Last week I went out to photograph B&W long exposures at the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). The weather was quite awful. I went out anyway, hoping that the weather would clear up just in time to allow me to shoot the sunset with some drama in the sky. And it did. Sort of … just going works out well often enough in photography! The colour results I got that evening were quite dramatic. However, I couldn’t resist converting this particular one to black and white.
This B&W long exposure photograph shows a lake landscape with a line of rocks in the lake. It is there to break the waves and keep the sand on the beach in place. In the background, you see the silhouette of the French Alps. As the waves were actually rolling over these rocks that evening, I shot the scene with a longer exposure time of about 4 minutes. As a result, a bit of a misty effect appeared on the rocks. The dark brewing clouds and the soft evening light helped to create a moody atmosphere. Hope you like this B&W long exposure photograph!
I captured this photograph with a Nikon D800E in combination with a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. A 10-stop plus a 3-stop ND filter pushed the exposure time to 4 minutes. I processed the image with Nik’s Silver Efex Pro 2. The other settings were: 27mm, ƒ/9 and ISO250.
Click on the photograph to read more about it or to buy a print or licence of The End.
Cheers, Johan 🙂
The End, a moody lake landscape in B&W
A moody lake landscape in B&W, with a line of rocks in Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) leading the eye to dark clouds and the silhouette of the Alps on the horizon.You might also like
Please check out our Black & White Photography portfolio to see more B&W long exposure lake landscapes like this. Alternatively, visit our Minimalist photography theme, which includes:
Tranquil simplicity :)
Thank you Margaret 🙂
Thanks again Mutita and Sandra ! 🙂
Amazing! : )
So beautiful :)
Shot!
Yes!
@Tim: thank you Tim! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
@Mona: thank you 😀
Taking my hat off!
That’s a sweeeeet picture
@Ian: thanks again Ian and thanks for catching up with my work 🙂
@Sandra: that is a very nice compliment Sandra! Thank you 🙂
@Sweedon: glad you like it Sweedon !
absolutely stunning…love the texture and sharpness of the rocks in foreground in contrast to the beautifully silky Lexp water
Pure art….
Special Johan. Really nice!
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Amazing image!
Thanks again Enrique !
this is a dream wrapped on a photo
Thanks for the compliment Lizett !
Very nice composition, love the lake turned to mist and mountains off in the background very nicely done
Thanks very much Matt! Nice to meet you here.
great shot,verry good combination
thank you!
Johan, this is simply simply stunning my friend.
thanks Leighton! Thanks for checking out my work 🙂
My pleasure Johan but thank you for your kind comments on mine :D
Likewise Leighton!
Superbe !
Merci Stephan :)
Quel type d’appareil avez-vous utilisé ?
for this image a Nikon D800E …
Johan, a stunning shot, I’m going to have to get one of those big stoppers for my bag. I was checking featured photographers at photoshelter and recognized you from google +.
Your blog is doing great with a ton of commentors – congrats
Hi Daryl! Thanks! Nice to see you around 🙂
Yes, these big stoppers are fun. You will have to add a 2- and 3 stop as well. Otherwise you will often not get to 2 to 4 minute exposure!
Stunning! The processing is perfection.
Thanks! Almost perfect. It still needs a few finishing touches 🙂
Great photo and work!
Many thanks Robert !
You are welcome dear Johan !
That’s great !
Thanks for checking out my work !!
This is a outstanding picture. I feel as though I’m walking a baeutiful path to somewhere unknown beneath the fog, when I see this picture.
Many thanks Kasha!
You’re welcome
Had a great time. Merci Philippe!
@Subra: many thanks Subra!
stunning work Johan
I hope you have enjoyed your trip, great location!
This is the work of a master, no doubt about that. I wish I one day get the opportunity to photograph these wonderful places. Right now I’m shooting boring advertising images, and feel abstinence not to photograph images like these.
Have a great day my friend and thank’s for showing the world your amazing photos.
many thanks !!!
@Gaurav: yes, has to happen once in a while 🙂
@Laurie: thank you Laurie!
@Richard: wow you are catching up. Thanks Richard!
Excellent!
love this.
It is mystical and dreamy :)
Beautiful composition Johan , excellent bw choice
Thanks again Gail !
wonderful shot, perfect
Thank you Gemma !
