Landscape Photography Vlog - Sunrise, seascapes and Long Exposures at Flamborough Head

In this landscape photography vlog we head out at the crack of dawn to capture the sunrise, some seascapes and some amazing long exposure photography.
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In this landscape photography video blog I travel to Flamborough Head cliffs in North Yorkshire in search of some great landscape photography, a sunrise and some long exposure photography. My plan is to get up early, film the vlog, capture the images and create some time lapse videos.
The North Yorkshire coastline has some of the most amazing opportunities for seascape photography in the world. The amazing white cliffs off Flamborough Head and the outstanding drinking dinosaur.
My video photography blogs are designed to entertain and give you a flavour of how I go about capturing my work. Watch this landscape photography vlog and you will see exactly what I mean. If you enjoy this photography blog I would really appreciate it if you subscribed to the channel. There's lots more content to come.
My Camera - Canon 5D Mark IV
Music -
Nicolai Heidlas - Wings - / wings-acoustic-guitar-...
Mariobeatz - / mariobeatz
Gone
Autumn
Don’t Look Back

[@JCarlos.unknown]

Stunning landscape, Adam. Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Joao Carlos You're very welcome. I really appreciate you watching. Glad you liked the photographs.

[@MrHeliflyguy]

Another great video adam and a stunning location and some nice photos to end with. Looking forward to your future vlogs.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Thanks Simon. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jeffstephenson5633]

Hi Adam another great video and amazing shots well worth the effort. looking forward to your next video.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+jeff stephenson Thanks Jeff. Glad you like the images. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave a comment too.

[@iaingeere7332]

Another great video Adam,i do love the images you captured ,and me,i wouldn't have taken any differently ,do love the time lapse at the end, cheers for sharing this with us .

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Iain Geere Thanks Iain. I had a great time on this one. I was glad my effort to get out early was rewarded.

[@paulhunter-rowe9575]

What a fantastic location! The images you have captured are just WOW! You've definitely inspired me to do more seascapes. Thank you. Great video as always Adam, keep them coming. A Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Paul Hunter-Rowe Thanks Paul. I'm really glad you like the images. I'll be putting them up on Instagram over the next few days so they can be seen in a bit more detail. Merry Christmas to you too.

[@ThePosiview]

Love it, Adam, when it all goes great, it's wonderful:)

[@Firstmanphotography]

+andy sheader Thanks buddy. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnferry5668]

Another cracking video Adam, thank you for sharing pal

[@Firstmanphotography]

+John Ferry Glad you enjoyed it John. Thanks for watching.

[@markpursglovephotography]

Love Flamborough and great shots :)

[@Firstmanphotography]

+mark pursglove Thanks Mark. Appreciate it

[@Vennymac]

Outstanding, such great photos!

[@Firstmanphotography]

Thanks Jason. I was pleased with the day's work on this one.

[@gummygam]

It's great to see you having fun. Very nice shots. I would take another one of the rocks from the bottom to the top vertically:)

[@Firstmanphotography]

+‫אורן תורכיה (גמיגם אינטראקטיב)‬‎ Yeah that could be interesting. I think you would need some blue sky for that though. I didn't have that on this trip.

[@dunewalks5988]

Fantastic video. Thank you very much for sharing. We travelled down from Glasgow on a beautiful day last summer and the sea looked like the Cote D'azur. Some 200,000 birds too. What a stunning area!

[@chrisnowellphotography]

Good stuff. Visiting myself for the first time soon

[@lawrencehumphrey9676]

Great video Adam and lovely location. Lots of useful advice, thanks

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Lawrence Humphrey Thanks Laurence. Appreciate that.

[@scotty4418]

Great images Adam, love visiting the Whitby area

[@Firstmanphotography]

Yeah, the Yorkshire coast is stunning.

[@vividshotphotography849]

Hi Adam it's really great shot all them perfect shot well done mate enjoy watching your video and merry Christmas my friend have great day

[@Firstmanphotography]

Thanks Mohammed. Glad you enjoyed the shots. Always appreciate your comments.

[@alasdairmackenzie905]

Great stuff yet again Adam. The shots are fantastic. Many thanks. PS: I'd have been very wary of leaving my new 5D Mk4 (if I had one !) on a tripod so close to the edge of that cliff - one good puff of Yorkshire wind and....... !!!

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Alasdair MacKenzie Ha. It depends on your tripod I guess. I trust the Manfrotto 055.

[@markharris5771]

I had my Christmas Pantomime moment when you walked away from your camera, started shouting "Behind you!". As usual a brilliant video of one of my favourite areas, which is surprisingly accessible but you won't see me using those steps any time soon.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Ha, I had a moment like that when a couple of particularly big waves tricked me into thinking the tide was coming in.

