New fine art long exposure photography: Abandoned

By Johan Peijnenburg

In May of this year, I was at Lac de Neuchâtel near Estavayer-le-Lac in Switzerland for a bit of long exposure photography and shot a photograph titled Tranquillity. It was quite windy and foggy that day. Excellent conditions for fine art long exposure photography. Earlier this month, I went back when weather conditions were comparable, to see if I could shoot more photographs with the same soothing feeling to them. The photograph below titled Abandoned is one of the results.

Abandoned

A lake landscape in B&W, featuring an old abandoned pier in a lake on a mystical foggy day (Lac de Neuchâtel in Switzerland).

Not everybody likes minimalist black & white photographs like this. I, however, appreciate them more and more. Besides that, they are fun to create, and the actual shooting is quite relaxing. A welcome change from all the alpine landscape work that I do. A bit of relaxed lakeside shooting is a fantastic way to get rid of any muscle pains that result from long uphill mountain hikes 🙂

A Nikon D800E and a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens captured this fine art photograph in black & white. A stack of three neutral density filters decreased the exposure with 15 stops. As a result, it gave me an exposure time of about 2 minutes. I processed the photograph with Nik’s Silver Efex Pro. Hope you like this minimalist lake landscape photograph!

Interested to see more fine art long exposure photography? I recently added Abandoned to our Minimalist photography theme. You will find more minimalist photographs there. Click on the photograph to learn more about Abandoned or if you are interested in buying a print or a licence.

Cheers, Johan 🙂

234 thoughts on “New fine art long exposure photography: Abandoned”

  2. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Robert: thank your Robert ! 😀
    @mady: glad you like it Mady!
    @Elena Pradies: many thanks Elena!
    @Karol: thanks for checking it out Karol!

    Reply
    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      Did you try LE photography Gail? It is a very nice different way of shooting. Totally different then the normal landscape work I do. Way more “zen” 🙂 

      Reply
      • Gail Beerman says:

        I love LE photography Johan , it is exciting and rewarding to see the world in LE–zen is right, meditative for sure in the methodological approach!

        Reply
    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      It is something I like to do once in a while Gail 🙂 Some people hate it, but I like the “flow” that comes with it 🙂 

      Reply
  21. Cédric Leblond says:

    a minimalistic and intriguing composition with works perfectly, love also your choice of tones here, again a superb LE work Johan!!

    Reply
  22. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Neil: thanks again Neil 😀
    @Charlotte: thanks!!
    @Christian: glad you like it Christian!
    @Chris: hey thanks Chris!

    Reply
  27. Stefanie Loges says:

    Oh I do love minimal b&w Johan and I also love your alpine landscapes (the b&w´s)!! 🙂 A wonderful example of how to make a image breathe, love the tones and gradients!!

    Reply
  46. Tom Tran says:

    This is lovely, Johan. The tire bumpers add an interesting irregularity, and the gradient of light really draws you in toward the end of the pier. 

    Reply
  51. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Peter: many thanks for the kind words! 🙂
    @Margaret: hey Margaret. Thanks! It would be worth the walk on it. It is a very nice place as well 🙂
    @Meg: thank you Meg! 

    Reply
  56. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Sudip: glad you like it Sudip 🙂
    @Lorenzo: actually this image was shot with my 24-70! Re the alternatives: guess it’s a matter of picking the best compromise. I for one wouldn’t like to bring along yet another (expensive) filter set. Yes, this is shot with a D800E. I still have a D3x as well … I planned to keep that one for LE work as the D800E is not ideal for that 🙂
    @Joseph: thanks Joseph! 

    Reply
  59. Lorenzo Montezemolo says:

    you make a good argument for buying a 16-35 or 17-35. What I love about the 14-24 is that it is crisp from edge to edge, but I could also live with cropping and (if possible) transforming to overcome the distortion of the 16/17-35. I put in a request for BorrowLenses.com to get some Lee Filter gear, but I’m not sure they will. If they do, I might rent the 16 or 17-35 and the filters to try the setup before I decide to buy it. So, without getting too technical (I don’t want to take away from the image), you used three non-grad ND filters and the 14-24 to take this? BTW, I noticed you also shoot with a D800. Mine will be going back to Nikon due to grease spots splashing onto my sensor, but other than that (which Nikon should be able to fix), I love it!

