njephotography
FollowThe rock substrate of The Boneyard on the NSW South Coast is of international geological interest and is protected by a permanent conservation order.
Read more
The rock substrate of The Boneyard on the NSW South Coast is of international geological interest and is protected by a permanent conservation order.
It is a popular tourist stop and location for photographers.
Read less
It is a popular tourist stop and location for photographers.
Read less
Views
2678
Likes
Awards
Contest Finalist in Water And Rocks Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Clash Of The Pros Photo Contest
Summer Selection
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Categories
rushewallace
December 29, 2016
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at the Bombo Quarry, near Kiama on the NSW South Coast, Australia. This particular spot is fast becoming a favourite of landscape photographers due to the 'other-worldly' atmosphere it oozes thanks to the horizontal basalt rock columns.Time
This was taken just after sunrise in the new year. I remember having to get up out of bed at 4am to travel to this location in time to shoot. But it was one of those stunning mornings that make a rude awakening worth it.Lighting
I had been shooting in another spot nearby for the pre-sunrise colour. When the sun had peaked above the horizon I noticed the golden light that started to wrap itself over some of the rocks. I wanted to capture this golden light to give a warm summer feeling, and complement the yellow seaweed around the base of the composition.Equipment
This was one of the last photos I took on my Sony A7 camera. I used the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 OSS focused at 17mm for an ultra-wide field of view. The camera was set up on a Manfrotto tripod with an Arca-Swiss ball head. I also had a remote shutter release to ensure I got a blur-free image.Inspiration
Since Bombo Quarry is fast becoming a popular photography location, I wanted to create a composition of the environment that was unique and reflected my style. The uniquely shaped rocks have a sense of power about them, and I wanted to then reflect this in freezing the movement of the ocean. In my mind, it was a well-composed and balanced image that shows off the power and majesty of nature.Editing
I performed a slight angle adjustment on the image to ensure the horizon was level. I also used Adobe's lens correction tool to remove distortion I added some contrast and a little clarity to make the rocks stand out. I increased the shadows and blacks, and performs some spot brightening to balance the exposure of the rocks on the left and right edges of the photo. I dropped the highlights to bring back the waves in the foreground to an exposure similar to the rocks. Finally, I gave the image a little bit of sharpening.In my camera bag
I mostly do landscape photography, so my primary kit includes a my recently upgraded Canon 5D Mark IV, an ultra wide-angle lens in the Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS. I often have my Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lens in my bag, as well as a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L Mark II lens. I also have a selection of graduated neutral density filters, which are an important inclusion for my landscape work. I also have a few spare batteries, and a lens cleaning kit.Feedback
I think for landscape photography, some of the most important things to remember do not have anything to do with your camera but rather yourself. Be patient but constantly think about your composition. Look and move around an area and try to visualise the composition before you start trying to take photos. Once you're in this mindset, then it's relatively easy to capture the composition you're after. If you're traveling to an area for the first time it is useful to either research the area ahead of time or arrive with plenty of time to look around the area. Never rush to take a photo or you'll almost always end up disappointed. The final piece of advice I would give is to hone your photography skills by doing not reading. Once you know how to use your camera, nothing comes close to the experiences and lessons learned "on the job" - visiting places and taking photos.