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Exposed

A dead tree and it's partner on the exposed flank of the Quantock Hills in Somerset, UK

A dead tree and it's partner on the exposed flank of the Quantock Hills in Somerset, UK
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NIKON D7000

settings

Aperture f/9 ISO 400 Shutter 211/1 Focal Length 100/10

upload_date

Feb, 2016

Views

3934

Likes

+422

Awards

Action Award

Legendary Award

Amateur Winner The Moving Clouds Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in The Moving Clouds Photo Contest

Member Selection Award

Featured

Contest Finalist in Clouds In Movement Photo Contest

Peer Award

+496

Superb Composition

+44

Absolute Masterpiece

+31

Top Choice

+28

Outstanding Creativity

+10

All Star

Magnificent Capture

Superior Skill

Virtuoso

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken on the Quantock Hills, in West Somerset, UK. The Quantock Hills are a small and diverse area of outstanding national beauty in southern England.

Time

I took this picture on a cold spring evening, as the light faded from the hills and the sharp wind blew in the clouds from the West. As the dusk started to fall the light and encroaching darkness allowed me to push the exposure time to well over 3 minutes.

Lighting

The sunset wasn't colourful, but a glow on the horizon splits the image as the long exposure streaks the low clouds as they move in across the landscape.

Equipment

Tripod mounted Nikon D7000 with Tamron 10-24mm f/9 211s

Inspiration

I always lean towards the golden hour to take photos, normally the 'golden' implies that scenes light up or the warm glow of the setting sun makes a color rich image. However on this evening I could see the clouds marching towards me from the West, along with the sliver of an orange glow on the horizon, making for an altogether cooler image that highlights how cold and exposed this spot can be in the winter months with the promise of warmth to come. The trees hang on for life in this spot, and in this case we see a casualty of the conditions alongside a surviving sibling.

Editing

To make the most of the textures in both the skies and the landscape, I reduced the overall exposure by a stop and pulled back the shadows while increasing overall contrast.

In my camera bag

I have always shot with Nikon DSLRs, alongside the Nikon D7000 I shot this with I now have a D750 and often use both on a shoot - the D750 shooting at 24mm and the D7000 with my trusty 70-200 f/2.8. I find, for landscape photography, this allows me to get two completely different perspectives on a scene and often the telephoto images are the ones I choose over the wider angle.

Feedback

If anyone visits the South West of England, don't head down the road to Devon and Cornwall without stopping off in Somerset. The rolling hills, wooded valleys, stunning coastlines and abundant wildlife make it a must-see. In the West Somerset area you can shoot the Jurassic rocky shoreline, head to the Quantock Hills and capture magnificent Red Deer Stags and finish off with a trip to the Dark Sky Reserve on nearby Exmoor. Go see this area - it's a must!

See more amazing photos, follow bobsmall

bobsmall

bobsmall

Exposed

A dead tree and it's partner on the exposed flank of the Quantock Hills in Somerset, UK

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow bobsmall

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