Workflow Series - #2 - Lake Agnes Cloudscape

Location: Lake Agnes, high above Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada EXIF: 69 sec. - f/20 - ISO 100, 19mm File: 3413 x 5120 pixels, 18.2 mb

The key to striking long exposures of clouds and water is to use a neutral density filter; in this case, I used a 10-stop ND filter from Breakthrough Photography, which allowed for the 69-second exposure and the long, wispy clouds. They were moving quite fast that day, but now they're frozen in time! This filter also gave the water a frozen, silky look despite constant ripples. Lastly, I used an Orton effect filter and tweaked the color calibration in Photoshop to give this one a surreal, dreamy look.

The Workflow Series is a collection of photos and videos by Steve Walasavage intended to provide some useful technical background for beginners wondering "how was this made!?". The primary market collector of EVERY image will receive an appropriately sized signed print.