La Courtine d'Etretat
This is La Courtine, one of the most beautiful cliff I’ve ever seen. La Courtine is part of the amazing rocky coast around Etretat in Upper Normandy, France, altogether known as Les Failases d’Etretat.
I took this picture last August, on a very windy – as usual over there – late afternoon.
I wanted to have the sea looking as much smooth as possible, but I was in full daylight, as it was around 19:30 hours. Even with the overcasted sky, and even full stopping down the lens, the exposure time was only 1/2 seconds, a too fast time to move the sea surface.
Using a polarizer and a 8x ND filter I gained 5 more stops, obtaining therefore, with a slight over-exposure, 20 secs of exposure time. Finally, I used a graduated filter to darken the sky, while keeping a correct exposure on the cliffs and the sea.
This allowed me to give the sea surface a watercolour paint look, and I also obtained a slight movement in the clouds, thanks to the strong wind.
I hope you enjoy it, thanks for dropping by.
Paolo
La Courtine d'Etretat belongs to the following groups:
Beach Art, Landscape Photography and Timelapse/Long Exposure Photography Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

igotmeacanon
brilliant photo, great description of your techniques used
CinB
beautiful! lovely composition, fantastic work.
Kenart
Stunning
Marvin Collins
Great photo!!
Dave Miller
makes you wish that you were walking along the cliff that evening – beautiful
Robert Mullner
Another superb shot Paolo…the mix of colors are brilliant..what a view..!!
margieacosta
Dramatic. Brilliant contrasts between land and sea!
Luke Meers
incredible stuff. great techniques used to create a stunning image. love the lighting on the cliffs
Kirk Hille
Stunning shot , great colors
KEITH R. WILL...
absolutely brillant
Joe Valcourt/M...
stunning work
Marilyn Harris
Brilliant capture Paolo! Love what you have done here – It sure worked well!!
engride
Great shot looking along the cliffs and over the ocean :D Nice sky
Jellybean720
WOW.. Thanks for sharing what you see.. It is just beautiful.. GREAT WORK :)
Puyravaud Fréd...
Absolument magnifique !
Nikki Trexel
thanks so much for sharing how you came about this shot! it’s beautiful. wonderful work!
paul boast
beautiful capture , love the colours
Lachlan Kent
Sensational result from… just really peaceful and beautiful
Naomi Frost
Absolutely magnificent.
Brendan Schoon
WOW, excellent composition, perfect lighting and such an amazing view!! Wonderful picture! Super work. Very well done. Brendan
linda858100
AWESOME
Cheryl Lunde
Another fantastic capture Paolo!
Mark Heller
Egads. Fantastic photo! Gorgeous light!
julie08
Fantastic shot:)
Meeli Sonn
Hi Paolo. This picture is really worming my heart today, in Valentains Day eve. Gorgeous. Wonderful that we have such a photographers who can make the world even more beautiful than it is.
Béla Török
Excellent image, Paolo!
Gyuri Nagy
Stunning image!
HelmD
This photo took my breath away!!
NEVER stop in your endeavor for that one perfect shot!
Scott d'Almeida
awesome
John Kowalski
This is very pleasing to the eye Paolo! excellent image beautiful colour !!
Kymbo
Questo e un bel photo. Buono sforzo!
sandroo
Beautiful landscape, fantastic shot!
Silvia Ganora
Fantastic capture! Well done!
nicholea
I love this, what a beautiful place!
Silvia Ganora
Gorgeous capture and fantastic place!
Andrea Rapisarda
veramente spettacolare, complimenti!!
Elana Bailey
A stunning seascape, Paolo. Well done indeed. An instant favourite.
CinB 14 days ago
stunning capture