Cider, Clouds, and a Camera
Mitch Keller at Mont Saint-Michel
When you're standing on the windswept shores of Normandy with a camera in one hand and a bottle of French cider in the other, you're either living your best life or you're Mitch Keller and, as it turns out, they’re the same thing.
In May, Mitch took his Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome on an adventure to the legendary Mont Saint-Michel, one of France’s most photogenic landmarks. As any good long-exposure photographer knows, patience is key, and Mitch was in for a long wait—exactly 11 minutes, to be precise. That’s the exposure time he used to create the hauntingly beautiful black-and-white image you see below.
What made this shot possible?
Mitch mounted his camera securely on the Platyball Elite, praising it as one of those underrated gems in the gear world. “I love how solid they are and how they’re really designed for easy and reliable adjustment,” he says. For those of us who spend our days balancing on rocks, sand, and whatever else nature throws underfoot, that kind of confidence is gold.
But that’s not where the Platypod story ends.
With the exposure ticking away, Mitch turned to another trusted piece of gear: the Platypod Delta. While not part of its official specs, it turns out the Delta is rather handy for opening bottles. Specifically, a bottle of local Sorre cider—a crisp companion to the creative process.
“Since this is an 11-minute exposure, I’m using my Platypod Delta for one of its secondary, but approved uses: opening a bottle,” Mitch notes with a grin. Cheers to that!
Want more of Mitch?
You can see more of his travel photography at mitchkeller.photos or on BlueSky/Flashes at bsky.app/profile/mitchkeller.photos.
Gear Featured:
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Platypod Delta (with bonus bottle-opening talent)
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Platyball Elite (for rock-solid long exposures)
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Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome
Pro tip from Mitch: If you're doing long exposure photography in beautiful places, bring solid gear and good cider. One captures the moment, the other helps you enjoy it.
