sacirsuruliz

Sleepy giant

NIKON D7100

settings

Aperture f/8 ISO 100 Shutter 1/80 Focal Length 800/10

upload_date

Nov, 2015

Views

597

Likes

+58

Awards

People's Choice in Mountain Passion Photo Challenge

Peer Award

Superb Composition

Absolute Masterpiece

Top Choice

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Behind The Lens

Location

Mountain on the photo is Komovi, one of the highest mountains in Montenegro. Photo was taken from nearby mountain of Bjelasica, during the long hike on the nice July day.

Time

I shot it on an early sunset in July. I was lucky that the air was clear and visibility was great. Lighting was perfect, I just stood there with my camera and tried to capture the moment the best I could.

Lighting

As the sun got closer to the horizon, the light started to make that purple patina on the stony mountain slopes, which gave the mountain a sleepy look, like some kind of sleepy giant. Golden light on the hills beneath the mountain just gave the nice contrast to the whole scene, and contributed to the general feeling of serenity and beauty.

Equipment

It was shot with Nikon D7100 and NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens, with CPL filter attached. No other equipment was used in making the photo.

Inspiration

I was on a trekking trip with some fellow photographers, and we were nearing our destination, and had a hour or so, before finishing the day, when the sun started setting. Lighting was perfect, and I wanted to use every opportunity in such light. Once we came to the spot from which the photo was taken, and I saw the mountain in such light, that was all the inspiration I needed. Just pure beauty of the view in that particular moment.

Editing

For this photo I adjusted the levels of white and black, with shadows level to avoid the black burn-out spots in the front of the photo. Clouds and sky needed no special touch, because I already had CPL filter on my lens. Some dodge and burn came useful on the hills in the mid part of the photo, just to strenghten the contrast between the light and shadows.

In my camera bag

Since I am mostly a nature and landscape amateur photographer, I usually carry around Nikon D7100 with Nikkor 16-85mm f/1:3.5-56G VR and Nikkor 55-300mm f/1:4.5-56G VR lens, and Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime lens tripod, some filters and remote. These are all DX lenses, since I use the DX sensor camera, and they cover almost everything I came upon during my photo trips. Also, when I want to experiment with some plant macros, I carry Tamron 60mm f/2 1:1 macro lens. And a few sandwiches, of course.

Feedback

To take a nice shot of mountains requires, above all, a lot of field "work". As you walk for miles and climb hights, opportunities for a great shot will just start ot appear. If you perfect you timing and manage to grab a dawn or a sunset on spot, you cannot miss. Mountains are always different, even a few clouds can make a difference, let alone the change of seasons. That is why you will have to return to some places you already visited, because the moment will be different, and it is the moment that counts.

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sacirsuruliz

sacirsuruliz

Sleepy giant

Behind The Lens

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