[@Firstmanphotography]

I do not use physical grads anymore. I do not think they are necessary and I can save time. I reveal all my editing secrets on Sunday. I filmed the whole editing session for these images. I talk about grads a bit more and I think it is full of really useful information.

[@markharris5771]

First Man Photography forgot to wish you Merry Christmas and thank you. Hoping your 11.5k snowballs even more in 2017. You deserve it with the effort you put in to your videos. Back to the video, did you try a reverse grad to try and bring out some colour in the lower sky, it sometimes works with seascapes.

[@paulcooper9187]

Up in the area at the moment, and watched this as a reference, oh how the presentation style has changed ( for the better it has to be said ) 😂

[@Firstmanphotography]

Ha ha. Yup, its definitely been a process. I think about this video occasionally because the spot where I took that first image is now, with the additional erosion, pretty much unreachable.

[@reggaethecat]

I was there earlier this year, it's amazing. That rock formation that sticks into the sea is called the Drinking Dinosaur, unfortunately I didn't know about it until the sun was well up. But I got some lovely sunrise shots from a little bay along the cliffs. Great location I recommend to all photographers -- AND you have the lighthouse as a bonus! :-)

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Joe H It really is a special location. Made all the better for being a winter environment with barely any people around. Or is that just me?!!

[@reggaethecat]

No its not just you! I'm am anti social photographer too, I hate the feeling of being watched while I'm photographing

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Joe H Ha I know what you mean. It depends where I am. If I'm out in the great outdoors I am usually in search of solitude. I don't think you can be a landscape photographer without being comfortable in your own company.

[@reggaethecat]

Yep spot on. I love it :-)

[@Quaker521]

Another great film Adam, thanks. Personally I am not too keen on the black rock image as I find that the exposed/submerged white rocks a little muddling if you know what I mean. For me the other two shots are great. The balancing of the first shot is very well done and I like the (seemingly) simpleness of the second. In my humble amateur opinion that is!

[@Firstmanphotography]

You clearly have a keen eye. That was my least favourite image of the day. I am confident I composed it right, i just waited too long and the tide went further out than I had wanted in the shot. If the sea had been right up to the front of the frame and swirling all around the black rock it would have worked better. I discuss it more in the post-process session that I will be putting out on Sunday.

[@scrumpyhead2000]

Great pictures Adam. Thanks for putting this up... inspiring as always.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+martin waters Thanks Martin. Glad you liked it.

[@HoldFastFilms]

That beach is amazing! I would love to have something like that nearby.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Yeah it is pretty special. It might just be me but it was even better for having the whole place to myself. Apart from the people who appeared for two minutes and photo bombed my time lapse!!!

[@melissahall7009]

Enjoyed it 😊. I love landscape photography.

[@JohnHaswellPhotography]

I'm currently staying in thorwick bay and thought the lighthouse and cliffs looked familiar. Sure enough this is where I've seen them. I shot thorwick bay this morning but through the week I'll be doing North landing and the lighthouse area. The white rocks and cliffs are amazing here....I even did some video so if I ever manage to get some editing software I may upload it.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+John Haswell Photography Yeah. Its one of my favourite locations. Look forward to seeing some video!!

[@craigpirie5870]

Another excellent video with some great shots. I would like to see them in black and white with a blue filter from Silver Efex Pro. Thanks for sharing, Adam.

[@stanokella]

Great vid again, got some lovely images. You said about compositions and ideas from us lowly viewers, I'd have maybe tried with the black rock shot a shorter shutter speed, maybe a 2-3 second get some water trails type stuff. Hard to tell on the vid if it would work though, until took a test piccy as tide maybe wasn't receding enough with each wave.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+stanokella Yeah that was my least favourite image of the day. I filmed the post processing session which will be going out on Sunday and I discuss that shot a bit more. To be honest, I waited too long and the tide went out further than I would have liked it in the image. I really wanted the smooth water running all around the black rock right to the front of the frame. Nevermind, I shall have to go back. Appreciate the comment. Thanks.

[@MikeDewisBaritone]

Superb channel! Great bloke!

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Mike Dewis Thanks Mike. You're clearly a great bloke too!!

[@upnorthbob410]

Great shots, I am jealous, no scenery where I live.

[@paulburwood8231]

Some really beautiful shots here Adam; just wish I had seen this VLOG before I visited North Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago.

[@mick8586]

enjoyed the video ,thanks

[@Firstmanphotography]

+mick cooke Glad you liked it. Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@andynowlen]

Great work and encouragement. Could you take time to show your filter system all works together? The polarizer fits how? Just looking for instruction. Thx..