Absolutely “exquisite” friend Johan.
Thanks Yasmin. One of my favourites as well! Glad you like it!
Thanks for the feedback Correy !
@Ben: glad you like it Ben!!!
cracking LE work. Love it
Love how the rocks lead the eye!
@Joseba: thanks for the compliment Joseba!
@Barbara: missed this comment earlier 🙂 Thank you!
@Darla: glad you like it Darla. Thanks 🙂
I agree with all adjectives used above my comment. ^ This image is amazing. Dimensional. Fantastical. Magical.
Super!!!!
Very nice long exposure. Mystical and lonely place.
Thanks again Johan !
@Jerry: many thanks Jerry and nice to meet you 🙂
Particularly nice, Johan!
So beautiful
This photo is awesome !
Many thanks Gelareh!
fantastic as always Johan !
Thank you very much Ada !!!
great photo Johan!
Thanks Paul!
Jendhamuni Sos, Rubén Val, Olena Melnyk , Debrah Diva, Terre Britton and Anna Rimovska: thank you all for the kind words!
wonderful
What a magnificent way to experience the French Alps Johan
An alternate universe! :>)
Wowwww! fantastic landscape,is not transmitted sensations of delight!!! looks like another planet .I can not describe the feelings that are evoked soih your picture. Thank you, for that!!!
excelente
So peaceful here.
@Anette: glad you do Anette. Nice to see you back. How was the hols?
@Michael: much appreciated Michael!
:)))) loved it from A-Z. Still trying to figure out what day we have today. Never knew what day we had down there. Loved it :)) You need to go there for Landscape, you freak out and would extend your Holiday for 5 years :))
It’s Monday Anette :))) Yes I would probably love it there as well …. I have a long list of places still to visit though!
Your artistry shines right through on this one, brilliant Johan !
Oh love this one Johan
take off running into this beautiful photo
gorgeous! incredible mood Johan!
😀 glad you like it Shane !
@rohan: thanks for the compliment Rohan! Much appreciated 🙂
@Hotch: many thanks!
@christian: glad you like it Christian!
@Aidan: thanks Aidan!
stunning!
a strong mood i find here nice too see…..<
Mystical … truly lovely ~!~
Fantastic Johan , love the greys in the water and the rocky path
Lovely shot Johan ;-)
glad you like it John! 🙂
@Sathish: many thanks Sathish!
@Shannon: you are very welcome Shannon. Glad you like it! 🙂
@Smart : thanks for the wow 😀
@Caspar: thanks for the compliment Caspar!
This is beautiful, the rocks lead me right to that bright spot on the horizon. Really amazing, thanks for sharing how you set up the shot as well.
Brilliant shot . The creamy smoothness of water is amazing.
Brilliant picture – really like the line of rocks leading into the image and the great contrast you managed to get between the sharp textures of the rocks and the smooth LE of the water surface – really cool.
sea with milk ! Wow !
The leading lines are completely incredible !
Thank you Francis !!!
Don´t think so Johan, the Ironman distance is to demanding, so if I take up the challenge again, it will “only” be the half Ironman 😉
I´m coming to the Alp´s next sommer, participating in the Mont Blanc Marathon, so maybe we could make a little photowalk? :)
Yes, that would be a great idea. Just let me know when you know more 🙂
@Aileen: thank you Aileen! Thanks for catching up 🙂
@Alexandre: thanks for the compliment Alexandre!
@Paul: dank je wel!
fantastische zachte tonen!
Fantastic dreamy image Johan!
What a stunning work Johan!
Wow this just amazing!
Danke dir Mark :D
@Stavros: thank you very much Stavros!
@Don: glad you like it Don!
Exceptional photograph Johan!
Marvelous work!
Wat een mooie locatie, zeker voor zulke foto’s!
Dank je wel Cho!
Like a walk into a dream. Sounds corny but it was really the emotion that popped into my head 🙂 Super nice!
I like how that sounds Jim! Thanks for the great compliment!
Beautiful mood! I want to walk out on those rocks and have a quiet moment.
Feel free Kerry 😀 Thank you!
@George: thank you! I think so as well 🙂
@Brian: thanks Brian! Hope you are not too shocked 😉
Wonderful composition and tones Johan! Such a refreshing image from you!!! :)
Fabulous photo Johan! Your technique worked really well.
