The mountains above Tarifa are covered in these wind machines. When there is excess capacity in the national grid, they switch them on to create the powerful winds that attract windsurfers and kitesurfers from around the world.

If only…

This is actually a “next generation” wind turbine in a group that has recently replaced a forest of experimental turbines above Tarifa. But the only experimentation now is in the photography – this is a 2 second exposure taken in bright sunlight using a B+W 10 stop neutral density filter.

I thought this filter was going to be wonderful for daytime long exposures, until I shoved it on the front of my lens for the first time, looked through the viewfinder and saw… total darkness!

Featured in:
Creative, Talented and Unknown, 12 Sept 2011
The Scavenger Hunt, 22 Nov 2011
500 to 5000 Viewings, 2 Dec 2011

1st in The Scavenger Hunt challenge, Let’s hunt for wind!, Nov 2011
6th in Cee’s Fun Nikon Group challenge, Sky at least 50%, Dec 2011

762 views as of 24 Jan 2012

(ref. 4587, 09/2010, Nikon D300, Sigma 18-250, B+W 1000X ND)