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Andy Nowlen Hi Andy. I have done the below video before. Its a slightly older one but should give you a better idea of what I am using. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXqZZX5qhLOjqa8

[@RS.Outdoors]

Great film and lovely views. Any recommendations for a good landscape lens to use on my Nikon D7200. Looking at a Sigma 18-35 but really not sure. Atb

[@Firstmanphotography]

It depends what type of landscapes you want to shoot. If you want the big scenes you might want to go with something wider like the Nikon 10-24 or the Nikon 12-24mm. There is also a cheaper 10-20mm sigma that can do a job and the Tokina 11-16mm although the later might be a bit restrictive. At 18mm on the Sigma you might find it's not wide enough.

[@TimHill1]

Doing more or less the same shoot in Flamborough tomorrow Adam. I've been watching your very well made video for inspiration. I am planning sunrise photography and time-lapse. Great work, thank you. I live in Pontefract by the way ;)

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Tim Hill Sounds good Tim. Nice early start too. Would love to see what you come up with.

[@TimHill1]

plus.google.com/u/0/+TimHill1 - lots to process of course (time-lapse etc), first 2 up, more to come. Thanks.

[@Cappy31]

I love those pictures however I think, that the one with black rock has overexposed sky. Maby you could use ND grad filter? I love Your vlogs. Longing for new one!

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Booster31 Thanks. Glad you're enjoying them. That shot is definitely the weakest of the day so you obviously have a good eye. I filmed the post processing session when I get home and I talk about a couple of errors with that image that reduced its quality. That video will be going out on Sunday.

[@user-jm4ll4mr3w]

Earned yourself a sub, great video

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Oliver Flood Thanks Oliver. Much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@philippnagel1096]

Great channel man. Keep up the good work!

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Philipp Nagel Thanks Philipp. Glad you're enjoying it.

[@martinberry1540]

Enjoyed the location, would have tried some shorter 1 second exposures for movement in the sea and waves close up, maybe some rock textures of the cliffs.

[@alanbrunelle1546]

Really nicely done - the comments re: having the beach to yourself and making sure to enjoy the surroundings when out shooting Landscapes is something I've learned over the last year. I used to be so intent on "trying to get good photographs" that I was missing lots of nature's beauty and the ability to just be at peace with the world for a bit of time. [Doing long-exposures really helps in this regard: you are concentrating and fiddling for a while, then you press the shutter - and you've got minutes to just sit back, relax and enjoy!] The long-exposure w/ the rock column is really nice - have you tried it in black-and-white? I think the blue/purples in the upper left are a tiny bit distracting - but I do feel you certainly got that contrast between the cliffs & rock column versus the ocean (in particular) very nicely indeed. The "sunrise" shot is spectacular - with the turquoise blue water against the pinks/magentas in the sky - and even the darker greens on the land helps to emphasize the water color - outstanding capture! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise and artistry with us! Merry Christmas!

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Alan Brunelle Thanks Alan. Really appreciate this comment. You're right about the side benefits of long exposure photography. Especially since its so often in a place where there is no phone signal so the temptation to get online is not there. I did try the image as a black and white and it just didn't work. It was mostly because the colour tones in the cliffs were lost in mono and all looked the same.

[@lefthandedphotographer]

Nice, my new year resolution, talk my wife into buying me the lee big stopper and the polarizer, wish me luck i'm gona need it.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Duncan McNaught Just buy it and then ask for forgiveness instead. How much could two small pieces of glass cost anyway?!!!!

[@lefthandedphotographer]

forgot to mention i bought myself a 5d mk4 a few weeks back, my wife being a complete non-photographer just does not get it, a nice trick i find is to change her wallpaper on her pc to something i want, she has no idea how to change it and has to give in, in the end.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Duncan McNaught Sounds fair enough to me. She must be pretty reasonable to be fair though, if you've managed to get a 5D Mark IV.

[@ArtcoPhotography]

Hi mate, fantastic channel. :D quick question what mic do you use when your outside. Really impressed by the audio quality.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Hi. I use the Rode Video Mic Pro. The sound quality is pretty decent. You can have a look at this playlist that features all my videos about creating videos - kzbin.info/aero/PLa6Vwwb8Hgm1Ow39in64vtYLTwfjSB-wU

[@ArtcoPhotography]

Thanks a lot mate :D Merry Christmas

[@mujahidurrehman]

I love the shots Adam. Nicely presented... I wonder if the sun had come out, and you were there on time, would it not have been nice to be on the beach to get the sunrise through the arch? You were standing quite high... or was it because you were late and the sun never appeared?

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Mujahids Photography I was there in time but there was no colour in the sky with that scene and there was too much cloud on the horizon. It also a very inaccessible beach with no path down the cliffs.