@Jeff, @Manuel and @Nathan: many thanks for the kind words!
@Jean-Michel: merci Jean-Michel! Have a great weekend!
@Joel: that is very nice to hear Joel. Thanks for the share 🙂 Still plenty of colour in my life!
that’s powerfully lovely!
Amazing picture
Beautiful mood and tone
Your B&W work is getting more and more impressive with each post Johan ! What happened to all the colour in your life? 🙂 Well these are the ‘true colours’ Johan and I love those dark grey tones and overall dark feeling to it.
Amazingly peaceful and beautiful ! A great work Johan .
Have a good day !
@Armand: somehow I expected that you like the dark side 🙂 Tnx!
@Trever: thanks for the compliment and nice to meet you!
@Carsten: well thank you Carsten!
@Tom: thanks for the compliment and nice to meet you Tom!
Stunning black and white conversion. Wonderful mood and tonal range!
Wonderful work – what a great atmosphere !
Extraordinary affect you’ve created here Johan Peijnenburg
oh, hi Johan, I do like this one a lot… it’s rather on the dark side which I like =)
marvelous LE work Johan , a great depth thanks to the foreground, a beautiful and soft gradient in the water, excellent!
Many thanks for the kind words again and for catching up Cédric !!!
@Daniel: that is very nice to hear Daniel! Thanks!!
@Heine: lol thanks Heine! How did the Iron Man go?
@Joseph: many thanks Joseph!!
It vent really well Johan, I´d cross the finish line in 11:53:09 and considering the course and weather, it was 36 C, i´m happy that I finished under 12 hours :)
very impressive Heine! Are you going to do it again?
@Wendy: thanks Wendy!
@Sophie: merci Sophie !! 🙂
@Charlotte: many thanks Charlotte! Thanks for stopping by!
@Wilfried: thanks Maestro 😀 And they are fun to create, but you know that now 😉
@Meg: thank you Meg!!
@Patrice: much appreciated Patrice. Nice to hear 😀 Hope al is well in paris!
@Steve: well thank you Steve!
@Alex: thanks very much!
@Javier: really glad you like it Javier. Gracias!
@Neil: many thanks Neil!
@Heiko: thank you Heiko and nice to meet you 🙂
@Aniea: thank you!
@Rhandy: thanks for the compliment Rhandy and nice to meet you here! Make sure to get an extra 2 and 3 stop filter, as that 10-stop won’t suffice most of the times 🙂
@Lilia: your comment rocks Lilia! Dank je wel. Alles goed?
@Mikko: glad you like my poetry Mikko 😉
Thanks Johan. I did try stacking a polarizer on top of my 10 stop just to see what would happen. I got strange colour cast issues (nothing that I wasn’t able to correct in post) but it worked really well when converted to b+w.
that helps a bit as well yes, but not ideal 🙂 Eventually you will get the extra ND’s 😀
This is not a Photography – it’s art!
Amazingly beautiful photo Johan! I like silence and desolate as the picture shows. Leading the path to sadness or happiness – That decision can only be decided by the viewer
Right now it is a beautiful fog over most of the Nordic forest lake, you’re lucky you can see a moose look forward edge of the forest, or a fairy dancing on the water meadows. All trees are dressed in fabulous autumn colours. Next year, you should consider a visit to Sweden or Norway – I know you are the right man to capture the right feeling.
thank you!!! Yes, Scandinavia would be a great place for me to visit. Thanks for the trust 😀
Fantastic work, love this use of black and white
This is really a stunning peace of work Johan
Wow! This has got to be near the top of my list of favourite images from you. Nice work, Johan !
Totally fabulous!!
Beautiful compo Johan !! :-)
wow…… stunning.
Incredible beauty – just stunning!
A little more impressive everyday Johan … I’m repeating myself, but I love the way you process your photos, B&W or colours.
Fantastic :)
Johan – Very well, exact and precise photograph. I like the dark processing here. :-)
Stunning shot my friend!!!
A marvelous work!
Simply wonderful…:)
like
Stunning image Johan
This is Absolutly stunning poetry of light! Very beautiful Johan!
