Storm clouds

[JPar]

I wanted to take a long exposure shot of the ocean to get smooth water but also have crisp, shadowy, ominous storm clouds.

Since a long exposure shot would make both the water and and the clouds look "creamy" I had to combine a short exposure and a long exposure.

And since it was the middle of the day, I had to use a high f/stop value (f22) for the long exposure along with a ND filter to remove some of the light.

Then I touched up the shots and copied/pasted the clouds from the short exposure to the long exposure (since the horizon line is so flat) - basically a manual HDR.

 

[Fred Kingston]

You should probably look at the software Luminar AI... Since you're creating composite images with clouds and moons...That software was designed to do what you're doing without all the effort...

You can use their clouds and moons, or add your own images...and piece then together...

 

[JPar]

You should probably look at the software Luminar AI... Since you're creating composite images with clouds and moons...That software was designed to do what you're doing without all the effort...

You can use their clouds and moons, or add your own images...and piece then together...

Ah cool, they have their own clouds/moons.

This copy/paste was so easy, I didn't really need special software, but could definitely see a use for clouds where there are trees or other things in the background to navigate.