[@cjbjcb5377]

Great show as always, well done. You mentioned the 5D iv, what lens did you use? ps Merry Christmas, looking forward to more great work in 2017 from you

[@Firstmanphotography]

+CJB JCB Thanks glad you enjoyed it. I used 17-40mm

[@stephenquinn4826]

Excellent vlog Adam, where is the beach location @7 mins. ?

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Stephen Quinn It is the beach closest to the car park and lighthouse at Flamborough Head. Very accessible besides the steps down to the sand. Glad you enjoyed the video. You gonna be heading over there?

[@leebetts1984]

hi adam. I think a DJI mavic would go good with all your kit. I have just got one and it's a great piece of kit which doesn't take up much room. great work by the way.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Thanks Lee. That will be what I pick up probably. How have you found it so far?

[@leebetts1984]

First Man Photography I only got it on Monday and have had a few flights with it. I've upgraded from phantom 3 advanced. it's the portability that I really love about it.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Yeah. It doesn't seem like you lose a whole lot for that extra portability either. Awesome.

[@leebetts1984]

First Man Photography I've actually gained a lot upgrading for the phantom 3. it has way more features built in.

[@Firstmanphotography]

Good stuff. It's nice when a plan comes together. I just had a look at some of your footage with the Phantom 3. I know Durham quite well and that footage is sweet. Definitely the best way to capture the city. It's quite a frustrating place to photograph and the 'perfect' composition does not exist.......at least on the ground!!

[@abrarahmed8360]

Very informative I learned a Lots of New Information, if you can also give what gear you use it will be very helpful, Mesmerizing pictures

[@barryh2000]

Great video Adam. Can I ask what time of year it was taken?

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Mike Swain Thanks Mike. I think it was November off the top of my head. Definitely the Autumn.

[@dougboynton2523]

Hi Adam really enjoyed it you mention a software for getting the timings for long exposure shots I think it was photopolymer is that correct? Merry Christmas. Doug

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Doug Boynton Hi Doug. Appreciate you watching and thanks for your comment. I use Photopills. Its pretty much the Swiss army knife of photography. Its only on the iPhone at the moment though. I used to use Exposure Calculator on Android.

[@MrYou76tube]

Love the vids! Do you mind telling me what tripod and head you use?

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Jules Willoughby I use a Manfrotto BeFree that comes with a ball head. I also use a Manfrotto 055 with a Manfrotto compact ball head with the rc2 quick release. What are you considering?

[@Petar_star]

I just found your channel. Subscribed ;) Channels like yours inspire me to go photograph and develop my own style. I started this channel a week ago, hopefully I will create more content soon . :)

[@senselessscott]

Why a 4min+ exposure? I understand long exposure to smooth out the water, but that can usually be done in far less than 4min - in my experience anyway. Not much structure in the clouds from what I can see in your video, so not sure the long exposure is required for that either. Of course maybe you need that given the huge ND stop, but I assume you have something less and could reduce the time. Please explain. Have I misunderstood your intent? Thank you. Respectfully, Scott. Oh....Are you using the Lee Bigstopper as the 10 stop? Like mine, should use it more though.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Scott L (SenselessScott) I love the feeling of exposures that are 4+ minutes. For lack of a better phrase they provide that 'fine art' mood to the images. On this day there was very little wind so there was not much movement in the clouds. A 4 minute exposure will always capture some movement, even if it is subtle. It's mostly the effect on the water. I want a totally smooth surface in my images and you don't always get this with a shorter exposure. It might be hard to see in the video or on instagram but the water on the sunrise shot is not totally smooth, that was a 30 second shot with a 6 stop filter. Like I said on the video, for me, long exposures are about the contrast between the smooth movement and the sharp static objects. The smoother you can get the sea/ clouds, the more that juxtaposition is highlighted.

[@chriswatson6840]

hey Dude, get video. I would like to have seen a photo from the position of your closing speech, that looked very dramatic.

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Chris Watson Cheers Chris. Its always nice to have an excuse to go back.

[@arijitkar7217]

How do u gauge the exposure time on those shots?? Does the light meter of the camera give that 4min reading and if not how do you measure it??

[@bus101002ta]

Do you live in Scarborough? I went there on a school trip

[@Firstmanphotography]

+Danny Man I have lived in a lot of different places in my time but Scarborough is not one of them. I did grow up in Teesside though which is not too far away.

[@JohnHaswellPhotography]

Hi Adam, so I took some footage while I was there and made a vlog. Turns out I really need an external mic. Just bought a gopro for future vlogs too. Anyway it's not a patch on your vlog but here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKiVZ4ZphLR1eqM