Inner harbour, St Monans, East Neuk, Fife. Would never normally shoot coastal scenes in the middle of summer when the sun has just past its zenith and beating down on all and sundry. Had parked up in St Monans to visit the Pittenweem Arts Festival just along the coast. The tide had just started to ebb with the end of the stone slipway still wet which looked good in 'live view' so I attached the Big Stopper and a Polariser (12-stops equivalent) to smooth the water and help with the glare. I also took another frame without the big stopper as a back-up. Had to do more work than I normally do in both DPP and PS to get the look I was wanting but with the help of a Topaz Adjust pre-set it's not looking too shabby for an 'out in the mid-day sun' shot.

Simon Swales