Mahon Pool

Yep, another Sydney rock pool. Hey guys, I have barely started.

I went out with 2 others to photograph this pool and the surrounding rocks this morning. We set out almost an hour before first light. The others didn't want to photograph the pool due to the dreadful sodium vapour lighting but I perservered and my trusty Olympus E-P1 and M.Zuiko 9-18mm lens left their Canon and Nikon cameras for dead (well that's my story).





Both shots are at the 9mm end of the lens and both for 25 seconds. The first is at f/8 and ISO100. I wanted to maximise the depth of field and get the stainless steel railing in focus so the second shot was at f/11 and ISO200.

The funny backbone shape in the pool in the second image is a woman swiming. Note the temperature was 6 degrees C and it was the coldest day of the year (it is our winter). I could have cloned her out but she was a lot gamer than me. I had my very thick coat on. a wool cap and wool scarf. My fingers were freezing and I was cursing Manfrotto for not fitting leg warmers to my tripod.

 

Mahon Pool - about 500m North of Maroubra Beach. No Bra Boys in site this morning.

 

33.9431S 151.2637E

 

It is a type of flood lighting that uses sodium (a metal) which is vapourised when an electric current is applied. It gives off a strong narrow-band of yellow-orange light. Because it is a very narrow band of light, things illuminated by it do not display their natural colours.

Low-Pressure Sodium (LPS) lamps are the most efficient electrically-powered light source for lighting conditions of up to 200 lm/W and gives a light output at a wavelength that matches the peak sensitivity of the human eye.

For photography, it sucks big time.

Original image - second shot

 

More pictures of Mahon Pool and rocks ...





Too many photographers...

 

Thanks very much.

Unfortunately, the more I do, the more I see fault in them. I have been told by a friend and fellow seascaper that I have been bitten by the bug.

There are a lot more pools and rocks to photograph but I do need to widen my horizons. That said, I won't be stopping any time soon.

Cheers

Peter