Blog 21 04 30 Hoover Dam

The camera had to hang over the parapet of the mighty Hoover Dam and peer into its depths with no visible means of support. Luckily, I did not do the same, since I used the self-timer to take delayed exposures, after I had braced the camera on the rim attached to a monopod. Equally, since I “self-insure”, I was also gripping tightly onto the camera strap lest thousands of dollars’ of equipment succumbed to gravity. I was pleased with the result.

Technical

Having resolved how to not  test out Newton’s theories using my equipment or myself, my main concern was to capture the depth and detail of the dam. The graphic quality was assured by the pharaonic scale of the structure and its generator buildings at the foot, as well as the colour palette offered by the rocks, the two-toned concrete of the dam and its buildings and the water in the spillway.

The minimum focal length of an 18-70mm zoom lens was ideal, in order to capture the width of the view, but a narrow aperture was indicated in order to maintain deep focus. This was a serious issue at 5pm in December, given that the light was dying. I therefore pumped up the ISO to 1250, but the indicated exposure was still “tripod slow” at 1/6s. So, there was nothing for it, but to take a stabilised exposure.

The rest was down to luck, good posture, a relaxed application of muscle strength and holding my breath. I poked the monopod over the edge and sought to be Zen, or more precisely, Samurai: as in  practising the disciplined drawing of a bow in the art of Kyudo. It worked for me. I hope it works for you.

Settings

Camera: Nikon D300

Lens: Nikon 18.0–70,0mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal Length: 18mm

Drive Mode: Self Timer

Auto Focus-Area Mode: Single

Aperture: f/11

Shutter Speed: 1/6s

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority A/E

Exposure Compensation: 0.0 EV

Metering: Pattern

ISO Sensitivity: 1250

Mounted on a Monopod

Format: Raw

Place : Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nevada

Year: 2007

Copyright Paul Grayson 2021 All Rights Reserved