the body gets used to it over time (at least that’s what I keep telling myself) 🙂
Very pretty.
Thank you and nice to meet you 🙂
“Eating sandwich”… while creating such a brilliant image! Love the dreamy feeling!
Yes and a very delicious one to boot 🙂 Thank you!