Lovely composition, love those rocks, they Rock! Very beautiful capture Johan :)
Amazing piece. I love the stillness of the water contrasting with the storm clouds over head. This is inspiring me to do more long exposures with my 10 stop filter. Thanks for sharing.
@E.E. Giorgi: thank you 😀 I always think I will, but I never do. I usually decide on either colour or B&W, process accordingly and then move on to the next image. I am planning to create a colour LE gallery at some point though, so who knows 🙂
@Kurt: thanks for the compliment Kurt!
@Luke: thanks!
@Asfoor: thanks for the wow 😀
@Patricia: thank you very much 🙂
@Leyla: hey Leyla 🙂 Many thanks as well!
@Dominique: yes my dreamworld! Glad you like it !
wow, this is truly fantastic, Johan. Though since you mentioned colours, now I’m really curious to see them too…. any chance you’re going to share that version too? :-)
wow this is so beautiful :D
Superb!
Like stepping stones to some other place. Exquisitely captured and processed Johan!
How can’t you like it? It’s magnificent! The rocks are like a path onto an unknown dreamworld.
Spectacular
Absolutely gorgeous! Nice work Johan!
The master of LE shows us another stunner! 🙂 Beautiful work Johan.
lol … no master yet. I am just practicing and hoping I am improving! thanks for the great compliment anyway Paul. Much appreciated!
End of trail, nicely done. Like the shot.
thank you!
Thank you very much Markus Landsmann !
@Julia: well thank you Julia! Really glad you like it 😀
@Andy: LOL Andy. Are you telling me you read all of the comments to find that out? Thanks for the compliment !
Not all the comments Johan … only the light-hearted ones ;)
you got me worried there for a bit ;)
@Tom: thanks Tom!! Yes. I am loving square crops more and more 🙂
@David: many thanks David! Have to gamble and get out there as often as possible. The circumstances one gets at the end of a rainstorm can be very rewarding especially at sunset 🙂
Really fine work Johan , a beauty!! Your technical details are even more illuminating, including all that rock moving ;-)
What a beauty Johan !!! Absolutely love these gorgeous mid-grey tones and the light on on the horizon. Everything looks perfect! :)
Outstanding work Johan
Superb composition with great drama Johan! I really like the milky water; you anticipated for this shot brilliantly.
This is superb, Johan. I just love these square crop images and the balanced composition that draws you right in.
Beautiful photo Johan!
Thanks Michael!
Thank you G. Phillips and Coca !
Fantastic.
beautiful shot
I don’t “like” it at all
… I LOVE it! :o)
Wonderful, Johan!
hah, I LOVE it when you say that!
So Lovely!
thank you very much Milena !!
great shot Johan
thanks a lot Walter!
Nice work Johan! Fine lined up rocks leading in to distance
thank you! Yes that was a bit of hard work to get them lined up like this, but it was worth the muscle pain ;)
@Jennifer: thank you!
@Dirk: many thanks Dirk!
Awesome !!!
thanks Sumit and enjoy your break!
Enchanting Johan. And the location looks very familiar to me. ;)
thank you Athena! I like the word “enchanting” 😀
Yes, you know this place. I went back one night last week when it was very very windy and raining a lot. A gamble that worked out perfectly. The best one of that night still needs processing: the pier :)))
My pier? 😉
I have a nice one of it too. Processed, but not yet shared.
that’s what you get when we hang out together a lot 😀 I don’t think people mind if there is some overlap in subjects 🙂 I’ll keep mine on my disk for a while. Pretty sure you are going to like it though :D
In all fairness, I was so excited when I found that pier on Google maps, that I know I hogged it that morning. ;)
do you want to see how I shot it?
Sure ;)
on their way 😀
Yes I do!
I do to 😀
Nice styling and a beautiful pic.
@David: many thanks for the compliment!
@Peter: thank you Peter! It worked in colour as well yes. The composition and mood came out nicer in B&W though.
@Dominique: thanks Dominique! Another place we can visit together 😀
Definitively Johan :)
the list keeps getting longer 😀
@Swetcha: maybe it nicer like this. You can quietly enjoy the view from that last rock 😀
@Emanuele: many many thanks Emanuele! Much appreciated!
@kevin: thank you!
@Suan: thank you!
@aditya: you can. You just need to recognise them 🙂
@Ty: a very cool description Ty. Thanks!