    Reply
  64. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Bill: less is more sometimes 🙂 Thank you !
    @Gaurav: many thanks Gaurav! I have the same dilemma. I have the 14-24 as well and did consider getting the filters system for it. That is very very expensive though and indeed no big stopper. Actually the price for the holder plus let’s say 3 ND grads will equal the price of a 16-35 or 17-35. The are not in the same league but still. I hear the 16-35 is very sharp. It distorts much more then the 14-24 though, which is not so good for LE’s.
    @Jens: well thanks you Jens! 

    Reply
  67. Lorenzo Montezemolo says:

    Wow, Johan. You have outdone yourself! 15 stops?! I love the milky/smoky look of the water. I dream of being able to use filters. I currently shoot with a lens that has very limited support for filters (Nikon 14-24mm). Lee does make a filter system for the lens, but that system doesn’t allow use of a Big Stopper. Aaaaargh! I love my lens but would really love to be able to do LE work with it. I may end up buying another filter-compatible wideangle lens, but I’m undecided.

    Reply
  72. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @David: Yes it is David 🙂 Thanks!
    @Matthias: I added the vignette/gradient in this one in post. You normally won’t get that straight out of the camera, except … in case you stack too many filters, use the wrong adapter ring on a wide-angle lens or use a not so brilliant lens 🙂 

    Reply
  73. Matthias Haeussler says:

    one question from a curious fan of yours 😉 … do you add slight vignetting manually or is this an effect of the nd filters you apply?

    Reply
  74. David Shield says:

    Wow, 15-stops…Now that is how to set up for creativity Johan! The result is a silky smooth exceptional mono-tone image.

    Reply
  78. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Lilia: many thanks Lilia 🙂 Groetjes!
    @Pieter: thanks Pieter and nice to meet you 🙂
    @Alan: thanks Alan! Sorry it had to come in from the right again 😀 

    Reply
  79. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    Many thanks Stavros !
    @Wilfried: glad you like it Wilfried 🙂 When are we going to shoot some together?
    @David: thanks again David !

    Reply
    • Wilfried Haferland says:

      Looking forward to autumn! Next weekend might be the last possibility for a higher climb, but I’m planning to take a day or more off for shooting mid-week soon anyway ;-)

      Reply
  85. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Christa: still practicing Christa. Thanks! Btw I stil have a few nice “portraits” of you. Will send them over soon 😀

    Reply
  87. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @E.E. Giorgi: feel free 🙂 Thanks for the great comment Elena!
    @Tim: many thanks Tim!
    @David: thanks! A big stopper was used, together with a 2 and a 3 stop = 15 stops 🙂 

    Reply
  103. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Yasmin: well thank you dear Yasmin! Glad you liked what you found here 😀
    @Aline: many thanks for the kind words. Glad you like it 😀 Ik zal morgen avond naar he bericht kijken! 

    Reply
  105. Yasmin Simpson says:

    Ohhh dear Johan, as always a real pleasure to visit you and find awesome images in your wall. Absolutely a “breathtaker” piece of art!!!.

    Reply
  107. Kurt Harvey says:

    Beautiful and ethereal image Johan! I have a soundtrack for it if you’d like. 😀 But seriously, its gorgeous and otherworldly. Awesome work!

    Reply
    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      really glad you like it Joel! And yes it come from the right … it just looks better imho …. and some of the greatest LE wizards seem to do the same! 

      Reply
  115. Curtis Zeitelhack says:

    his reminds me of the landscapes in many of Dali’s surrealtist paintings – not the paintings themselves, but the basic backgrounds for the dream sequences. I like this very much!

    Reply
  122. Athena Carey says:

    That looks very familiar Johan 😉 I almost posted my photo from out trip there today too, but I got distracted and forgot to do it. :)

    Reply
      • Athena Carey says:

        Of course not being lazy…. I was working hard on something else (this time). 😉 Mine was from when we went back one week later after my car was fixed Johan. 

