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Low Hanging Cloud
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Low Hanging Cloud



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cameraPENTAX K20D

upload_dateApr, 2013

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3 Comments |
sisirakumarabandara
 
sisirakumarabandara April 10, 2013
Nice capture..
shaneviper
 
shaneviper April 11, 2013
Thank you :)
Tim_Haynes
 
Tim_Haynes August 22, 2013
Beautiful work!

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Tags

#landscape #b&w #black and white #cloud #mountains #lake
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken from the Mt Huxley lookout, about 20km south of Queenstown, on the rugged and beautiful West Coast of Tasmania. I have taken many photos from this spot, in varying weather conditions, but I enjoy it most when there is cloud hanging over the mountains.

Time

It might surprise you if I told you that this image was taken at 1.38 pm, 26 June 2012. Here, on the West Coast during winter, we have many gloomy days, which I think helps to accentuate the landscapes.

Lighting

I wanted the natural light to work it's magic over the landscape. Even though the clouds hung low, there were small breaks, allowing the dim winter sun to bathe the scene, which helped to emphasise natural ruggedness of the area.

Equipment

This image was a handheld set of shots, taken with my Pentax K20D and Pentax 18-55mm, kit lens, at 40mm.

Inspiration

I've been to this particular spot many times and every time I go out there the scene is different. On clear days you can see for kilometres out over the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and to the world famous Frenchman's Cap. Cloudy days may block the vast landscape but the clouds help to frame smaller parts of the overall scene. Small breaks in the cloud allow the sun's light through creating a mysterious and magical scene.

Editing

This image started life as 5 separate images, -2 to +2 stops. I used Photomatix to tone map the image before loading it into Lightroom. In Lightroom I converted it to B&W and tweaked some of the settings. Then I exported it to Photoshop where I dodged the lake and some of the mountains to lighten them a bit and burned some of the shadows, and clouds.

In my camera bag

Since taking this image I have upgraded to a Pentax K5, but I still use the same lenses. My favourite is the Pentax 18-55mm 3.5-5.6. I love this lens because I can get reasonably wide for expansive scenes but it can also shoot very close and put out a very nice macro image. My next favorite lens is the Sigma 10-20mm 4.5-5.6, not only for those extra wide scenes but to get up close on foreground subjects to get a different perspective. Another lens in my kit is the Pentax 135mm 3.5 prime. It lets me bring those subjects a bit further away closer, and I love that I can hand hold it without too much shake. The other lens I have in my bag at all times is the Tamron 90mm 2.8. Great for a bit of reach, but awesome for macros. I also always have 2 ND filters, one for the 18-55 and other for the 10-20 so I can do a bit of long exposure stuff. A tripod, which I only use when doing long exposure. Heaps of SD cards, a wireless remote control, lens cloth and spare batteries.

Feedback

There's a saying here in Tassie..."if you don't like the weather at the moment give it 10 minutes and it will change". One minute there might be blue, clear skies, the next it could be snowing. It's always a good idea to bring appropriate clothes in case the weather does turn. Sometimes you may be able to get the shot you imagine pretty quickly but other times you may have to wait a while, and even have to come back another day. Take lots of images and try different techniques, ie long exposure, HDR, single shots, because you never know, something might grab your fancy even if it wasn't what you imagined in the first place. Above all have fun and enjoy your outing into the beautiful wilds of the West Coast of Tasmania :)

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