Thanks to you Johan peijnenburg to share that cool photo and have a very nice day
you are welcome!
Wow beautiful!
Very nice capture Johan! I love the details in the rocks.
Beautiful Johan!! I’m sure it would work in colour too but with a b&w conversion like this you can’t go wrong!
Love the detail 😀 and the excellent processing.
Black and white does it justice, well done.
Poetry in photography Johan ! Beautiful work!
i wish there were rocks all the way to the middle of the lake so i could walk on them
wow it looks like some sort of alternate world where rocks float. this is a picture that just gets you but you dont get it
I hope someday I go place like that alone
Beautiful and calming
@Jason and @Aditya: thank you!
@Tim: good luck. Normally it should do the trick 🙂
Awesome
Love this. Dramatic.
I just went through a banding problem with a sunset pic, hard to get rid of in post when one doesn’t know how
Thanks Tim! Well I usually know how to avoid it.
Well Johan whats your secret to avoid banding before or in PP if you don’t mind sharing :)
the trick usually it to keep (or even add) a bit of noise in larger gradient areas 🙂
Thanks Johan, I’ve heard that before and will have to try it, thank you :)
Love it !
Amazing image, Johan – thanks for sharing the setup.
beautiful
thanks very much Rose!
@Matthias: many thanks Matthias! Hope all is well with you!
@peter paul: many thanks for the compliments Peter Paul.
@Ingo: danke dir Ingo!
@markus: thanks Markus! Yes, this was not an easy one to process. Getting all the tones right can be difficult 🙂
@Christopher: and I REALLY like that you REALLY like it Christopher! 😉
a really beautiful composed LE , Great work Johan!
one incredible piece of art once again Johan
I REALLY like this Johan.
fantastic LE image!! great processing ..every worked out very carefully!!
very, very cool – like it a lot.
@Kaiya: thank you !
@Margaret: glad you do 😀 Tnx.
@Lee: cracker comment Lee! Nice to meet you.
F@rancesco: thanks Francesco! Going to plan Italy soon btw 🙂
@Tony: you are very welcome Tony. Glad you like it!
@Baldur: I love WOW’s Baldur! Tnx 😀
Thank you Magistral !!
@Ramli: thank you and nice to meet you 🙂
@Vitor: many thanks Vitor!
Cracker shot!
Gorgeous!! I love the great composition and that perfect smooth water!! It’s stunning!!
nice
A definite WOW. Beautifully composed and executed, Johan!
As a regular user of black & white this is right up my street… thanks for sharing, Johan. And a big thank you for the technical data…
Awesome Johan !
Very good Johan Peijnenburg
this is so COOL…!!!
Superbe
Thank you Johan, for your inspiring image, your exif info is so helpful to those of us who aspire to your excellence. I know I could tiptoe to the last rock and touch the horizon!
thanks Bill! And if you ever need more info … just ask!
Very kind of you…and I certainly will.
Yet another great shot. Something seems magic in this one.
I like a lot.
Merci Yann !
@Kristjan: thanks for the cool comment 😀
@Jany: thank you Jany. Thanks for stopping by again 😀
Magnificent
@David: glad you do David. Thanks!
@Bertrand: thanks for stopping by Bertrand! Thanks for the kind words 🙂
@Nuraini: thank you!
Thats really cool
looks so mysterious! spectacular shot!
Nice one Johan , i like the atmosphere and the black and white conversion….
Fantastic stuff ! Love this work !!
@Richard: thank you Richard!
@Charles: thanks Charles!
Johan, beautiful image my friend.
@Michael: thanks Michael and nice to see you around 🙂
@Natasha: many thanks Natasha and nice to meet you 🙂
wonderful composition, marvelous bw
Cool
Fantastic shot Johan Peijnenburg! Dig the long exposure and the processing!
outstanding work:)
Thank you Farah :)
@Vishal: thank you Vishal!
@Annette: always nice to see those hearts come by 😀
@Mike: hey Mike! Thanks 😀
@Rob: thank you 🙂
@Suzie: thanks Suzie !
@Manuel and @Nurcan: many thanks 😀
Splendid tranquility Johan
~❤❤❤~
Beautiful shot 🙂
Stunning capture Johan Peijnenburg!
Very beautiful!
Lovely image
Great….