        Reply
        • Johan Peijnenburg says:

          just kidding. I know you are always very busy with all sorts of important and useful stuff! :o) I haven’t worked on the ones from last week yet. 

          Reply
          • Athena Carey says:

            At the moment I have stopped working on lessons and am trying very hard to find the black rapid strap that I just told you last week I don’t want to use anymore because I changed my mind and want to bring it tomorrow. But of course now it is hiding… ~sigh~

          • Johan Peijnenburg says:

            silly ain’t it. For the price you pay for photo gear nowadays you would at least expect that they would put a sim on some of it 😀 

          • Athena Carey says:

            Johan, right after I typed my last message here I found it. Karma. 🙂 Go look at our thread about tomorrow – I asked you a question.

          • Johan Peijnenburg says:

            @Athena: sometimes karma is not a bitch 😀
            @Debby: secret phone numbers work miracles. As long as I can call it it’s cool 😀 

          • Debby Vos says:

            Think you did not get it Johan 😀 I meant that it would not stop ringing because all day long you would be calling one of your straps to find them

  124. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Steve: less is more as they say 😉 Thanks Steve!
    @Baldur: I always feel zen after a day of LE shooting Baldur 😀 Thanks for the very kind words! 

    Reply
  131. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Milena: thanks! 🙂
    @Jerry: thanks for the great feedback Jerry and well spotted. That was actually the reason for me to go back again. I had a few go’s at this pier and didn’t think the comp was how it should be. I got what I wanted this time. Now the question is if I did the good job 😀 

    Reply
  132. Jerry Johnson says:

    It is fantastic! The object itself is unique and you’ve positioned it perfectly in the frame, right down to having the tops of the two pipes at the end of the dock in perfect alignment with the horizon!! Thank you for sharing this gorgeous photo!

    Reply
  140. Dominique Dubied says:

    Stunning image (as usual I would say) Johan! I love that minimalism, sometimes less is more 🙂
    Where is it located exaclty near Estavayer-Le-Lac?

    Reply
    • Johan Peijnenburg says:

      I have included the GPS info with the image. We can go there togethers one day if you want. It is not easy to get at and it does require some trespassing 😉 And thanks for the compliment :D

      Reply
      • Dominique Dubied says:

        Great idea to inlcude the Google maps in the image! How do you include these info when posting the picture?
        I would love to go together there. I know also another interesting place I could show you at the same time on that lake… We could organize the walk sometimes at the end of October or November if it is alright for you…

        Reply
        • Johan Peijnenburg says:

          the coordinates are recorded when I shoot and when I export from Lightroom I tick the option to include coordinates. Easy 😉
          Well, still waiting for you to propose a date for a joint shooting outing 🙂 Would be great to see what place you found as well. Do you want to make it a SPC walk?
          We did run into the place where you shot the poles and the reed at lake Bielle btw :-p 

          Reply
          • Dominique Dubied says:

            Well that could an idea Johan, but the problem is that these places are quite far away from each other, so I guess it is not very convenient as SPC walk, apart if we could do a bus walk 😉
            Beginning of October I am abroad for the work, so we could go there afterwards, I will send you some possible dates soon (I have to check with my wife first…)

          • Johan Peijnenburg says:

            yes that’s why we opted for Montreux after all for Saturday. Much easier to organize. It can be done though, if we limit the walk to LE only. Most who shoot LE don’t mind hopping from one location to another. Just need to arrange enough car seats :)

  155. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Matthias: I am pretty sure you will get there if you put the effort in Matthias. You could join us in Montreux on Saturday for a bit of an LE workshop ;)

    Reply
  156. Johan Peijnenburg says:

    @Blas: thank you Blas and nice to meet you 🙂
    @Markus: many thanks for the wow!! Hope all if fine wih you !?
    @Milan: thanks Milan !

    Reply
  163. Beautiful landscape photography says:

    adobe’s lightroom 4 is the best processing tool for monochrome images as it retains the variety of shades even in the monochrome clicks which in turn preserve originality of the image.

    Reply

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